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Book Review: Umbilicus by Paula Gruben

Charlotte van Katwijk was adopted at birth, and although she has a caring family, she’s always felt as though something was missing.

Having struggled with her identity for as long as she can remember, Charlotte feels a desperate need to meet her birth mother. However, due to Child Welfare laws, she has to wait until she’s 21 for her adoption records to be released to her.

When the time for meeting her birth mother, Beth, finally comes, Charlotte can’t believe the immediate bond she feels or the many similarities they share. As Charlotte discovers more about her mother and the reasons behind her adoption, Beth learns about the child she was forced to give up 21 years ago and the woman she has become.

Easy-to-read, emotive and real, Umbilicus is a thought-provoking autobiographical novel that gives a glimpse into what life is like for an adopted child and the mixed emotions that come along with it.

Umbilicus by Paula Gruben is available for R190, Megabooks.co.za.

Want to know more about Paula’s writing process? Click here to read our Q&A, or visit our Book Club for more great reads! 

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