October 2020

Review of Mother Mother on “Adoptees With Guatemalan Roots”

I’m proud to share this review of Mother Mother posted on “Adoptees With Guatemalan Roots.” As someone in my family said, after listening to me read it aloud, “This review makes me want to read the book more than a review in The New York Times.” (Although, okay, I’d take that, too.)

Benjamin Fossen writes: “The way the book touches on issues of race and identity is so realistic and it tells the story that so many people who were adopted from Guatemala experienced growing up…I finished the book in one sitting…There were many moments […] that felt so real and relatable. I highly recommend Mother Mother to anyone who is interested in learning more about adoption, and especially adoption from Guatemala.”

Thank you Ben and Adoptees With Guatemalan Roots! @guateroots

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Frida Kahlo at the deYoung Museum

Family photo

We drove over the Bridge to the Frida Kahlo exhibition, “Appearances Can Be Deceiving” at SF’s deYoung Museum. We were a group of 7—my family of 4, plus Patrice and Susan H and her daughter. Everyone was required to wear masks and tickets were sold at 25% capacity. And, to be honest, the less-crowded galleries were a welcome change.

The show featured many of Kahlo’s signature fashions, and the kids were delighted to spot two huipiles from Guatemala: one from Coban, the other from Totonicapan. Naturally, those were our favorite textiles. Olivia’s favorite work overall was a photograph by Tina Modotti that features corn, a guitar, and bullets. Olivia stopped short when she saw it, staring for a long time. Finally, she pulled herself away, but not before noting, “This picture says everything. Everything. Wow.”

After our group ate a delicious snack outside the cafe, Susan snapped my family’s photo in front of the exhibition advertisement in the museum window. Besides us and the beautiful visage of Frida Kahlo, Susan caught the reflection of a 150-foot Ferris wheel that’s currently parked on the green across from the museum. The resulting image is very Diane Arbus, or so it feels to me.  

Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving” is on view at the deYoung through February 7, 2021. Timed tickets are available for purchase on the museum website.

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Two more interviews

Looking very authorly.

I’m posting links to two more interviews.

The first is a wonderful chat with my good friend and fellow Antioch MFA grad, writer/therapist/entrepreneur Diane Gottlieb, in which I discuss passing notes in high school, meeting my bread-baking husband while on a bicycle ride, and self-isolating (for 7 years!?) to write my novel. Thank you for the conversation, Diane!

And the second is a very interesting exchange (can I say that when I’m the person answering the questions?!) with Apprentice House Press, in which I discuss the characters who were my favorite to write and how the story of Mother Mother was inspired.

Thanks for reading!

Interview with Diane Gottlieb.

Interview with Apprentice House Press.

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