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Award-winning journalist and host of Black "Enterprise" Business Report Caroline Clarke's moving memoir of her surprise discovery of her birthmother—Cookie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole—and the relationship that blossomed between them through the heartfelt messages they exchanged on hundreds of postcards.
Caroline Clarke was born in an era when adoptions were shameful, secret, and sealed. While she wondered about her biological parents, she kept her curiosity in check, until a series of small health problems raised concerns about her genetic heritage and its consequences for her two children's lives and her own.
Though Spence-Chapin Family Service, the agency that handled her adoption, could not reveal the name of her birth mother, it was able to provide details that lead to a shocking truth. Caroline's birth mother and her family were related to a friend. The woman who gave her life was none other than Carole "Cookie" Cole, the daughter of iconic crooner and pianist Nat King Cole.
Drawing on details provided by the agency and her own investigative skills, Caroline embarked on a life-changing journey of discovery that stretched from coast to coast, forged through e-mail, phone calls, and post cards. The constancy, volume, and intimacy of her steady correspondence with Cookie filled the days and distance between them. Through brief yet poignant messages squeezed onto three-inch open-faced squares, mother and daughter revealed themselves, sharing secrets, taking risks, and ultimately building a bond like no other.
A heartfelt, inspiring tribute to both Caroline's adoptive parents and her biological mother, Postcards from Cookie illuminates the enduring power of love to shape and guide our lives.
Caroline Clarke has spent most of her career at the media company Black Enterprise, where throughout the years she has held several key positions in print, television, digital, and live content. She is also the author of Take a Lesson: Today's Black Achievers on How They Made It and What They Learned Along the Way. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Smith College and a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. A passionate advocate for adoption, she lives in New York with her family.
Juden
Posted Fri Jul 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I really liked the book. Caroline has the ability to be very descriptive and lets the reader in on her innermost thoughts re: her relationship with Cookie and other family members. It felt like an honor to be privy to her thinking as she discovered her birth mother. The highs and lows that she felt as she got to know Cookie made me think about how difficult it would be to start such an important relationship later in life. There is so much catching up to do. Cookie and Caroline felt like they were friends of mine. I slowed down my reading for the last 60 pages, as I didn't want the book to end. I wanted to savor my glimpse into their lives. The subject matter was interesting to me, as I have a close friend, who was adopted as an infant, but never met her birth parents. I thought about her as I read the book. The book was especially interesting because of the link with celebrities I have been aware of throughout my life. I am glad that I got to know Caroline and Cookie. I highly recommend this book.
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Posted Thu Jul 24 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This book was facinating, fabulous and wonderfully written. So much gratitude to the author, Caroline Clarke for sharing her beautiful story.
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Overview
Award-winning journalist and host of Black "Enterprise" Business Report Caroline Clarke's moving memoir of her surprise discovery of her birthmother—Cookie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole—and the relationship that blossomed between them through the heartfelt messages they exchanged on hundreds of postcards.
Caroline Clarke was born in an era when adoptions were shameful, secret, and sealed. While she wondered about her biological parents, she kept her curiosity in ...