Somebody's Daughter: A Memoir

I loved this book. I found I could relate with Ashley C. Ford on MANY subjects. The story telling was engaging and flowed easily. Her relationship with her Grandmother was moving. I was very inspired by her spirit and her honesty. I could not put this book down.
Thank you @netgalley for another wonderful book!

This book was heartfelt, like reading a diary. The memories written down made me say, “just one more chapter”. This book made me think about the ways parents want to protect their children from dangers seen & unseen & how children interpret that protection.

I’m sorry but no. First of all I didn’t like the writing style of jumping from one topic to the other. There was no consistency between one paragraph and the next which muddled the story at times. Second of all I’m not sure what was the point of emphasizing her father’s crime in the synopsis when she barely discusses it throughout the book. In fact she just glosses over the fact that her father’s crime was done onto her by someone she learned to trust. She never asked her father about his crime which I thought took away from the story. I wanted to like it but just wasn’t for me.

This memoir was such an eye opening look into a life nothing like how I grew up with elements of things I did encounter. The way Ashley told her story of wanting to be a "good girl" and fighting the bad choices within, coupled with growing up with her father in prison while her mother did her best to raise three children as a single mom, then to the young adult mind of coping with her father's mistakes, loss and the always evident longing to be seen as Somebody's Daughter was utterly delightful. She was playful at times and serious when her recollections called for it. Her pain reverberated in the words and made you feel for the young girl that experienced life so differently than many. I would recommend this book as a look into a life that allows you to understand and be compassionate for those around you. It truly gives you that sense of be kind to people, as you never know what they are going through behind closed doors.

I finished this book this evening and I’m going to try to sit with it a bit longer. I’ve tried to investigate who Ashley is outside of this book, and why I am certain I’m familiar with her, but keep coming up empty. This memoir was a hard read at times, but definitely a worthwhile reading. BRB, still processing.