Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani ShapiroMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
My boss recommended I read this book after mentioning my new found interest in genealogy and my holiday gift of a DNA test. Being a half-jew myself, hearing Dani Shapiro's story was especially interesting. Shapiro found out that, after being raised Orthodox Jewish by her two very prominent figures of the Jewish community, she was only half Ashkenazi Jewish. The other half of her DNA was a mish-mash of Western European heritage, essentially a reasonable explanation for her coloring that surprised most people who learned she was Jewish growing up. A blonde, blue-eyed woman isn't typically assumed to be Jewish, let alone Orthodox. Dani may have felt different growing up but she never faulted in knowing her heritage. Yet, this DNA proved that she indeed did not know her heritage at all.
This story was both fascinating and haunting. One hopes to never have the same results that Dani Shapiro received from Ancestry.com. Her memoir is an investigation to find her true heritage and ultimately, what really constitutes as your origin story. Who is your family? Those who raised you, or those who created you? Anyone who has ever wanted to do an DNA test, was adopted, or questioned their parentage should read this book. Shapiro does an amazing job putting the reader in her shoes and allows her reactions and emotions to seep through. This story both breaks your heart and warms it.
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