A poignant and provocative story of adoption, self-discovery, and the meaning of family, Being Lara by author Lola Jaye (By the Time You Read This) is an unforgettable tale of three women—British mother, Nigerian birth mother, and 30-year-old daughter—the choices they made, and the fragile bond they try to create across time and continents. Intelligent and touching, Being Lara is exquisite contemporary fiction with heart and soul that will resonate with readers of Cecilia Ahearn, Thrity Umrigar, and Shilpi Gowda.
Being Lara: A Novel
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Book Description
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From the Back Cover
What other explanation could there be? With her dark complexion and kinky hair, so unlike her fair-skinned parents, Lara knew she was different. At eight she finally learned the word "adopted." Twenty-two years later, a stranger arrives as she blows out the candles on her thirtieth birthday cake—a woman in a blue-and-black head tie who also claims the title "Lara’s mother."
Lara, always in control, now finds her life slipping free of the stranglehold she's had on it. Unexpected, dangerously unfamiliar emotions are turning Lara's life upside down, pulling her between Nigeria and London, forcing her to confront the truth about her past. But if she's brave enough to embrace the lives of her two mothers, she may discover once and for all what it truly means to be Lara.
About the Author
Lola Jaye was born and raised in London, England, where she still makes her home; she has also lived briefly in Nigeria. By the Time You Read This—Lola's first U.S. novel—was published by HarperCollins in 2009. Her inspirational essay "Reaching for the Stars: How You Can Make Your Dreams Come True," in which she charted her journey from foster child to author, was released in 2009 as part of the U.K.'s wildly popular Quick Reads program.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Being Lara by Lola Jaye opened with Lara's thirtieth birthday party and she didn't really want to go to it. She is a very successful business woman working with expensive jewelry; she is "going with" a very handsome and considerate man, her mother had been a pop star in the past and she has a very loving father.
Lara flashes back to memories of when she was five. She had been called an "alien" because she looked different from her classmates. Her birth mother was in Nigeria and her adoptive parents were both white. As she gets older showing emotions is like touching a very hot stove with her bare hands. Alternating with the present and the past for the sections titled Lara, this book also alternates with the stories of her two mothers.
Pat tells her story of growing up in South London and not quite fitting into her family, being an introvert. She still felt sad about her losing her father. She felt closer to him than anyone. She met and married an unusually sensitive man with a loving nature and an open ear for Pat. He actually knows Pat more than she does herself.
Yomi, her Nigerian mother also goes back to childhood of poverty and longing for a "Jane Austin type of life". Not only do learn about her life, you learn Nigerian customs, foods and growing up in Lagos, Nigeria. She is hopelessly in love with Henry, a handsome gentleman who is also poor. Later in the story we are privileged to be introduced to incredibly wise mother.
So, these three stories come together and explain Lara. She is special but she has a lot of trouble relating to people. This book shows her journey from her always knowing that there was something missing in her life, she didn't know what, to woman who starts growing emotionally and feeling blessed for the richness of her life.
The writing is beautiful and towards the end of the book, I didn't want to let go of the story. There is a story behind every person, and perhaps this book will make you wonder about other people who seem emotionally closed off. Maybe they have stories that explain the way that they are.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand people better and have the bonus of learning about Nigerian culture and food.
I received this book as a win from Library Thing and that in no way influenced my review.
Lara flashes back to memories of when she was five. She had been called an "alien" because she looked different from her classmates. Her birth mother was in Nigeria and her adoptive parents were both white. As she gets older showing emotions is like touching a very hot stove with her bare hands. Alternating with the present and the past for the sections titled Lara, this book also alternates with the stories of her two mothers.
Pat tells her story of growing up in South London and not quite fitting into her family, being an introvert. She still felt sad about her losing her father. She felt closer to him than anyone. She met and married an unusually sensitive man with a loving nature and an open ear for Pat. He actually knows Pat more than she does herself.
Yomi, her Nigerian mother also goes back to childhood of poverty and longing for a "Jane Austin type of life". Not only do learn about her life, you learn Nigerian customs, foods and growing up in Lagos, Nigeria. She is hopelessly in love with Henry, a handsome gentleman who is also poor. Later in the story we are privileged to be introduced to incredibly wise mother.
