Brother and Sister

Rating:
Summary: Important
Review: If you or a person close to you is adopted this book may assist in understanding how difficult it can be. The story explores the emotions of not only the adopted child and adoptive mother but that of family, work colleagues and the biological mother. My question is why is the mother always the focal point in this book?

Rating:
Summary: An interesting journey...
Review: What happens when an adult man and woman suddenly decide to seek out their biological mothers? Joanna Trollope introduces us to a wide cast of characters in this novel, and examines the effect the main characters', siblings Nathalie and David, sudden pressing search for their biological mothers has on those who surround them. It all starts when Steve, Nathalie's common-law husband has a friend at work whose girlfriend wants to interview adult adoptees. After talking with her, Nathalie decides she wants to find out about her mother, and convinces her David, to search for his biological mother at the same time. Instead of looking at adoption just from the view of the children who were given up, Trollope skillfully shows us how Nathalie and David's children, spouses, parents, co-workers and biological mothers and their families deal with the two's hunt. These many points of view and feelings add to the great characterization. I think I will be checking out more of her work.

Rating:
Summary: A Bit Different
Review: When you upset the delicacy of a family, you never know what the outcome will be so when Nathalie and David agree to search for their birth mothers, the applecart turns upside down and we watch the apples tumble out. Everyone is affected by this decision. Their adoptive mother has serious concerns over her role in their life once they've met the women who gave birth to them. Their spouses have to sort through where they fit in the overall picture. The birth mothers have to face their past and decide how or if it will fit in with their present. Even the children of the two siblings feel the changes around them and react in their own way. Trollope tells a good story. Perhaps there are some issues that seem to be a little thin. I would have liked to know a bit more about the after affects to Cora and Carole, the two birth mothers. But overall, it's an interesting storyline and has some merit to it.