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Reviewed by Inga Buccella for Readers' Favorite
Susan Lorraine Kadera writes about her personal experiences in recording her lineage exploration in The Tapestry of My Ancestry: A Journey Through DNA, Ancestry, and Spiritual Reflection. Although DNA testing revealed numerous connections to many nationalities, science did little to reveal the spiritual ties the author has with her ancestors. From the Cherokee and Lumbee tribes to African and European relatives, each culture adds another dimension to the colorful tapestry. As explained in this memoir, remembered stories do not always speak loudly; rather, it is the silent spirit that carries a legacy, a tradition, from the past into the future.
Although The Tapestry of My Ancestry by Susan Lorraine Kadera is a personal exploration and a revelatory journey, it has encouraged me to contemplate my own backstory. Rarely does a book inspire me to act, but this one did. That is what I most appreciated about her story. But I also appreciated finding a parallel in the writing; as the author mentions, there is a rhythm to her ancestry. But I also realized that her writings, too, have a poetic rhythm. Each chapter has several repeated phrases. As a gospel song is sung, so is this book written, with refrains being spiritual mantras. Although we only gain a glimpse of the author's heritage, the tapestry is beautifully handcrafted by a multitude of ancient ancestors. Some of the materials used are natural leather, while others are finely dyed silk. Some of the weaving is tight, while other strands are loose and open. But it is only over centuries and across continents that the rich design of the weaving can be revealed. What I have learned from this story is that ancestry is a never-ending work of art that cannot be seen but rather must be fully lived.
