Description

This emotional, turbulent and poignant book tells the story of Marie Berger's discovery that she was adopted. Marie only discovered this fact as the result of a playground argument. The book describes Marie's childhood and chronicles how she felt in finding that she was adopted, how she searched for and eventually found her natural mother - and how there was no fairytale ending. This is an intensely moving and excellently written book.

About the Author

Marie Berger was born in May 1945 in Reading, Berkshire. She trained to become a teacher and is also a qualified masseuse. She is now an author by profession and lives with her husband and her children in Lincoln. She is fond of travelling, foreign languages, pastel drawing and of course her writing.

Book Extract

On the doormat is a letter. I pick it up. I don't recognise the handwriting. It's postmarked New York, United States of America.

I only know of one person who lives there. And it couldn't possibly be from her.could it?

Feverishly I tear open the envelope, unfold the notepaper.

My mind's in a whirl. It's impossible to take in the words. They swim across my line of vision. The bits I manage to read here and there don't make sense.

I don't know how long I've been standing here mesmerised. My mind's blank. The neat script is dancing before my eyes.

This can't be happening. It must be a dream.

I blink rapidly, shake my head, and try to focus on reality. But there's no way I can get a grip on myself standing like a zombie here in the hallway. I must get out.

I put on my coat, wander bewildered into the first cafe I come to. I sit in a corner, order a coffee, sip the hot liquid. I can't stop shivering.

I hold my breath, force myself to start at the beginning, concentrate on each word. I begin to read.