#476: Someone Else’s Daughter
One great article + two invitations to connect with other thoughtful readers
Dear Loyal Readers,
I hope your new year has begun well. Mine is strong so far. My colleagues and our students have returned to school; my dog still enjoys fetching his ball with abandon; I am spending ample time resting and reading.
If you are a long-time subscriber, you know that two things make Article Club special: (1) the great articles, (2) the great people. That’s what this week’s issue is all about.
Today I’ll announce January’s article of the month. Then I’ll invite you to two upcoming gatherings, which I think you will find valuable.
Article of the Month: “Someone Else’s Daughter,” by Susan Dominus
An invitation to this month’s discussion on January 26
An invitation to this month’s in-person gathering on January 30
Hope you appreciate this week’s article and invitations. As always, if you appreciate an article, I’d love to hear from you (by email or in the comments below). Or if you prefer, show your support by becoming a paid subscriber (like Sam) or buying me a coffee (like Devin). I would be very grateful.
1️⃣ Someone Else’s Daughter
Daphna Cardinale was overjoyed when she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. The road had been a long one: She and her husband Alexander had tried for three years to get pregnant before turning to in vitro fertilization. They called their daughter May. Everything about her was a gift.
Except there was one problem: Their daughter didn’t look like them.
At first, Daphna and Alexander shrugged off their feelings of anxiety. Genes work in mysterious ways, they said. Who cares if their friends and family were asking pointed questions? But no matter what they did, their suspicions never subsided. So Daphna and Alexander ordered a DNA testing kit to calm their nerves.
The results shocked them. May wasn’t their genetic baby. Their I.V.F. clinic had made a huge mistake. Now what? they asked.
By Susan Dominus • The New York Times Magazine • 27 min • Gift Link
2️⃣ Come join our discussion on January 26
I’m happy to announce that we will be discussing “Someone Else’s Daughter” on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2:00 - 3:30 pm PT, on Zoom.
I warmly invite you to participate this month in our deep dive and to join the discussion. Everyone is welcome to sign up. This is how it’ll go:
We’ll sign up by clicking the button below
We’ll read and annotate the article together on this shared Google Doc
We’ll listen to an interview with author Susan Dominus (coming Jan. 23)
We’ll gather on Zoom to discuss the article in facilitated small groups
Are you interested? I hope so.
If this will be your first time (this is most of you!), rest assured: Like you, Article Club readers are kind and thoughtful. We love the best writing that’s out there, and we appreciate building connection and empathy across difference. If you have any questions, hit reply or email me at mark@articleclub.org.
3️⃣ Can’t make January’s discussion? No problem.
One thing I like about Article Club is that we keep things friendly and informal. Remember, this isn’t graduate school. We don’t have to be fancy or feel like we need to perform, as if it’s graduate school or something. After all, we’re here for the articles and to connect with other thoughtful people.
One outgrowth of this vibe is that I have not typically planned out discussion dates and articles in advance. But I’ve heard from some of you that you’d like to mark your calendars and choose which discussion(s) to join.
That sounds like a great idea, so here are the 10 discussion dates for 2025.
I hope that having all the dates all in one place will encourage you to join a discussion when you feel available and inspired to do so.
4️⃣ Dislike Zoom? Connect with fellow readers in real life.
If you live near Oakland, I warmly invite you to attend our most popular gathering, affectionally called Highlighter Happy Hour, on Jan. 30. We’ll meet at Room 389 beginning at 5:30 pm. Yes, there will be prizes. Sign up by clicking the button below.
HHH always “sells out.” (Tickets are free.) It’s a great way to connect with fellow loyal readers and to share perspectives on the articles. Friends have been made at HHH!
Why is it called HHH? The acronym hearkens back to when this newsletter was named “The Highlighter,” circa 2015-2022. While I’ve rebranded most everything else Article Club-related, HHH remains strong.
Want to start a local chapter of HHH? I fully support this idea. Let’s chat.
Thank you for reading this week’s issue. Hope you liked it. 😀
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I found this incredibly moving. Gut wrenching for sure but inspiring in the way notions of what is a family can be transformed by real love.
What a story!