Stars: 3 / 5
My Recommendation: Despite some of the aspects being portrayed questionably, author Delinsky does bring up one key factor with her plot. Does one have a public voice on their beliefs regarding race, religion, politics and even their pedigree? And a private voice that shows the actual beliefs of a person – being racial and biased on every social stigma? Are you one of them?
Family Tree is a stand-alone book by Barbara Delinsky originally published on January 1, 2007. The story revolves around Dana and Hugh Ames Clarke belonging to a prominent New England family, and recent parents of a beautiful baby girl. However, there is no denying the African American features that she has born with. Questions about race, heritage and extra marital affairs comes to the top of everyone’s mind leaving no choice for Dana and Hugh but to investigate into their respective pasts.
This was a surprisingly interesting novel for me. Started slow and little bit of drag, but it went on to become a good read making one to finish it till the end. Some serious thought provoking social stigmas are constantly questioned. Having never read a Barbara Delinsky novel, it was slightly refreshing after the last two disastrous ones I read. And that is why I gave it 3 stars. However, there are many things that author Delinsky has got incorrect or not completely right.
To begin with is our heroine, Dana Clarke. She is a strong woman and a mother who stands up to her husband and his family when it mattered most, and at the same time protecting her child. She does forgive them in the end considering how the heritage that the Clarkes had been brought up to believe comes crashing down. I admired her tenacity. But as a new mother Delinsky failed to cover any of the sleeplessness issues or getting adjusted to the new baby and other things new parents face. Perhaps her focus was more around the mixed-race baby that she missed this.
Hugh Clarke on the other hand, bothered me a little. For someone who fought for the under-privileged, he was unaccepting of his own daughter born of mixed-race because of his genealogy and was first to put it on his wife’s side. Pressured by family he goes for paternity test which I felt an added insult to the injury there. Even though he comes through for Dana and his daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ames Clark, in the end, it left me a sour taste that he questioned his wife’s fidelity.
Clarkes are so stuck on their pedigree that they don’t even want to see if anything in their past is the cause. Instead they blame Dana and her family. That felt a lot of bigotry and racist feelings despite their so called support to minority communities. And the actual cause when came to light it was very predictable.
On the flip-side, Dana’s maternal side family and friends were much more open. Which perhaps is what naturally we see in real life too – some are really open and their inner and outer voice reflect the same, while with others it is different.
The unique thing I found in this book was the passion for knitting. How Dana and her family and friends find peace in knitting; and a “me” time that gives them opportunity to reflect on their troubles and be thankful for their happy events. Aptly named The Stitchery, its owned by Dana’s grandmother Eleanor.
Pedigree mattered for the Clarkes, but heritage was more important to Dana who wants to pass on to her daughter everything she was. However, the question bears to be asked, does the African-American genes show after two generations? I don’t know if it is possible to not see some of the mixed genes in the prior generation.
I do appreciate of the fact that she did highlight the issues that come with being a parent of a biracial child. Even 16 years later, the issues are more pronounced now in the society. Biracial is not just African-American mixing with Whites; we have varieties of races mixing now. The problem of how these children are treated is a serious one that everyone should acknowledge and address.
I also commend her that she sums up her book very succinctly towards the end. Does one have a public voice on their beliefs regarding race, religion, politics and even their pedigree? And a private voice that shows the actual beliefs of a person – being racial and biased on every social stigma?
However thought provoking most of the read has been, it does question some of the aspects that author Delinsky portrayed. I close my review with mixed feelings since I am coming off two lousy reads. May be another time if I read, I might have a different opinion.
Spoiler Alerts:
Book Trivia and Plot Reveals:
- Dana’s family and her friends: Eleanor Joseph, grandmother; Vernonia, her grandmother’s cat; Olivia McGinn, manager of The Stitchery; Gillian Kline, a friend; Juliette Irving, a friend; Nancy Russell, a florist; Corrine James, a regular at The Stitchery; Jaclyn Chase, a part-time worker at The Stitchery; Emma, Eleanor’s cousin; Saundra Belisle, another regular at The Stitchery; Jack Jones Kettyle, Dana’s biological father.
- Hugh’s family: Eaton, father; Dorothy, mother; Robert, brother; Bradley, Eaton’s older brother and uncle to Hugh and Robert
- Dana & Hugh’s friends: David Johnson, African-American next-door neighbor and close friends to the Clarkes; Alissa “Ali” Johnson, David’s daughter; Hugh’s law partners Jim Callie and Julian Kohn.
Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
- On Pg. 274, Hugh warns Drummond, the opposing lawyer, that he will wait till Wednesday to hear from him, if not he will file for a hearing on Friday. But on Pg. 279, when Hugh talks to Dana about the case, he mentions that he has given the opposing lawyer time till Monday.
- On Pg. 283, Line 11, missing opening quote.
Galavant Reflections 