Reading Digging to America the second time was even more fun than the first!
I lead a book group discussion of it this week. The questions in the back make it easy, although I do find a few of them from too biased a point of view. I'll add a few of my own queries.
The story: two families arrive at a Baltimore airport late one night, each eager to meet their adopted infant from Korea. One couple is a quintessential American Caucasian couple, the other pair are children of immigrants from Iran. Bitsy, American wife, loves the idea of creating a connection with this other adopting family and their worlds start intertwining. invites the Iranian-American one to their home.
The book is a deft observation of two cultures attraction and clash with each other and the "Immigration Tango--the pull toward assimilation warring wtih the fear of losing one's true self." (Anne Tyler)
It's written from various viewpoint so that we understand and sympathize with both Ziba, the Persian-American adoptive mother, and Bitsy as well as Maryam and Dave, two grandparents whose lives start intersecting also.
I highly recommend this book both for its entertainment value and for the insights into different personalities and cultures. At 270 pages, it's an easy, engaging read. Thanks, Ann for adjusting your style and length to our busy, ADD world.
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