A Cure for Book Procrastination

 The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

    I’ve been meaning to read Jamie Ford’s books for some time—since Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet first leaped into my awareness--but just haven’t gotten around to it. Safely on my TBR list, I’m not sure when I would have gotten around to reading them. Fate stepped in, however, and Ford’s latest release fell into my hands thanks to a generous friend who doesn't mind sharing.

Once I borrow a book from a relative or a friend, that book becomes my next read. I want to read it and return it before the lender has time to wonder when they’ll get it back, but I’m not in the habit of racing through a book. 

This time, though, I surprised myself. This was by far the quickest read I’ve had in ages. I read it inside of a week devouring 100 pages a night on several occasions. What possessed me to read out so fast? I wish I knew. It’s one of those books that takes root and makes itself important to you. The characters were complex and well-defined. I found myself more than caring for them. I was involved. I was intrigued. I was entwined in their thoughts, in their actions, in their decisions, and in their history.

The premise of the book revolves around the concept of epigenetics—a study of how behaviors and environment can affect the way genes work. I think this is an oversimplification, but I only understand it by the examples I’ve read. For instance, I’ve heard that a horse that’s never seen a snake is still afraid of snakes. That the fear of snakes is somehow inherited from some horse deep in the past who had been scared by a snake.

Scientists have experimented on rodents and have been able to make mice afraid of a particular smell though only previous generations had direct experience of the thing that triggered the fear.

In the novel, Ford’s characters are all decedents of one person. From the distant past to the not so distant future, each character’s trauma has been passed down to the next generation. Dorothy, the character from the future, undergoing an experimental treatment, begins to experience waking moments where she relives things her ancestors have experienced. The treatments give her hope. They also give her the wherewithal to take control of her life for her daughter’s sake. 

Throwing in a series of monster storms in the future, terrifying super storms that make our present day hurricanes seem tame, adds urgency to the denouement. 

The journey of the characters, most especially of Dorothy and her daughter, make for one of the most compelling reads I’ve experienced in years. This book has made it to my favorites list.

When I finished the read, I experienced a rare and wonderful moment. I treasured the experience of reading the book, but I felt perfect satisfaction. I wasn’t clinging to the story wishing there were more, though I know with absolute certainty that I will read this novel again. Perhaps many times over the course of the next few years. I’ve also bumped Jamie Ford’s other titles higher up in my TBR list.  

If, like me, you’ve been meaning to read Jamie Ford’s books —and The Many Daughters of Afong Moy in particular—don’t wait any longer.