Other People’s Children, R.J. Hoffmann
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Synopsis & Review:
Longing for a child and being unable to have one is a heart wrenching human experience. From the time we are young, we have a vision – an expectation, really – of how our lives will unfold. We get older and enter into loving marriages. We purchase homes with yards in anticipation of starting a family. Then, when the time comes, the fortunate ones enjoy a smooth and successful transition into parenthood, while others are faced with a cruel cycle of rising hope followed by crushing disappointment month after month. Or pregnancies that result in miscarriages – over and over again.
When Gail and Jon Durbin realized they were expecting, they moved into a new home in the suburbs to start their family. Sadly, the pregnancy resulted in what would be the first in a series of miscarriages – each of them sending the couple further and further into crippling grief. Finally, they decided to adopt, but soon learned the process is much more complex than they ever could have imagined. After some failed adoption attempts they met Carli, a pregnant teenager from a blue collar and financially strapped family. Carli had dreams of creating a future brighter than her past. She was determined to leave behind her mother’s highly dysfunctional, toxic home and pursue a college education. Having a baby would prevent her from moving beyond the life she was living, and most of all, she wanted something better for her child. Carli’s decision to place her baby up for adoption became a major point of contention between she and her mother, Marla. Marla wasn’t ready to give up her grandchild, and she would do anything to prevent this from happening.
Wow! Where do I begin? Asking me to put down this book would have been like asking me to stop breathing. Other People’s Children delivers a twisting, turning and highly emotional plot. This debut novel by R.J Hoffmann tackles the complex, gut wrenching legal process of adoption. Hoffmann presents adoption issues poignantly, yet realistically, in a book that is extremely well-written and well developed. Other People’s Children explores issues of poverty and the ever-present socioeconomic divides, yet reminds us that maternal love knows no boundaries. It touches every human emotion – sadness, anger, joy, love, grief. Hoffmann delves deeply into the complexity of human beings, and reminds us of how we are forever shaped by our pasts. There are additional themes of mental illness, loss, substance abuse, marriage, and of course, adoption. Each chapter focuses on the point of view of a character, giving them an increased level of depth and a powerful voice. Finally, Other People’s Children raises tough questions about what defines a family, who deserves to be a parent, and how far a mother will go for her child.
Reading this novel somewhat reminded me of the Baby Jessica case back in the early 1990s, but it was so much easier to take sides in that situation. At the beginning of the book, I was rooting passionately for the Durbins. However, as the characters evolved it became harder and harder to know who to root for, and my heart just broke for both parties. Carli’s character matured throughout the novel and she made so many selfless decisions for the sake of her baby. Her circumstances were truly desperate, and she was doing her best to put her child first. Clearly, both parties loved that baby. Both were in excruciating pain. Both made desperate, unimaginable decisions in the name of love. Still, there could only be one winner. I think even King Solomon would have struggled with this one. There were no easy answers.
Other People’s Children is a deeply moving and highly relatable novel. All parents (adoptive and biological) will connect. I enjoyed this novel immensely and would be interested to see where each character is in five years. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel. The emotional pull of the characters has me longing to revisit them later on as their future remained somewhat open-ended at the conclusion of the book. In any case, I look forward to reading more from this author. Bravo to R.J Hoffman on a magnificent debut!
“Foster care is risky. Adoption is risky. Love itself is always risky.” – Orphan Justice
“There is no friendship, and no love, like that of the parent for the child.” – Henry Ward Beecher
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