(Spoiler alert!)
When I started reading this book, I had forgotten that it was a work of non-fiction.
As I was reading, I realized that the author was talking about herself and her family.
Yes, it was an interesting read. By the time I finished the book, I was wondering why I read it.
This is an in-depth dive into the author's ancestry. The impetus for writing the book seems to be her father, who was incredibly racist. So, I understood that she was searching back in her family tree to see where that racism came from.
She was definitely disappointed to find that the real Maud Newton, from whom she borrowed her name, was also a racist.
Somehow, I thought the book was going somewhere. I expected some revelation that would be astounding.
No.
What I got from the end of the book was that, besides being a racist, her father was unfaithful to her mother and also a liar to every girlfriend he had after her.
Was I shocked that she cut off all contact with her father?
No.
So, interesting but not a book I would recommend.

In many ways, I was most interested in the author's diligent tracing of her family roots, especially once she recognized that both sides of her family had owned slaves, To some degree, she was equally interested in learning more about her family members who had ended up institutionalized, questioning her own emotional well-being at times. Unlike with the racism, which she has vowed to try to change and addresses in her personal life, it's a bit more difficult to address depression.

In the acknowledgments, I found it interesting that she included her step-father, the man who molested her but not her father, who she remains estranged, except for written correspondence. Perhaps there was some kind of forgiveness to the stepfather that could not happen with the father. Since her father is an attorney, I also wondered if he'd find a way to make his daughter "pay" for writing this memoir. He's not the most likable character in this book.

"Ancestor Trouble" is a book that many of can relate to since families are difficult, and family secrets rarely remain hidden. Even though I am not a person who seeks to find more about my family history, the present members have given me enough insight to not want to delve deeper, I enjoyed Newton's journey of searching and discovering

Ancestor Trouble by Maud Newton is an absolutely fascinating and incredibly intimate personal journey into one woman's search for the true spine of her family's history. While reading, I couldn't stop thinking about what I might find if I actually put in the work to learn more about my own family. (Apparently I have a jewish great grandfather who left his wife and 3 kids in Brooklyn and was found, decades later, preaching in a rural midwestern church and with an entirely new family.) I don't know that I'm ready to take that journey, but I absolutely loved being along for the ride with Maud Newton!! And I just signed up for her newsletter because I don't want to miss any future essays or updates!! Highly recommend!!

5 stars
Not at all what I expected. I do feel there is a audience for this book. It is not for me. Thanks for the ARC of this book.

Sprawling is the best way to describe this book. As the author admits towards the end, the way she writes is to approach a topic from several different angles, and that is apparent here. From family anecdotes, to records-based genealogy, to genetic testing and ancestor worship, Newton leaves no stone unturned to try and make sense of her complicated relationship with her immediate family, and ancestors further removed.