Secret Daughter: A Novel

by Shilpi Somaya Gowda | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780061922312 Global Overview for this book
Registered by spaceystacey of Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on 12/28/2009
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14 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Monday, December 28, 2009
We have a new bookstore in town A Novel Idea Chapter 2. I went there today and though this is the only book which caught my eye, they do have a nice selection.




Order of the ring:
1. karen07 (journaled as read)
2. totje2 (journaled as read)
3. wendyv (journaled as read
4. oi-reader (journaled as read)
5. Moeshell asked to be skipped at this time
6. kalise (journaled as read)
7. secretariat (journaled as read)
8. Sardonyx
9. hazy_d Ireland EU mailings preferred. no response
10.Pell 12/27/2010 (journaled as read)
11.Icila (journaled as read)
12.Jules no response. SKIPPED
13. Govalskii (journaled as read)
14. sarabe1 (Journaled as read)
15. guinaveve USA mailings only. asked to be skipped 07/18/2011
16. Sherlockfan (journaled as read)
17. rarsberry 11/2011 has the read unexpectedly. 02/22/2012 inquired as to status.

back and resting

Journal Entry 2 by karen07814 from Colchester, Essex United Kingdom on Saturday, March 27, 2010
arrived today, spookily in an envelope that I sent over to you!
Number 2 on tbr then I assume totje2 next

Thank you so much for this one. Marked on the back as being good for lovers of Sarah Gruen and Kathryn Stockett amongst others. Tick on both of those.

This one is extremely well written, grabs you by the throat in the first couple of chapters and holds on for the rest. It manages to steer clear of being obvious which would have been an easy route to take. Illustrates both India and US adoption and it's difficulties very well. I hope the publishers signed this author for more than one book. I would happily buy another.

Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 3 by karen07814 at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, March 29, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (3/29/2010 UTC) at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands

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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

over to you

Journal Entry 4 by Boekentrol from Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, April 1, 2010
And I got it! Thank you for sending it over, karen07814. I hope it catches me like it did you. It'll take some time to find that out, for there are a few rings that need to be read and sent on. Look forward to reading it, though!

Journal Entry 5 by Boekentrol from Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, May 3, 2010
Thank you, spaceystacey for making a ring out of this book!!

I had difficulty putting the book down. I was completely caught up in the lives of the main characters. How well written, full of understandable emotions without being boring or exaggerating.
I nearly cried at the end, since the outcome was unexpected form one side, from another however not. That hasn't happened to me in a long time.

A woman (Kavita) gives birth to a daughter, who's taken away from her: her husband and his family want a boy, to take care of them when they are old and help on the land.
Kavita gives birth to another child. Another daughter. This time she's determined to avoid the terrible thing that happened to her first daughter and gives her up for adoption.
The third child is a boy. And the husbands' family act as if the first two babies did not exist and is celebrating the birth of the so much desired boy.

Time passes and when we leave Kavita, we see a couple at the other side of the world that cannot have children of their own. Kavita's daughter ends up in that family.

How the story continues I will not tell: I'd be giving away all. Just saying that this book, depicting the (imaginary) lives of these people deeply touched mine.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Recommend it strongly!

Journal Entry 6 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Monday, May 3, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (5/4/2010 UTC) at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands

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wendyv, this wonderful book continues its journey to you.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


Journal Entry 7 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Monday, May 10, 2010
Thnaks Totje2....book arrived today, I was very happy to receive it...thank you. I can hardly wait to read it. Thank you.

Journal Entry 8 by wendyv from Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Saturday, May 15, 2010
This book grew onme and I found myself identifying with each of the female protaganists. I liked the contrast between the two main women and I found that Somer was possibly most like me....whether that is a good thing or not, is a different matter. I thought the conclusion was 'enough' and I particularly thought that the fact that Asha was inspired to create change through her writing was a great, optimistic outcome.
Thank you for including me in the ring. I really liked being a part of it.

