The Leonard Lopate Show

I don't usually post, but I had to turn my radio off. This woman is so affected and irritating. Sorry, Leonard, your guests are usually compelling.

IAlison Larkin was a delightful, hugely entertaining guest on your show today - and thank goodness for her, as she made the hour! I bought the book as a result of the show today and I'm half way through already. It's a beautiful book. Could it be that your guest was the same birth mother who called in during the program to say that some birth parents don't want contact - which Alison responded to by saying that 96% of them welcome it? I can think of no other reason why such a wildly inaccurate comment would be made. That you would post it is shocking and disappointing to me.

I'm so glad you invited Alison Larkin onto your show yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed hearing your conversation about "The English American!"

I've read the book and find it to be a mirror reflecting some of the deepest inner feelings of adopted people like myself. It was refreshing to be able to both laugh and cry at Pippa's journey to self-understanding, a journey I've traveled myself without resolution and one I've been sharing with other adopted persons for the past 33 years.

I'd like everyone who's ever known me to read this book and I feel that if they could, they'd finally understand what's so hard for me to put into words. I'd like every adoptive parent to read "The English American" because I think they'll have more clues about what may be going on in their sons' and daughters' hearts and minds in a way no parenting book can ever tell them. Reading this book is a terrific starting place for a conversation about a subject that may be scarey for some parents but is so necessary, even if the son or daughter's response is that s/he feels quite differently about adoption than Pippa does.

This book is an answer to my prayers.

Terrific interview for a terrific book.

I thought Alison Larkin's interview was as entertaining and informative as her novel.

Don't understand your posting Betty's comment, clearly a personal attack.

Exciting to hear a story about an adoptee who is a heroine- rather than a victim.

Catching up after a day away I was intrigued by your interview on MP3 with Alison Larkin about her book The English American. Finally caught it in the car and was not disappointed. Part improved Liza Dolittle, part Scarlet O'Hara and part Maggie Thatcher, she seemed to shift between personalities as you interviewed all three. Your brilliant interview technique kept her going, not only inviting the shifts between personalities but coming masterfully to grips with the important adoption issues. And you made it all seem so effortless, as if even a cave man could do it. Just ordered Larkin's book on Amazon. Thanks.

Wonderfully entertaining and important novel--and a great interview, too! RE Betty's comment...while it may have been on topic and brief, it certainly wasn't what I would call civil.

A friend e-mailed me the link to your interview with Alison Larkin about her book, "The English American." Although I am not adopted myself,I have several friends and family members who are. Also, as a minister, I have counseled families who have either adopted or given up a child for adoption. I read Alisons book (in one sitting!) and believe that I now understand adoption in a much deeper way. I am grateful to Alison for writing this book and to you for interviewing her. By the way, I have met her in person, and she is not the slighest bit affected. And thanks to Pippa for instructing all of us on how to make a proper cup of tea. I only wish I'd bought stock in brown betty teapots before the book was published!

I was born and adopted in New York. I am more than half-way through the book and I find it delightful. What a change from the usual "adoptees are damaged by adoption" psycho-social tomes!

I'm confused by Janey Michales' statement about a "wildly inaccurate comment". Does she mean Allison's 96% comment or something else? I would put the figure at 90% based on states where first parents were allowed to state a preference.

As for your question on whether medical issues could be used to unseal adoption records - in New York you would first need a doctor licensed in New York. What constitutes "good cause" is still up to the judge. In some cases, life and death isn't good enough - so a healthy person looking for family medical history is usually out of luck.

A fellow English American here!

I was born and adopted at birth in New York and raised from the age of 3 in England.

I was very excited to be able to hear Ms Larkin speaking on your show from way over here and look forward very much to reading her book; I feel I am surely going to identify quite a bit with it.

I have been trying to find out who I am and where I came from for the past 19 years but, unfortunately, New York holds onto a draconian law which seals birth records from the very people they belong to - the adoptee

This is very wrong and must change. It is clear discrimination against a group of people (adult adoptees) who are treated differently under the law to non-adopted citizens

Ironically, had I been born in England, I would have had my records 19 years ago - since England threw out the remnants of stigma and shame of sealed records way back in 1974!

Records were never sealed to protect the birthmothers privacy. That is a myth. The law as written proves otherwise - it was in fact the other way around!

Very funny!

She is amazingly accurate!