Atria Books
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy: A Read with Jenna Pick
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AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick
The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet returns with a powerful exploration of the love that binds a family across the generations in "one of the most beautiful books of motherhood and what we pass on to those that come after us" (Jenna Bush Hager, Today).
Dorothy Moy breaks her own heart for a living.
As Washington's former poet laureate, that's how she describes channeling her dissociative episodes and mental health struggles into her art. But when her five-year-old daughter exhibits similar behavior and begins remembering things from the lives of their ancestors, Dorothy believes the past has come to haunt her. Fearing that her child is predestined to endure the same debilitating depression that has marked her own life, Dorothy seeks radical help.
Through an experimental treatment designed to mitigate inherited trauma, Dorothy intimately connects with past generations of women in her family: Faye Moy, a nurse in China serving with the Flying Tigers; Zoe Moy, a student in England at a famous school with no rules; Lai King Moy, a girl quarantined in San Francisco during a plague epidemic; Greta Moy, a tech executive with a unique dating app; and Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America.
As the painful recollections affect her present life, Dorothy discovers that trauma isn't the only thing she's inherited. A stranger is searching for her in each time period--a stranger who's loved her through all of her genetic memories. Can Dorothy break the cycle of pain and abandonment to finally find peace for her daughter and love for herself? Or will she end up paying the ultimate price?
"For Jamie Ford fans both old and new, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is an unmitigated pleasure" (Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author) and a lyrical love story unlike any other.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781982158224
EAN:
9781982158224
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
400
Authors:
Jamie Ford
Publisher:
Atria Books
Published Date: 2023-02-05
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Great story
The author described this book like a box of crayons, all their own color. Seems appropriate. I wasn't a fan of this book at all. Not a believer in the theory of generational trauma. Interesting theory, but not buying it. This book was all over the place for me. When I read, I want to relax and enjoy the story, but I felt like this was reading a complicated history....bouncing around through several generations, and I found it difficult to stay focused on the story taking place. It was confusing to me. If I weren't reading it for a book club, I would have stopped wasting my time with the reading. But, I'm not a quitter! :-) I had read Ford's book HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET and really loved that book. That's why reading Afong Moy's family story was disappointing to me
As Ford explained the science behind this story, I thought long and hard about reading it. Research has been done on what is called in the world of science transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. That is, to the best of my non scientific background and Ford’s explanation, the passing on of memories, trauma, or behaviors via one’s DNA to one’s descendants. Far fetched, not so much.The story centers around Afong Moy, who was an actual person, and six of her female offspring. The story bounces through the years from 1826 to 2086 and is written in three acts. Each chapter is headed with the character’s name and the year of her story. Even with the names and dates, I stayed confused. As the reader travels through the lives of these women, he or she will see how the experiences, trauma, and behaviors of each mother is passed down.I slugged my way through this book and made myself finish it. Confusion was ever present yet I did get involved emotionally with the lives of each woman and girl. A good book…maybe for some. But for me, I was glad when the intergenerational transference was over. Be sure and read the author’s notes before the book and his acknowledgments after the book. The author’s acknowledgments were enlightening and I appreciated the way he wove quotations and pieces of real life into this story.I loved Ford’s book The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I wish I could say the same for this one. Will I recommend this book? No. Three stars for The Many Daughters of Afong Moy.
Jamie Ford is one of my favorite authors, ever since I read The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The stories tug at your heart. This one was especially realistic. You do not have to be Chinese to empathize with the characters and their situations. Looking forward to another novel by the author.
Interesting story. I have read about epigenetics not sure of spelling. Not sure I got the outcome but it kept my interest