Journal Entry 9 by wendyv at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia on Monday, May 17, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (5/18/2010 UTC) at Blind Bight, Victoria Australia

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Will be posted from our local shop tomorrow after work - to oi-reader, next in line. I am going to the local shop as they do beautiful stamps instead of those annoying little print outs....Enjoy!

Journal Entry 10 by oi-reader at Toledo, Ohio USA on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Actually, this arrived about 2 weeks ago, and I apologize for not registering it sooner. Many thanks to Stacy for allowing me to participate and for Wendy for shipping internationally (with stamps!!!).

Once I picked up this book I was not able to put it down. The begining made me cry quite a bit, as it resonated with a lot of what I have been going through emotionally the past year or so. Somer's views coincided so much with my own in the begining that I had to wipe tears as I read.

Realizing the daringness of Kavita, what she gave up so her daughter could have a better life was amazing. I loved how the author used many different prospectives through character to bring the story along. Some parts were a bit predictable, and I would have liked a different ending, but all in all one of the better books I have read this year.

I have pm'd Moeshell for her address and will be sending it her way shortly.

Journal Entry 11 by oi-reader at Toledo, Ohio USA on Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Moeshell asked to be skipped, I have pm'd kalise for their address.

Journal Entry 12 by oi-reader at Toledo, Ohio USA on Friday, September 3, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (9/3/2010 UTC) at Toledo, Ohio USA

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Off to Austria next! Happy travels to a wonderful book :)

Journal Entry 13 by wingAnonymousFinderwing at Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Monday, September 13, 2010
Book arrived safely here in Austria! Thank you for sending! Am looking forward to reading this lovely book ASAP.

Journal Entry 14 by kalise at Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Sunday, October 3, 2010
Just realized that I wasn't logged in when I did the previous JE. "anonymous finder" is kalise. I've started reading the book but am not finished yet. Will try to do so ASAP. In the meantime, am Pming next participant for their address.

Journal Entry 15 by kalise at Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Monday, October 11, 2010
In a recent discussion with a friend, who has adopted a little Indian girl, I happened to mention - rather unwittingly- that I simply could not understand how a parent could ever give up her child for adoption.
That same day I opened the Secret Daughter, and how startled I was when I realized that this book was precisely about this issue!!! What a coincidence! It was a fascinating, very moving, enlightening, but also humbling reading experience.
The book is beautifully written and it was difficult to put down.

A BIG Thank you to spaceystacey for being so generous and sharing this book with me!

I have sent this book on today to Secretariat. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Journal Entry 16 by kalise at Linz, Oberösterreich Austria on Monday, October 11, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (10/11/2010 UTC) at Linz, Oberösterreich Austria

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Sent on this morning to Secretariat.

Journal Entry 17 by Secretariat at Carlsbad, California USA on Sunday, October 31, 2010
Received safe and sound. I'll read ASAP and get it on to the next.

Journal Entry 18 by Secretariat at Carlsbad, California USA on Thursday, November 11, 2010
A wonderful book. Told through multiple views, it has so many themes (love, adoption, marriage, parenting, etc.), though the major one is "nature versus nurture." Two children born in India of the same parents one year apart, one raised by birth parents, primarily in Mumbai, and the other raised by two physicians in San Francisco.

I grew to love or sympathize with every character. The author draws the reader into each of their lives and we understand their challenges, suffering, and choices. Each family nurtures their child in whatever way they can, but the outside situations and influences make all the difference. I would even welcome a sequel to see what challenges they face in the future.

Thank you, spaceystacey, for hosting this ring. I'm awaiting Sardonyx' response to my email in order to get this book on its way again.

Journal Entry 19 by Secretariat at Carlsbad, California USA on Saturday, December 4, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (12/4/2010 UTC) at Carlsbad, California USA

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On it's way to Pell, since there was no answer from hazy_d. With holiday post and going slow boat it will take awhile to get there. Hope Pell enjoys it as much as I did.

