I've had requests for the reading list that was given to me by my new internet friend, and I don't think he would mind me sharing it. This is a cut and paste from the e-mail I got from him yesterday, so the comments are his, not mine. I really appreciate him passing this on to me. I hope that some of you can benefit from it too!
-After The Morning Calm: Reflections of Korean Adoptees (Dr. Sook Wilkinson and Nancy Fox, Editors) This is a collection of short essays written by adoptees at various points in their lives, but generally at stages where they are comfortable with who they are and are willing to share their stories
-Once They Hear My Name: Korean Adoptees and their Journeys Toward Identity (Ellen Lee, Marilyn Lammert, and Mary Anne Hess, Editors) Much longer stories of the lives of a handful of adoptees. They share their hearts and their struggles with the readers here. A very moving collection.
-The Language of Blood: A Memoir (by Jane Jeong Trenka) This was a very important book for me. It was the first memoir of an adoptee that I had read, and it was excellently written. I think that many adoptees have read this book and certainly connected with it in some way. I greatly appreciate her sharing her life with the world. (Side note: she is the founder of TRACK and is currently living in Korea... I had the pleasure of having lunch with her while I was living in Seoul).
-Beyond Good Intentions: A Mother Reflects on Raising Internationally Adopted Children (by Cheri Register) I have not read through this entire book, but I certainly think that some of the points that she touches on are important.
-Outsiders Within: Writing on Transracial Adoption (Jane Jeong Trenka, Julia Chinyere Oparah, and Sun Yung Shin, Editors) This is a collection of essays written by transracial adoptees, some Korean, some Vietnamese, Chinese, and African-American. Many great stories in this collection.
-I Wish for You a Beautiful Life (Sara Dorow, Editor) If you are interested in hearing the voices of the mothers in Korea who are giving their childeren up, this collection of letters will give you a small picture of their thoughts. It's a collection of letters (written for their children as a sort of coping method) that a specific "safe house" for pregnant women has saved and shared with us. The views expressed in this book are dominantly Christian.
-First Person Plural (Deann Borshay) This is not a book, this is a documentary. I highly suggest watching this. It was a very important video at the time of its release, but I think that a lot of the sentiments expressed in this still ring true. Being an educational video, it is very expensive to purchase, but your local library should have a copy, and if not, I'm sure they could order it.
4 comments:
I copied this list and plan to make my way through them while we wait. Thanks!
Wendy, What happens after you get your referral? How long typically once you get one until you get to go to Korea and pick her up?
It takes about 3-5 months. There's a whole bunch of complicated government paperwork that has to be submitted and approved before she's cleared to leave Korea and enter the US. She has to get a passport and a visa and we have to arrange travel. For a lot of it we're just at the mercy of the government officials who approve paperwork. Sometimes they're fast and sometimes they're shockingly slow. You just never know. I'm hoping and praying for FAST!!!
Just put them all in my shopping cart (except the two I already have). Amazon doesn't have First Person Plural, though.
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