by Mona Simpson
First published 1997
Jane di Natali steps into the polished world of Tom Owens, the biotechnology millionaire who fathered her but never knew she existed. Raised in communes by a mother who can no longer care for her, Jane finds herself thrust into the care of a man wholly unprepared for parenthood. Tom's ordered existence suddenly includes a daughter who knows nothing of his corporate empire or suburban expectations. Jane must navigate this alien landscape while Tom grapples with responsibilities he never wanted. Their awkward attempts to understand each other expose the gulf between his privileged world and her unconventional upbringing. As father and daughter circle each other warily, both discover that family connections resist easy solutions. Simpson crafts their relationship with careful observation, revealing how two strangers bound by blood struggle to bridge vastly different worlds.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, relationships, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unconventional-upbringing
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
336 pages · Hardcover · Faber Faber Inc