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A review by jbl7701
American Daughter: A Memoir of Intergenerational Trauma, a Mother's Dark Secrets, and a Daughter's Quest for Redemption by Stephanie Thornton Plymale
5.0
It has taken me awhile to sit and write about this book. Immediately after reading the book, my first thought was – wow this is a story with so many layers. Five stars! I wanted to think about the book, give it a week or two to see if still felt that way. I still think it’s a 5 star read. This book is similar to memoirs such as The Glass Castle, Educated, Etched in Sand, Girl Unbroken or Blackbird just to name a few.
Stephanie Thornton Plymale overcame a horrific childhood filled with abuse and neglect to create a life with a loving partner, children and successful career as a designer. The focus of Stephanie’s memoir is her relationship as an adult with her mother while also going back in time to parts of her childhood. Her mother is mentally ill which plays a significant role in her chaotic childhood. There were periods of time where Stephanie tried to distance herself from her mother. Upon learning her mother was dying of cancer, Stephanie attempts to find out more about her mother and fill in the pieces that did not always make sense. As the story unfolds we learn about the incredibly traumatic events of Stephanie’s mother’s life. Both women are survivors. I definitely recommend reading An American Daughter. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Stephanie Thornton Plymale overcame a horrific childhood filled with abuse and neglect to create a life with a loving partner, children and successful career as a designer. The focus of Stephanie’s memoir is her relationship as an adult with her mother while also going back in time to parts of her childhood. Her mother is mentally ill which plays a significant role in her chaotic childhood. There were periods of time where Stephanie tried to distance herself from her mother. Upon learning her mother was dying of cancer, Stephanie attempts to find out more about her mother and fill in the pieces that did not always make sense. As the story unfolds we learn about the incredibly traumatic events of Stephanie’s mother’s life. Both women are survivors. I definitely recommend reading An American Daughter. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.