Journal Entry 20 by Pell at Canino, Lazio Italy on Monday, December 27, 2010
Thank you secretariat, the book arrived safely today, looking forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 21 by Pell at Canino, Lazio Italy on Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thank you so much for this read spaceystacey, once opened and started I couldnt put it down, a rich story written with such passion, I must admit I shed a few tears at some points. I do want to apologise for hanging on to it longer than I normally would but I had two friends staying with me and they wanted read it too, I do hope they will join BC and journal this one, as they too, thoroughly enjoyed it. Am waiting for Icilias details and will forward it on asap.

Journal Entry 22 by Pell at Canino, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Posted of to Icila today in France

Journal Entry 23 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, February 15, 2011
In the mail yesterday along with Papern Lanterns and a nice sweet. ;)
Thanks canino !

Journal Entry 24 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Monday, March 7, 2011
A moving story. Predictable but well written. Thanks for sharing !

Journal Entry 25 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
No answer from Jules and Govalskii is not in the database, I PM sarabe1.

Journal Entry 26 by wingIcilawing at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (3/29/2011 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France

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On its way to Germany under care of the post office.

Journal Entry 27 by winggrovalskiiwing at Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Friday, April 1, 2011
I'm glad I was found after all! :-) I have one more book to read before this one but it shouldn't take me too long.

Journal Entry 28 by winggrovalskiiwing at Zehlendorf, Berlin Germany on Thursday, April 28, 2011
great book. I really enjoyed how the story is told from the views of the different people. Will send the book to sarabe1, whose address I already have.

Journal Entry 29 by sarabe1 at Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Monday, May 16, 2011
Looking forward to reading this!

I liked this book. Yes, the ending was kind of easy to guess, and a bit fantastic, but over all it was a great read and I actually started reading it one afternoon after work, couldn't put it down and finished it in bed that same evening.
Will send this onwards as soon as I have the address.

Journal Entry 31 by sarabe1 at Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Monday, July 18, 2011
Guinaveve has asked to be skipped.

Journal Entry 32 by sarabe1 at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (8/16/2011 UTC) at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

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Off we go to New Zealand. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 33 by Sherlockfan at Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Monday, August 29, 2011
Thanks sarabe1 for posting this book to me, and spaceystacey for starting this ring. The book arrived last week and I did not have time to mark its arrival because I was just about to leave for a trip away. I was going to Hamilton to attend a Family History Fair that I knew would be really enjoyable and productive but also that I would have some reading time in the evenings so took the book with me.
I've read it now and found it quite absorbing with lots of passion and important and well drawn characters. Not an easy book to put down. It was very informative about different customs, rituals and ways of life in a country that was quite foreign to me.
I really admired the way Usha developed when she finally went to India, and what a superb relationship she formed with her grandmother.
There could hardly have been a more appropriate book to read at a time when my days were filled with ancestral studies and family relationships.
Really loved this book. Thanks to all who kept it on its travels.
spaceystacey do you have any particular wishes for the book's future as I am the last one on the list? If not I know a bookcrosser in Christchurch NZ who might like it.

Journal Entry 34 by Sherlockfan at Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, October 29, 2011
Didn't ever hear from spaceystacey. Have decided to post the book to Rarsberry before the Unconvention as she might have plans to fill her suitcase with books that she finds in Wellington so I'll post it off during the coming week.

Journal Entry 35 by Sherlockfan at Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand on Saturday, October 29, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (11/1/2011 UTC) at Upper Hutt, Wellington Province New Zealand

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Posting to Christchurch.

Journal Entry 36 by rarsberry at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, November 7, 2011
This book came in the mail last week as a complete surprise from Sherlockfan.
I will read it next and hold on to it.

Journal Entry 37 by rarsberry at Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Thursday, June 14, 2012
I had nothing else to read so was glad this book was in the house.
A good read, up's and down's for both families involved, not an easy thing to deal with.
Once I figure out where the book will go next, I will post it away.

Journal Entry 38 by spaceystacey at Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
back and resting>

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