So, these three stories come together and explain Lara. She is special but she has a lot of trouble relating to people. This book shows her journey from her always knowing that there was something missing in her life, she didn't know what, to woman who starts growing emotionally and feeling blessed for the richness of her life.
The writing is beautiful and towards the end of the book, I didn't want to let go of the story. There is a story behind every person, and perhaps this book will make you wonder about other people who seem emotionally closed off. Maybe they have stories that explain the way that they are.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand people better and have the bonus of learning about Nigerian culture and food.
I received this book as a win from Library Thing and that in no way influenced my review.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Folamiluvs
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Being Lara" is a great read that covers two continents. You can actually feel the pain of Yomi and Mum as you turn the pages. I especially love the caring heart of her adopted dad.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A story that kept me turning pages from beginning to end. A little girl suddenly realizes that she is different from everyone else, her parents don't look like her and neither does the rest of her family. Lara has a hard time finding out the reality of her situation and upon entering her 30th year she is finally finding out the real truth.
Jumping from past and present and between different characters, the reader gets the whole picture for this book - through the eyes of Lara, her adopted mother and her birth mother. The reader finds out the history that leads each woman to where they are now in the present grappling with forming a new family unit. I thought this was a fresh approach to the world of adoption. We find out how she came to live at an orphanage and then what led her to London with her adopted parents.
I would recommend this to readers of all genres. This story was a new take that I think most readers would enjoy. It was a great read to find out how a young girl feels when she knows that her family isn't the norm.
Jumping from past and present and between different characters, the reader gets the whole picture for this book - through the eyes of Lara, her adopted mother and her birth mother. The reader finds out the history that leads each woman to where they are now in the present grappling with forming a new family unit. I thought this was a fresh approach to the world of adoption. We find out how she came to live at an orphanage and then what led her to London with her adopted parents.
I would recommend this to readers of all genres. This story was a new take that I think most readers would enjoy. It was a great read to find out how a young girl feels when she knows that her family isn't the norm.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
This was a wonderful book! I couldn't put it down. Lola Jaye did a great job of telling this story from the point of view of Laura, her adopted mother, and her birth mother. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jasmine Q. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
I really enjoyed this book. You could really relate to the characters. Well written. Recommend to all book lovers. Many topics for discussion in a book club.
Published 4 months ago by kylrobb from Canada
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE VOYAGE FROM FEAR TO LOVE
Lara Reid has grown to be an independent, successful, self-sufficient woman with a wonderful family and great friends as her support system. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Foresight Literary Lounge
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fell a bit flat for me....
Lara was adopted at the young age of 3 by a mother who was a former pop star and a father who wanted nothing more then a baby of his own. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Laura (The Reading Nook
4.0 out of 5 stars
Learning Oneself
Lara is eight years old when she discovers that she is adopted. She has always felt out of place, however. Read more
Published 10 months ago by McGuffy Ann
3.0 out of 5 stars
Solid read from a good writer
"Dating back to the 1950s, it was not uncommon for Nigerian families to send their children to live with white families in England in a situation best described as private... Read more
Published 11 months ago by L. R. Bobbitt
3.0 out of 5 stars
Being Lara
I'd give this book 3.5 stars if Amazon would let me.
Being Lara is the story of Lara Reid, who was adopted from Nigeria at age 3 by a white couple. Read more
Being Lara is the story of Lara Reid, who was adopted from Nigeria at age 3 by a white couple. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rachel McElhany
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great story, but lack of connection with the writing
Lara's story begins with her thirtieth birthday party, when she sees a woman who at her party whom she does not know. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jaime H.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emotionally Moving Story
From a young girl Lara Reid has always felt different. Kids tease her at school and people look at her and her parents very strangely when they are out in public. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Darlene
4.0 out of 5 stars
Adopted girl meets birth mother from Nigeria
Lara is a successful business woman who was adopted at the age of 3, when her parents, her mother a well-known pop star, visited Nigeria for a charity project, saw her at an... Read more
Published 14 months ago by JudithAnn
