All You Can Ever Know in The Toast

Oct 30, 2018 Melanie Greene rated it it was amazing

I mean, of course I was going to cry, because Nicole Chung's writing is expert, engaging, effortless. (Plus I'm a Certified Book Crier.)
And of course I was going to think deeply about life - my life, her life, the lives of so many adoptees.
It's no shock to anyone how much I relished this memoir.

At the moment, the stick-to-me bit is hearing 'she has her grandmother's ears (or whatever trait, physical or otherwise)' and how I've rooted myself over the course of my life in Known Facts (I'm a 7th g ...more

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Oct 30, 2018 Emily rated it it was amazing

I've loved reading Nicole Chung's writing on transracial adoption at The Toast, and the series she edits over at Catapult over the years. Particularly since reading Kathryn Joyce's "The Child Catchers," I've been looking for more writing and perspectives of adult adoptees.

Chung's story is a specific, personal exploration of family and belonging. While pregnant with her first child, she seeks out information about the birth family she knows next-to-nothing about. "All You Can Ever Know" challeng ...more

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Nov 04, 2018 Crysta rated it it was amazing

I "know" Nicole from The Toast (RIP), so I knew I would read whatever books she wrote. I'm so glad I did. I have a light connection to adoption (4 adopted cousins), but even if I had no connection whatsoever, Nicole writes about her experience in a way that is so universal - how do I know who I am? How will the beautiful dream of my future actually turn out? I devoured this book and am so excited for the next person on the waitlist at the library who will get it this week. ...more

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May 19, 2019 bijal rated it it was amazing

i have always enjoyed nicole chung's writing since i, like so many, was introduced to it via the toast (RIP 😭), and this was no exception.

this was foremost a book about about transracial adoption, but also a book about love and family and belonging and choices and wanting, hoping, wishing, believing, and immigrants and identity and questioning, forgiveness, listening, and understanding, and acceptance - none of which are exclusive to transracial adoption or even any adoption, but are so unique w ...more

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May 27, 2019 Erica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I enjoyed this memoir a lot, and appreciated how honest and thoughtful it was surrounding transracial adoption. Hard recommend.

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Oct 25, 2018 Alicia rated it really liked it

https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2018/1...

I feel like I have been waiting foreverrrrrrr to read this, but it was undoubtedly worth the wait! Chung's memoir is beautifully written, intensely personal, and extremely compelling, discussing her childhood as a Korean-American adopted by a white family (in a very white area of Oregon), and then her journey to find her birth family as she was on the verge of having her first child. A quick and moving read. A/A-. ...more

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