What was mine summary

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See full terms and conditions and this month's choices. About The Author. John Gruen. Helen Klein Ross. Product Details. Related Articles. I already feel sorry for Marilyn. I usually choose historical novels to read but this one sounds intriguing so I've put it on my list. Helen Thanks for putting it on your list! I love historical novels, too. In fact, the next book I'm working on is about a crime that happens in the s.

P …more Thanks for putting it on your list! People feel divided about the ending of What Was Mine. Many readers wish the book would go on The ending is not a typical happily-ever-after, but I think it's the happiest thing that could happen, given the circumstances.

See all 9 questions about What Was Mine…. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of What Was Mine. Nov 14, Deanna rated it it was amazing Shelves: highly-recommended , my-favorites. When I read the book description, I felt like it almost told the whole story.

But honestly this book is about so much more than a kidnapping. Obviously that is a huge part of it, but it's very different from any other kidnapping story I have read. Right off we know who did it. But we also see how everyone is affected by it.

We see time passing and how everyone tries to cope. We When I read the book description, I felt like it almost told the whole story. We first meet Lucy Wakefield. She has to tell it in circles, like rings of a tree that signify the passage of time. Lucy starts by saying how badly she wanted a child. She is very successful in business but what she wants most is a child.

When having a child consumes all of her thoughts and time, her husband eventually leaves her. She knows that her chances of adopting as a single mother are very slim. On one of her frequent trips to IKEA she makes a split second decision that will change her life and the lives of so many others. Marilyn has relived the worst day of her live over and over. She remembers that she overslept that day. She remembers that the babysitter had to cancel and she was anxious as she was supposed to deliver a report at work that afternoon.

I loved that the chapters were labeled clearly as there were many points of view. It just made the alternating perspectives of Mia, Lucy, Marilyn and so many others involved easier to keep up with. An easy read in regards to the way it was written. But it was also emotional, heartbreaking and devastating. I felt so many different emotions while reading this powerful book!

The characters were all so well-defined. The passing of time and how differently people adapted to what had happened. As much as I wanted to see what was going to happen next, I was still enjoying everything I was reading.

I learned a lot about meditation and yoga, the reunification process, China and Chinese culture and more. I felt the ending was a bit open to interpretation, but I was okay with that.

An engrossing read that I highly recommend!! View all 74 comments. Nov 05, Debbie rated it liked it Recommended to Debbie by: Esil. Shelves: thriller , debuts , new-york-city , mystery , favorite-thrillers , esil-recs , runners-upthrough This book about a baby kidnapping has me all tied up in knots. I would call it almost perky. But what really really has me all unchy is the ending.

I hated it. I want to empathically voice my feelings on the damn ending, which just seemed all wrong. It really has me thinking about loss and love, crime and punishment, attachment and detachment, belonging and not belonging.

Is the ending realistic? And this is what messes with my head. Does the author really believe the ending is what should have happened, or is she just trying to stir it up? I felt this pressure to agree with the ending, which was disturbing as hell. When I think of the ending, two words come to mind: church and PC. I cannot say any more. The baby was abducted from IKEA. I'm guessing the writer had to get permission to use their name? The abduction scene is so well written, I could just see the aisle where the baby was taken from.

I hope no one catches me doing my pretend PI bit. The story is told from different points of view which worked great , and the main narrator is the abductor herself. This by itself makes the book unusual and fun—how often is the villain also the storyteller?

We also hear from the birth mother and from the abducted child when grown up , and this adds complexity and excitement to the story. There was a premonition in this book that bugged me; it seemed like the author was trying to cover up for a far-fetched coincidence.

This offbeat and well-written psychological study of motherhood was a clear 4-star book until I hit the messed-up ending. And then I was all No, No, No! Please read this. View all 42 comments. Dec 02, Elyse Walters rated it it was amazing Shelves: netgalley.

I've read books that have left me bawling - others I've laughed so hard that I was rolling on the floor. Others where I didn't like the characters at all, but thought the story was brilliant.

