Family Tree
 

Family Tree

by Barbara Delinsky

Dana Clarke has always longed for the stability of home and family—her own childhood was not an easy one. Now she has married a man she adores who is from a prominent New England family, and she is about to give birth to their first child. But what should be the happiest day of her life becomes the day her world falls apart. Her daughter is born beautiful and healthy, but no one can help... (read more)

Top tags: contemporary fictionfictionrace relationsbarbara delinskyfamily (all tags)

 

Member Reviews

  • Mary B. L
    • Rated 3 stars

    suggested for book club.....
    good topics for discussion.........
    easy to read......
    enjoyable........
    when the baby is born with African American features to the Caucasian couple, and SO MUCH is made about the impecable lineage of Hugh's family, one can fairly easily predict how it will play out... still good reading though, with some fascinating plot twists. ... Dana's "father"... I did not see that coming.

    Mary B. L wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink )
  • Brits
    • Rated 2 stars

    The whole thing just kind of gave me a headache. The entire story was composed of too much bad conversation.

    Brits wrote this review Sunday, October 12 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Chelle
    • Rated 5 stars

    I could hardly put this book down.It starts out like a simple story of a young Caucasian happily married couple about to have their first child. When the child is born of obvious African American descent a variety of questions ensue- did the wife have an affair? -which "lily white' partner is from African American descent? these are the complications that add layer upon layer to the story.The issue of how different people from their relationships react adds other layers and is dealt with in a very sensitive and enlightening way. On top on all this is a family mystery and the theme throughout the book about the closeness a community of knitters has with one another .These are what keep you hooked.

    Chelle wrote this review Tuesday, September 16 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Deborah C
    • Rated 3 stars

    This book was not what I thought the storyline would be. All in all a decent book to read. Very easy reading!

    Deborah C wrote this review Monday, September 15 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Gail Dayton
    • Rated 4 stars

    This was one heck of a book. It's a romance, but not your usual romance. It's a "We're already married, but there is one whale of a monkey-wrench thrown into things here, and will the marriage survive???" romance. I loved it.
    So, the story. It opens when the heroine goes into labor with her first child. She and her husband are madly in love. But when the baby is born, their little girl has cafe-au-lait skin and black curly hair and obviously African heritage. Hero and heroine are both lily-white--in appearance, anyway. Hero is from a Boston Brahmin family that can trace its heritage back to the American Revolution--maybe beyond. The heroine was raised by her grandmother, and never met her father. Doesn't know much beyond his first name. Doesn't really care to know. But suddenly, questions are raised--especially by the hero's dad--feelings are hurt, perhaps beyond repair, and the story explodes. It explores touchy things like race and forgiveness and family and just does a whale of a job. This was a really good book.

    Gail Dayton wrote this review Wednesday, August 27 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Kate
    • Rated 4 stars

    I went to see Barbara Delinsky talk about this book with my knitting group, bought it and started it that night. It had just enough about knitting in it to keep me interested (there is a pattern booklet you can buy to go with it that Delinsky helped design with borroco) and I thought, as I do many books, that the end was a little rushed. I remember talking about the family history part of the book to people.

    Kate wrote this review Saturday, August 16 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )
  • Rochelle L
    • Rated 4 stars

    When I first started reading this book, I thought, "How in the world is the author going to make the characters react to something like this?" While I thought she did a pretty good job, the fall out wasn't as bad as I predicted it would be. In real life, I don't know if people could be quite so rational and clear thinking as they were. Granted, there were some emotions that came out; both Dana and Hugh went through some "working-out" stages. But I think there would be a lot more yelling or stomping or door-slamming. Maybe that's just how I would deal with it though!

    Rochelle L wrote this review Thursday, August 14 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Dawn
    • Rated 4 stars

    Interesting, thought provoking book on looking deep within to find your true feelings on bigotry. Good story, well worth the read.

    Dawn wrote this review Monday, August 11 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Patti
    • Rated 5 stars

    I loved this book. I could not put it down.

    Patti wrote this review Monday, August 11 2008. ( reply | permalink )
  • Leanne R
    • Rated 5 stars

    I enjoyed the book.At first I thought her husband was an ass but the more I read the more I thought he had to figure things out.

    Looking forward to reading more of Barbara Delinsky books.

    Leanne R wrote this review Sunday, August 10 2008. ( reply | permalink )
Displaying 1-10 of 56 reviews
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