Before the Blog #2

   Before the Blog is a new meme hosted by YA Litwit. The idea here is that we have all been reading much longer than we have been blogging and have many books in our reading past that are worthy of blogging about. This is a way to 'rediscover' these gems by answering a few basic questions. For details check out the YA Litwit blog.

This week I am choosing to remember 'Secret Daughter' by Shilpi Somaya Gowda.

Why did you choose this book? I chose to read this book for several reasons. First, I won a copy of the book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway. As soon as I learned I'd won a copy, I raced to the author's website to read the preview, and I was hooked before I finished the first chapter. But before I even entered the contest, I was attracted to the beautiful cover. Once I received my copy, I learned that that the inside illustration was just as beautiful!

When did you read this book? I read this book in March of 2010

Who would you recommend this book to? This is Women's Fiction at it's finest, but I don't doubt that many men would enjoy it also. I would particularly recommend this to my Bookworms club members!

   Here is the synopsis from Goodreads. You can read member comments here.

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.

Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Somer knows life will change with the adoption but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles.

Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds both of their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families-one Indian, one American-and the child that indelibly connects them.

   The story is centered around the 'secret daughter' Asha/Usha. She is born the 2nd daughter of Kavita, an Indian woman who lost her 1st daughter immediately after birth to infanticide. She is determined the 2nd daughter will live and travels many miles to an orphanage. 
   In the meantime, Somar, an American woman married to an Indian man, suffers 2 miscarriages and learns she will never have a biological child. They adopt Asha, and the story proceeds from there. Somar has troubles with the cultural differences between India and the United States, and constantly worries that she will lose Asha to her biological mother. Asha wonders about her birth parents and who she really is. Krishnan, Somar's husband, balances missing his family and India with adopting American culture. There are unspoken fears, resentments and questions.

   This is the author's first novel and it is fantastic! I can't wait to see what she releases as her 2nd novel! 

   I rated this book 5 Stars. Other Goodreads members have combined to give it a 3.92 star-rating.