Description
Book SynopsisWhen they were young, Susan and Edna, children of Holocaust refugee parents, were inseparable; Edna was Susan’s first love and constant companion. But as they grew up and Edna’s physical, and mental challenges altered the ways she could develop, a gulf formed between them. Susan’s life became even more complicated when, just short of her sixteenth birthday, she learned that she’d been born without a uterus and would never menstruate or give birth to children. As she coped with this trauma, Edna continued loving her unconditionally, as she always had.
In her adult years Edna lived a life of dignity in a spiritual community, becoming a model for how Susan could live hers. In her forties, Susan realized her dream of motherhood when she adopted a daughter. Throughout, Edna remained a teacher and loving presence in her sister’s life.
Encompassing Susan and Edna’s lifelong, complex, intertwining relationship,
Edna’s Gift has a powerful message: life may be unpredictable, even traumatic—but if you remain open, strength and wisdom will come to you from surprising and unexpected sources.
Trade Review“Rudnick’s debut memoir examines her complicated relationship with her developmentally disabled sibling as well as her own tumultuous path to self-acceptance and fulfillment. . . . Rudnick is a talented writer, often displaying a keen ability to capture emotional intensity through concise prose.”
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Kirkus Reviews “
Edna’s Gift is the exquisite story of sisters caught in a lifelong struggle for healing and wholeness . . . It moved me profoundly, to laughter and tears, and deserves a place on your bookshelf alongside classic memoirs of sister love, including Elizabeth Lesser’s
Marrow.”
—Mark Matousek, author of
The Boy He Left Behind and
When You’re Falling, Dive “Edna’s grace and indomitable spirit in spite of her many challenges will inspire readers as it inspired her sister, Susan—and proves that our life’s greatest teacher often turns out to be the person we least expect. Rudnick’s lovely and moving memoir of her own journey toward fully embracing Edna—and herself—is a gift to us all.”
—Barbara Graham,
New York Times best-selling author of
Eye of My Heart “Two lives that forever intertwine will draw you in and keep you reading. Each is slightly broken but uniquely whole . . . This book will stay with me for a long time.”
—Kay Berry, an administrator of MRKH Experiences, Advice and Support
“A powerful memoir of a sister’s love for and devotion to her developmentally disabled sister . . . For anyone intrigued by the process of transformation,
Edna’s Gift is a source of inspiration.”
—Judith Ruskay Rabinor, PhD, author of
A Starving Madness and
Befriending Your Ex After Divorce “
Edna’s Gift is an honest, unwavering love story between two sisters—one of whom has developmental delays. Rudnick’s writing had me hooked from the first page.”
—Linda Atwell, author of
Loving Lindsey “The relationship between ‘typical’ and ‘special needs’ siblings is complicated—often not reciprocal in the traditional sense and sometimes fraught with conflicting emotions, it can also bring unexpected riches. Susan Rudnick has given us an eloquently crafted exploration of how her life has been shaped by her sister. The result is an honest, insightful and love-filled memoir.”
—Teresa Sullivan, author of
Mikey and Me “Beautifully written. . . I literally could not put it down.”
—Barbara K Schwartz, PhD, author of
Hopeful Paths “A powerful and intimate account of the trials, tribulations, challenges, and opportunities of being a sibling of a person with disabilities.”
—Avidan Milevsky, PhD, Ariel University, author of
Sibling Issues in Therapy
