Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Unearthing: A Story of Tangled Love and Family Secrets by Kyo Maclear

5 reviews

honest_soupe's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

I wish she had let us sit with more silence. Gorgeous book written amazingly, but silence was smothered with thoughts like CRAZY.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Cancer

Minor: Xenophobia and Violence

woolgatherer's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

This was a beautifully written memoir in which Maclear dove deep into her family roots, as well as to contend with unearthed family secrets. Maclear's story began with a DNA test that revealed that her father was not biologically related to her, which results in an ongoing question throughout this memoir: What does "family" mean? The memoir was an exploration of other themes as well, particularly love and identity, and how the complexities of kinship impacted them.

I think there were a lot of great themes that were clearly meant to connect, but I found that the delivery to be a little scattered, as Maclear went from one idea or memory to the next. Furthermore, I admit that I found the references and metaphors related to nature felt a little forced at times. (That being said, the times they did work, they were really poignant.)

I'm also still trying to gather my thoughts on how Maclear approached her biracial identity and how this tied to her relationship with her Japanese mother. What I can say is that their relationship was clearly complex, which, in turn, complicated the way Maclear chose to write about it.

There's a lot to think about in this memoir; perhaps you could even argue that there might be too much. However, if you're hoping to find something introspective in tone and lyrically written, this memoir might be for you.

Note: I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Racism, and Infidelity

Moderate: Cancer and Dementia

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Antisemitism, and Abandonment

avisreadsandreads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Grief, Xenophobia, Cancer, Racism, Dementia, Death of parent, and Misogyny

Minor: War, Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Kidnapping, and Forced institutionalization

kirstinlwx's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book has already rooted within me. 

To speak of family - biological, found, adopted, hidden, reluctant, and grown - in the way that UNEARTHING does, has made me reflect deeply on life and story. I am so humbled and grateful to be able to read the work of Kyo Maclear. 

I will recommend this book to everyone, recognizing that it will not be for everyone immediately. But, like gardening, I think this work will grow on everyone willing to meet it with time, attention, and openness. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Infidelity, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Dementia, and Death of parent

brogan7's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.75

This is a beautiful, beautiful book.  It's hard to say what it is, as it seems to offer spaces, continents, the oceans between them ... It doesn't dress up life or make it make sense or give it a narrative shape...but it does share meaning, experiences, emotion.
A book to tell about love.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent, and Infidelity