I can't say enough high praise for author Helen Klein Ross in the way she wrote this book. If there was a voting a I've read books that have left me bawling - others I've laughed so hard that I was rolling on the floor.

There are many things I'd like to share in this review - yet almost anything I do, becomes a spoiler. I'll share one detail: "A Baby is Kidnapped and raised by the single woman who took her for 20 years". Oh well! However, I didn't 'directly FEEL "intense anger" towards you until one morning when you went for a swim when in China. I was pissed at you for feeling annoyed that you had to share the public pool with another swimmer.

I wanted to kill you in that moment. Oh, I was soooo MAD at you!!!!! And yes You said something that I will continue to think about long after having read this book. Other readers might debate with later too. MIA: I'm soooooo sorry sweetheart!!!!

TOM: Do you realize you were somewhat of a turd?? If you have doubts.. I'm happy to set you straight! I was also very moved and inspired of the difference Yoga, meditation and a vegan diet added to your life. Your years of getting support - practicing forgiveness -was realistic and incredible.

You became my hero. Thank you.. I'm sincerely moved. Stop comparing who is a better mother by who cooks more - who is a stay at home mother - or a working mother. View all 28 comments. Imagine this Your baby has been taken Every mothers nightmare right? Just can't imagine the sheer terror that would turn your blood cold.

This book tackles that very scenario and does it in a highly engaging and readable way. A book you won't forget in a hurry.

Lucy Wakefield is a seemingly ordinary wo Imagine this Is Lucy a bad person? You really have to come to your own conclusions on that. The book doesn't let things be very clear cut from the start, the scary thing is she gets away with raising her newly "adopted" daughter for 21 years!

Yes, 21 years With changing viewpoints and voices the book explores so many different issues around what motherhood is and isn't and it is fascinating if not somewhat difficult to read the roll-out impact over the years on Lucy, Mia and the birth mother. Did she do the wrong thing by putting an urgent phone call over keeping an eye on her baby? Did she deserve to feel guilty and beat herself up? Does it make a difference how the abductor Lucy raises the stolen baby?

Does it matter if she is brought up well or not? As the book steams forward to the reconnection of Mia with her birth mother you will no doubt go through a fair few thoughts and feelings around this book. Quite incredible to find out your daughter is alive and well no doubt 21 years on! The ways this impacts on the new family and everyone is just something that needs to be read for yourself.

Does nurture or nature prevail? This is a great read that I think many will enjoy, this one gets 4 happy reading stars from me. I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley, many thanks.

View all 6 comments. She takes a baby girl from a shopping trolly and raises it as her own" While reading this story my emotions were all over the place and I kept thinking what a great discussion book this would make for a book club. After checking her birth certificate Lucy found it easy to fake this document , MIa found a key that was taped on the cabinet. That key opens a box that contains newspaper clippings..

After knowing the truth, Mia ran away. Meanwhile, Lucy flew to China to give her time to think, and also to hide, since the news eventually broke out. While in China, Lucy got pneumonia and she asked Wendy for help. Also, Mia had the chance to know her birth mother better. She discovered that she is caring, and there are many ways she is different from Lucy. Mia was angry with Lucy for a while.

She ignored her calls and texts, and even swore that she will never talk to her kidnapper once again. But getting on with her life, Mia realized how much she misses Lucy. She realized that Lucy is still a mother to her, and after all those years, Lucy was not a bad person.

Marilyn also found forgiveness, because as much as Lucy ruined their lives when she kidnapped Mia, Lucy was still a great mom. Marilyn and Mia decided to forgive Lucy.

To settle things, Mia went to China to meet her mom. There was one night when the rain poured so hard, and i didn't want it to stop. Weird, because i was afraid and amused by the sound of the rain and thunder.

When Lucy's now-grown daughter Mia discovers the devastating truth of her origins, she is overwhelmed by confusion and anger and determines not to speak again to the mother who raised her.

She reaches out to her birth mother for a tearful reunion, and Lucy is forced to flee to China to avoid prosecution. What follows is a ripple effect that alters the lives of many and challenges our understanding of the very meaning of motherhood.

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