Digging to America by Ann Tyler

I read this book yesterday while flying to and from Washington, D.C. Its themes spoke to me—themes of belonging and not belonging—not feeling like you belong no matter how hard you try; being different, and the same; people asking, prying, about things you take for granted; culture; a need to please; over-sensitivity—things we all carry one way or another whether we’re Americans, immigrants, or something else. The premise is two families, one Iranian and one WASP adopting Korean children and becoming friends. Who are we, and how do others see us, the Americans? And the immigrants among us, the Iranians, the Koreans, what place do our cultures hold? Where do they mesh? Clash? What constitutes tradition? How do traditions come to be? Why do some stick and others fade away? Can you change tradition and still have it be valid? Do we become like our mothers? Do we become our mothers?

I recommend it.