Books Butterfly Editorial Reviews

Hole in my Heart – Editorial Review

Hole In My Heart by Lorraine Dusky is a combination adoption biography and adoption history book which is beautifully written, authentic, and enlightening

Please Note: This is our 2nd Editorial Review for Hole in My Heart by Lorraine Dusky. The first Editorial Review is also available

Lorraine Dusky’s book is an absolute must read for anyone thinking of adopting, anyone who has experienced adoption, or anyone who is interested in learning more about adoption

Books Butterfly Editorial Review of Hole In My Heart by Lorraine Dusky

Introduction & Context

Hole in my Heart is a poignant biography that delves into the profound love story between a mother and the daughter she had to give up for adoption

Lorraine Dusky skillfully narrates the challenges women faced pursuing careers in an era when single motherhood was a formidable undertaking and abortion was illegal. Beyond recounting her journey, the author compels readers to reflect on life’s most profound questions, ultimately emerging as a prominent advocate for open adoption

Main Review

Lorraine Dusky writes with a heartfelt and vulnerable voice, bearing the weight of a mother who has experienced immeasurable loss, confronted her inner demons, and transformed inconsolable grief into a powerful advocacy movement

Her compelling narrative reveals the transformation of her anguish over losing her daughter into a passionate endeavor to grant adult adoptees access to their birth records. Extensive research supports the author’s argument that the profound wounds inflicted by the adoption sector’s hiding of adoption records are not isolated incidents

Dusky adeptly captures the painful circumstances and societal pressures that led to the heart-wrenching separation from her child through adoption. This memoir serves as a compelling manifesto, urging a re-evaluation and reform of adoption practices at their core

The author’s story is modern, raw, tender, and remarkably honest. She illuminates the enduring power of transgenerational longings and the influence of genetic attributes, enriched by historical insights into adoption laws and practices

Strengths

The strength of Dusky’s writing lies in its passionate and eloquent nature. Her ability to convey her tragic, timeless, and redemptive story with restraint is remarkable

“Hole in my Heart” seamlessly incorporates significant research findings that validate the universality and authenticity of Dusky’s personal experiences

The author’s prose resonates with readers, reflecting the way many people think

Weaknesses

One weakness of the book is that it may primarily appeal to individuals with an active interest in adoption, potentially limiting its reach to a broader audience

Conclusion

“Hole in my Heart” is a meticulously crafted, tender, and unflinchingly honest portrayal of the profound emotional toll experienced by parents and children affected by adoption

Dusky effectively dispels the myth of the secretive “natural mother” and exposes the harsh realities inherent in adoption, both before and after the reunion. Reading this book has the potential to reshape perceptions of adoption

Dusky shines a much-needed light on the detrimental consequences of closed adoption and the lasting impact of secrecy on relationships.

Overall Recommendation

We strongly recommend Hole In My Heart by Lorraine Dusky with a rating of 90/100 for all parents considering the placement of a child or those contemplating adoption

The book offers poignant lessons, serving as a cautionary tale about the importance of adoption being a last resort option

For people who have gone through adoption or are thinking of adopting – 90/100

For Biographies & Memoirs readers – 90/100

For General Non Fiction readers interested in Adoption – 100/100

For General Non Fiction readers looking for a well crafted book – 80/100

Curator’s Thoughts (not the reviewer, the curator)

Lorraine Dusky shines a light on many facets of Adoption which the average reader would be completely unaware of. This is greatly needed as Adoption and the impacts of Adoption are still not well understood

Before reading the book, a typical reader would not understand the enormity of a birth mother giving up her child for adoption

Nor would that typical reader understand why adopted children have a profound need to find out who their birth mother and father are

By sharing the history of Adoption in the US, and also by sharing her own very raw and authentic story, Lorraine Dusky makes a great argument in favor of open adoption

Where to get Hole In My Heart by Lorraine Dusky

Hole in My Heart is available at Amazon –

1. Hole In My Heart Paperback at Amazon.com
2. Hole In My Heart eBook at Amazon Kindle Store

Lorraine Dusky’s other books are available at her Amazon Author Page.

We would also recommend Dusky’s Publisher, Grand Canyon Press. It is an independent publisher and it takes ‘unagented’ submissions.

Grand Canyon Press (the publisher for Hole in My Heart)