The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl

This was a powerful story, full of pain, hope and at the end for me- hysterical laughter! It makes you think, it makes you wonder why people love or hate the way they do and it makes me want to do better. Thank you!

You'd better read this book because my input, from my own perspective as a 99.9% Western Ashkenazic Jew (according to Ancestry.com) will never suffice. See those stars up at the top, though? I'm sticking to them. Fact: If you are a white parent of non-white Jewish kids [homegrown OR by adoption], you will never know it all. Take a seat, because class is in session now and for the rest of your life.Racism endures in large part because it takes on many disguises and comes from unexpected sources. Discrimination doesn't always wear the mask we think it will. If you think you've heard something ugly, then you have. If you've had to ask yourself, "Is it just me?" the answer is no, it's the perpetrator of the horrible act or comment. Which doesn't help much upon impact.Ms. Gad teaches us how she forgives the unforgiveable. Even if you can never do likewise, you will understand how she could. One huge reason that resonates throughout her book is that Marra B. Gad's life was launched in love, which prepared her to deal with very thoughtless words and rough treatment by strangers, well-meaning friends, and extended family. Such positive beginnings have sustained and fueled Marra B. Gad throughout her life. She shows us how to deal with the rough corners even when she finds herself utterly gob-smacked.There's a bottomless dollop of love between each page, and we all need more of that in life. The very tone of Ms. Gad's voice chimes fierce, warm, filigree love. Love means many splendid things to Marra B. Gad. High on her list is good chocolate cake. Cake celebrates the good times; brings loved ones together. Cake soothes the rough spots; loves you to your soul when seemingly nothing else will. Ms. Gad cherishes cake for everything it represents to her, and she has come full circle so that cake loves her just as fully. Yes, this has everything to do with the story. Now you must find out why.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, knowing I would likely never choose a book of this genre on my own, and I’m so glad she told me about it! The morning it came, I asked my wife to watch my two small children so I could have some quiet and hopefully get a chunk read. She came into the room after two hours and said ‘You are STILL reading?’ In fact, I was about halfway through so I begged her to keep the kids for two more hours so I could finish. The story of Marra’s life is equal parts interesting, joyful and heartbreaking. Her story speaks of family members who show unconditional love and other family members who can’t seem to hide their biases and prejudices. They come to a head on more than one occasion and it’s sad to see people in her family that can’t get over the fact that she is mixed race, and that her white parents adopted her. The story is one of understanding and hope, as Marra is put to the ultimate test, to be basically the sole family member helping to take care of an Aunt that never hid her unkind feelings toward Marra. I was floored that someone could overcome the experiences she had dealt with, and when the rubber hit the road, she chose to love. I don’t want to give anything else away, as I want you to enjoy this book as I did, but this I will tell you. This book opened my eyes in a way I didn’t realize they were even closed. Now (and God forbid) if I am ever put in that situation, I will do my best to rid myself of any angry or evil feelings. I will always look at the bigger picture, and I will channel my inner Marra by always choosing love.

Thank you Marra! I enjoyed your book. A Quick read. Held my interest the entire book. Honesty and also witty!!

As quick as it takes to flip a book open to the first page, I was drawn in. By Gad's spirit. Her love. Her love of life. I felt as though I was young again, unendingly enthused by the goodness of life.And the book just kept on getting better.This was a transformative book an at times a despairing book. I write those words with grace and respect.Would I recommend this book to anyone? On one hand, I don't know for I this book has changed my life. I fear I am too subjective to honestly tell anyone 'You have got to read this.' Then again, the book is too important to not tell anyone they need open the covers and read just one page. One page only for you will thirst to read the next and the next.

A baby with a white Jewish birth mother is offered for adoption. It turns out that the baby is of black paternity. The Jewish family adopting her had not been expecting this but they immediately love her and it is not an issue for them but it is an issue for a number of the relatives. After the baby grows up, one of the less than accepting relatives gets Alzheimer's. The now grown up bi-racial lady looks out for her great-aunt and endures an officious heartless bureaucrat with too much power and too little wisdom. The book also speaks of the author's Reform Jewish heritage. Just as an aside, the author, as an insightful person, might want to read Isaiah 53 and ponder who it might be referring to although written many centuries before his birth.

This was a book that was discussed with book club members. I thought it was excellent.

From the moment I began to read this book, I could not put this down. Marra's memoir paints a compelling picture of her experience in growing up surrounded by the dichotomy of a loving immediate family and racist members of her extended family/friends. Marra's ability to find humor even in the midst of emotionally painful situations shines through in the references to broadway productions and nods to the fashion world. These references also give readers the ability to connect with her persona. Growing up as a reform Jew in the suburbs of Chicago, I found an instant connection to Marra's story aside from the fact that I am fortunate to call her a friend. While I read this book, I was invited into a new piece of Marra's history that, told in her own words, left me with newfound feelings of admiration, respect, and above all else... LOVE.

The book showed meaningful relationships some excellent and some not! Biases,prejudices, emotions,caring, feelings,etc.It seemed to be sincere ,from the heart. I am very happy to have read it and have recommended it to several.