FindingTitle:  Finding Dolores: An Adoptee’s Mid-Life Search for the Beginning

Author:  Thomas W. Muldary, Ph.D.

Format:  Kindle

Published:  2011

Synopsis:  (from Amazon) Finding Dolores is a compelling true story of perseverance and triumph over failure and adversity. It details an extraordinary journey against all odds to learn the truth, connect with genetic history, and claim a birth right. For some, Finding Dolores is a virtual guide for adoption searches, with informative resources and facts about the experiences and challenges of adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, and anyone touched by adoption. Above all, it is a source of inspiration and hope, which are essential for adoptees if they are ever to learn the most fundamental truths of their existence: their origins.

My Rating: 

Muldary takes you his emotional roller coaster ride of the search for his birth family in this wonderfully written and engaging book.  Through his fluid writing, you share in the happiness associated with his triumphs and the sorrow associated with certain realities.  Even if you are not an adoptee, you still feel all his emotions and find yourself rooting him on during his journey for the truth.

While not an adoptee myself, I know several, and in particular, am trying to help my stepfather identify his birth family.  I try to read a variety of adoption-related books, both resources and personal stories, to help guide me in helping my stepfather.  Finding Dolores is, by far, one of the best I have read so far.  I highly recommend this book to any adoptee who is currently (or planning) to search for their birth family, as Muldary encountered (and overcame) many obstacles along the way (including rejection), realities for which adoptees should be prepared.

While I made it over halfway through the book without spotting any errors, I did notice a few editorial mistakes in the latter half of the book.  While this usually bothers me (as an editor, how could it not?), I was so enchanted by the book that it didn’t even matter to me…that says a lot as to how drawn-in I was—I noticed the errors, but I didn’t cringe (well, maybe a tad).

In 2013, as a follow up to this book, Muldary published Finding Dolores II: Beyond Search and Reunion, which, according to the book description on Amazon, “tells the rest of the story, while casting adoption reunion in a natural and authentic light by addressing common and unique post-reunion issues.”  While I have not yet read it, it is certainly on my “To Read” list.

Have you read either of these books?  I’d love to hear your take on them.  Drop me a line in the comments for this post!

Purchase Finding Dolores: An Adoptee’s Mid-Life Search for the Beginning or
Finding Dolores II: Beyond Search and Reunion on Amazon.