herbybib's Reviews (329)

not this book making me believe in vampires…

There is something so beautifully evocative and intimate in the experience of listening to a memoir read by its author. It's my favorite way to ingest the genre, particularly when the recollection in question explores past traumas and familial legacies. It allows me to empathize with the author on a deeper level, their pain and power and growth radiating through their inflection and rhythm, their unprompted pauses conveying more than a period on page ever could. Somebody's Daughter was no exception to this, and while I'll certainly reread through it again in print, I highly recommend prospective readers try the audio on for size. I think it's the most unfiltered way to hear someone's story, through their own voice. While I was left wanting to know more about the author's father, and her relationship to him, I respect the boundaries of the text. I do hope to hear more from Ashley C. Ford in the future - about her own journey or whatever other stories she may wish to tell.

(Side note: I spent a few years growing up in Fort Wayne, IN. One of my best friends still lives there and I visit from time to time. I have personally been submerged in generational trauma and family secrets in that city. Having no idea that this is where Ashley grew up, and thus the central setting of the book, I was surprised by this small connection, and it pulled me even deeper in.)