Motherland a memoir of love, loathing, and longing by Elissa Altman (audiobook on Overdrive)

    If the word memoir were not on the front and you just began reading this book, you might not realize it is not a true story but instead a very readable novel.  It was great!
      Elissa has been married to her wife for twenty years and they are happily settled in Connecticut.  There she finds peace.  One big reason for that is she is away from Manhattan where  Rita, her mother, lives.
     Rita was once a singer on a television show.  That is the part of her life with which she still identify.  Clothing, make-up and her singing 'career' are Rita's obsessions.  Having a daughter who is not so interested in make-up or clothing was very hard on Rita.
      Elissa's childhood was rocky.  She is keeping her life stable now with wine and the distance from Rita.  But they are still mother and daughter and Elissa does what is needed for her mom.
      From the description of the book on Amazon -
"...it is an exploration of what it means to escape from the shackles of the past only to have to face then all over again. "

Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon (ebook on Overdrive)

     When the book begins we are introduced to Florence - she is 84, living at a Home for the Elderly, and unfortunately she has fallen and is waiting for someone to miss her and to come looking.  The first two things about Elsie are easy.  She is Florence's best friend since forever.  Whenever Florence is down on herself Elsie will know the right thing to say to make her feel better.  The third thing - well you will have to wait to read the book to find out.
      As Florence lies on the floor she begins to think about Elsie rescuing her when she stops by as she promised.  And then she begins to try and figure out how the new resident looks just like  someone from her past and she is worried.  She is worried because she thinks he might harm her - and also because that man died 60 years ago.
      I loved this book.  The characters are great and the mystery of that man is woven throughout the narrative.

All You Can Ever Know A Memoir by Nicole Chung 921 Chung

  I really like non-fiction books.  I always learn something or get a perspective on people or things that I had never thought about.  I know several people who have adopted children but I have never heard first-hand  stories from adoptees.
      This book is about a baby girl born in the United States to a Korean couple who already had two daughters.  She was born very prematurely  and the Doctors weren't certain she would live. The parents signed papers to give her up for adoption.  The baby spent two months in the hospital and then was adopted by a young couple who were eager to become parents.
      Nicole writes beautifully about her life.  She was a Korean surrounded by children who looked nothing like her.  Her parents were great.  Her life was great.  But there was always this part of her who wonders about her birth parents.  Did they love her? Why did they give her up?
       So she began the quest to find out about her birth parents and the circumstances of her birth.  She finds out - the good, the bad and the ugly.