The Artist's Daughter by Alexandra Kuykendall

About the Book:

It takes a lifetime to know what--and who--defines you.
When Alexandra Kuykendall became a mother, she knew she had to go back to the beginning. To that hot July afternoon in Barcelona when she met her father for the first time. The only daughter of a single, world-traveling mother and an absent artist father, Alexandra embarks on a soul-searching trip into the past to make sense of the layers of her life--both the memories she experienced and the ones she wished for.

The Artist's Daughter will take you on a journey of discovery through childhood, marriage, and motherhood. Through short vignettes full of both wonder and heartache, Alexandra seeks answers to three life-defining questions: Am I lovable? Am I loved? Am I loving?

If you long to better understand the path your life has taken, where it is heading, and who is guiding you, this revealing and refreshing story will push you toward those answers as it changes your heart.

My Thoughts:

Lately, I try to avoid memoirs.  If I end up not connecting with the book, I feel as though I'm rejecting the author.  But I was familiar with Alexandra through her work with MOPS International, so I requested a copy.

I'm so glad I did!

Alexandra's story resonated with me.  I was born to a single mother, never meeting my biological father.  That left a hole that only God could fill.  While she was able to meet and spend time with her father, distance in both travel and in heart also left a hole in Alexandra.

She shares in her book that a girl who is disconnected or raised by an distant father can go two ways in life.  She either seeks love through relationships, or seeks worth through perfection--earning her love.

Oh, the bells went off in my head!  I worked my tail off pleasing my dad, my mom, and anyone else I came in contact with--if I wanted their love and respect, I performed better than a trained seal.

But I never felt secure or whole.  Just like Alexandra.

Fortunately, life is a journey and God is the ultimate guide.  I watched Alexandra grow in her relationship to her Father, and saw my own growth.  I don't think either of us will be completely healed in the area of daddy nurturing until eternity, but I can see positive changes and recognize areas I still need healing in.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Artist's Daughter", both in content and in writing style.  The chapters are brief and the style is conversational.  I could so be friends with this woman!

I received a copy of "The Artist's Daughter" from Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.  Highly recommended.

Happy Reading!





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