Book Review: ‘What Makes Us Alike?’ By Donna Dias Manuel
Marketing professional and blogger Donna Dias Manuel’s second women’s fiction novel is a bitter-sweet, thought-provoking story that explores the complexities of motherhood.
There are two pictures painted of motherhood—the first one by marketing teams, a rosy image of a mother surrounded by her kids and a devoted husband enjoying breakfast in bed. The second one, a supermom— flawless and all-knowing— that society etched in our brain. And where do single mothers feature in these distorted images? I say motherhood is a lot like the Little Engine That Could; women telling themselves over and over again that they can, and in turn, pushing themselves to breaking point to conform to society’s definition of a good mother. Are mothers permitted to make mistakes? Do they have an identity of their own other than being the primary caregiver of their children?
What Makes Us Alike? touches upon some of these vital questions as it follows the life of Eira Dey, a thirty-four-year-old single mother whose life is bespeckled with controversies. She’s had an unplanned college pregnancy, made an uncommon decision to bring up a child on her own over marrying the father, and has been involved in a media scandal too. But all her tween daughter, Zasha, wants is a regular family. Once best friends, Zasha is now at loggerheads with her mother and is unaccepting of the new man in Eira’s life. To get Eira to bend, she visits her father in Mumbai, which makes Eira insecure about her daughter’s return to Washington D.C. Torn between Zasha’s happiness and her own, guilt-ridden Eira confides in her mother, Kanika (who also lives with them). Kanika uses this as an opportunity to try and rebuild a real connection with her daughter and opens up about a secret—one that can change their relationship forever.
With several twists and turns in the plot, Donna skillfully juggles multiple points of view and intersecting storylines, making it a perfect book club read. This story will resonate with women of all ages because the characters are flawed yet strong and hence relatable.
Available for purchase on Amazon.
