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Synopsis

IN THIS COMPELLING INSPIRATIONAL MEMOIR, V. Lakshmi paints a portrait of an uncommon life: an orphan born in a remote village in India, adopted and raised by a white Jewish family in America. The tragic, mysterious death of V.’s biological mother two days after her birth tenderly foreshadows the maelstrom of sensitive feminine health issues V. would face in her life, including a twenty-year battle with endometriosis, infertility, failed adoption, and the decision to embrace hysterectomy as way of creating new life… the rebirth of V. herself.

V. Lakshmi’s is a rising voice in the movement of women’s storytelling. It is rooted in a cross-cultural, adoptive-family love story unlike any other. Lifted up by wings strengthened through struggle, V.’s story flies in the face of society’s expectations for women to look a “certain way” and slip comfortably into the American Dream. Not that our cultural dreams aren’t beautiful, yet what happens when life changes our plans?

V’s heartbreakingly humorous anecdotes of initially coping, then soul-searching, and ultimately releasing anger at her body and the world shines with insight into the deepest core questions of human relationships and identity. Who am I, and why am I here in this wild world, really? With vulnerability and grace, V. simultaneously captures and frees the emotions surrounding all sides of adoption, her intense encounters with racism, her path to a loss of motherhood, and her courageous renaissance — illustrating how “the end” of one road is only the beginning of another…and the unforeseen is also beautiful and perhaps more fulfilling than we could have ever imagined.

A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to Family Village Farm.

 

• Adopted at Birth, Indian Jewish Author Relives Her Life in New Book to Inspire Others on India West.

• “I Want To Tell The Stories Of People Who Are Doing Incredible Acts Of Kindness Out Of Their Heart And Soul” ~ V. Lakshmi's Interview with Yitzi Weiner, Editor of Authority Magazine. This piece also appears on Thrive Global.

• Weaving Together An Authentic Indian Jewish Life: An Indian orphan finds a home in a Jewish family and community on My Jewish Learning.

• Author interview: The Story Behind the Memoir Finding Your Way: When Life Changes Your Plans: A Memoir of Adoption, Loss of Motherhood and Remembering Home

• New Radio Media interview with Rabbi Tzvi: Watch the video!

• Jewish Sacred Aging interview with Rabbi Address: Listen to the podcast!

• JUF News article: Jewish, East Indian, adopted, and childless: New memoir focuses on journey from pain to self-acceptance

• When Life Changes Your Plans: A Memoir of an American Jewish Indian adoptee on My Jewish Learning.

• V. Lakshmi (Rachel Beck) joins Rabbi Tzvi on Let's Talk Torah for a second conversation. Listeners will find out how her book tour is going, plus what the Torah says about the feminine health issues that affect her.

• Global Ministries congratulates V. Lakshmi (Rachel Beck) on her newly published book.

• Khabar, the Indian-American magazine, featured V. Lakshmi's Perspective: My Two Lives: Jewish Indian and American in the April 2019 edition.

• Dr. Paula Joyce interviews V. Lakshmi about overcoming adversity and learning how to thrive on the Uplift Your Life VoiceAmerica radio show.

 

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