Lifting the Lid - a memoir born of adoption is a compelling story told by a distinctive voice with heart and humour about identity, belonging and a woman's search for her biological truth. It is an exploration by the author, as an adopted baby girl, growing up in Newcastle, Australia in the 1970s and 1980s - of assimilating and clashing with culture, gender and societal norms.
Anyone connected to adoption or interested in family history and Australia's social landscape from the mid-twentieth century to the present will love this book.
Lifting the Lid explores identity through the author's experience as the product of a sexual encounter between a 'fine' protestant girl and a migrant Italian Catholic musician in the mid-sixties, traversing uncharted territory where truth and secrets live in parallel across Newcastle, Sydney, Tasmania and Melbourne.
Growing pains from childhood to adolescence and the coming of age towards adulthood are vividly described through imagery of dreams and references to pop culture as the inner workings of a developing mind unfolds as the author searches for her place.
Who is 'Condom Man'?
Will the band get back together?
Why does heartbreak feel like your heart is breaking?
The answers unravel the memory threads of interconnected families and stories of social change that continues to affect families everywhere.
Uniquely Australian, yet universal in thought, this memoir illustrates how identity is linked to heritage and the fallout from denial of the truth.
Industry Reviews
"Karen's story moved me beyond words. The bravery and the depths she experienced were shared so beautifully. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel." - Kristen Odijk
"I loved this book so much. It's the first book I have read cover to cover for a long time - done and dusted in a day. A great read." - Rachel Boyce.
"After reading Lifting the Lid I have a greater understanding of the plight of those adopted children trying to complete their identities. I've been touched and informed by this story and
reminded of childhood and growing up in that era." - Harry Manson
"A story of belonging and family, it's also partly an ode to growing up in Australia in the 70s. I enjoyed the social commentary and imagining the constraints of the times on the women in the story." - Rebecca Gelsi
"I read this book in less than 24 hours. The writing is astounding." - Angela Crossman
"Highly engaging and the author's amazing strength and joyful spirit lifts from the pages." - Saraid Timbury
"I managed to devour this book over a few days... I literally could not put it down... I even read it in the bath!" - Deborah Amon-Cotter
"The yearning/searching/finding experiences were much deeper emotionally than my concepts of people finding their birth families. People who love family history will love reading this book!" - Bec Gelsi
"I just finished reading...It was incredible, I have tears. The most beautiful but devastating story, I am actually speechless. This would make an amazing film." - Sue Fitzgerald.
