Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings
- Downloads：7593
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-28 06:21:38
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Chrysta Bilton
- ISBN：B09L81TPTK
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Ana W
，
This memoir was enthralling。 Chrysta Bilton writes eloquently about her childhood and relationships with her mother， sister， and father。 While I enjoyed this book， I was disappointed that the focus was not what I expected。 I expected that it would primarily be about discovering， getting to know， and processing having so many half-siblings because Chrysta's father was a sperm donor for dozens of families。 I was curious about the process of discovering each other and the relationships that the sib This memoir was enthralling。 Chrysta Bilton writes eloquently about her childhood and relationships with her mother， sister， and father。 While I enjoyed this book， I was disappointed that the focus was not what I expected。 I expected that it would primarily be about discovering， getting to know， and processing having so many half-siblings because Chrysta's father was a sperm donor for dozens of families。 I was curious about the process of discovering each other and the relationships that the siblings formed。 I was curious about the genetics and how the siblings were similar or different。 She does touch on these topics， but mostly this book is about the unconventional childhood that Chrysta had。 She was raised by a mother who struggled with addiction and had a childhood that was unpredictable; they yo-yo-ed from riches to rags and back again。 Overall， I found this to be a well-written and thoughtful memoir about the experiences of a child of an addict and her struggles to grow into an emotionally healthy adult。 Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion。 。。。more
Rebecca Valdez
，
This book is wild。 It is mostly about Bilton’s childhood growing up with an eccentric Lesbian single Mom in the 1990s and trying to create a family with a sperm donor who is a beautiful schizophrenic man。 It is the evolution of LGBT parenthood becoming mainstream， drugs， famous people cameos， Hollywood， and exotic animals。 A page turner。 The audio is a little flat with the author so I would recommend the traditional book。 It will definitely become some type of Movie or mini-series。
Krista Lukas
，
Not sure how to describe this book。 The synopsis was intriguing。 The story itself sometimes had a million things happening in one paragraph or page。 The dialogue was well done， which made me want the author to slow the pace， use fewer examples， and let the reader breathe to absorb what is happening。 Nevertheless， you learn about sperm donation， an unusual family， and the difficulty of keeping certain secrets。 The fact that two half-siblings were dating each other makes me think that sperm donati Not sure how to describe this book。 The synopsis was intriguing。 The story itself sometimes had a million things happening in one paragraph or page。 The dialogue was well done， which made me want the author to slow the pace， use fewer examples， and let the reader breathe to absorb what is happening。 Nevertheless， you learn about sperm donation， an unusual family， and the difficulty of keeping certain secrets。 The fact that two half-siblings were dating each other makes me think that sperm donation needs to be better regulated。 Certain aspects of the story left the reader hanging unnecessarily。 Such as the sperm- donation half-siblings dating。 Did the boyfriend really just give up that easily？ I know I am jumping around in this review。 。。。more
Wendy Jonson
，
3。5 stars
Darcy
，
I admit to grabbing this one for the donor aspect， wanted to see how that worked out， but as I read this one， that was the least interesting thing about the book。 Chrysta lived a crazy life， her parents both off in their own way。 I give Chrysta for telling her life as it was， often not painting people in the best light， even herself。 I do like how things ended， Chrysta seems to have made peace with much in her life and can see all these siblings as new friends with a lot in common and a person c I admit to grabbing this one for the donor aspect， wanted to see how that worked out， but as I read this one， that was the least interesting thing about the book。 Chrysta lived a crazy life， her parents both off in their own way。 I give Chrysta for telling her life as it was， often not painting people in the best light， even herself。 I do like how things ended， Chrysta seems to have made peace with much in her life and can see all these siblings as new friends with a lot in common and a person can't have enough friends。 。。。more
Aj Drumheller
，
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down。 Fascinating story。 I laughed out loud and cried while reading this book。 I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down。 Fascinating story。 I laughed out loud and cried while reading this book。 。。。more
Lori
，
Similar to Educated and The Glass Castle， the author recounts her story of a troubled and strange childhood growing up in CA with her mother， a semi-closeted lesbian， and her younger sister。 Both the author and her sister were conceived via donor sperm。 The bulk of the story is about her upbringing， which is interesting/appalling and - like the other books mentioned - kept me wondering how she was going to get out of the craziness。 The last part of the story is about Chrysta finding out that her Similar to Educated and The Glass Castle， the author recounts her story of a troubled and strange childhood growing up in CA with her mother， a semi-closeted lesbian， and her younger sister。 Both the author and her sister were conceived via donor sperm。 The bulk of the story is about her upbringing， which is interesting/appalling and - like the other books mentioned - kept me wondering how she was going to get out of the craziness。 The last part of the story is about Chrysta finding out that her donor Dad was a donor to many， many other women and thus fathered many other children。 I liked the writing and how the author portrayed her parents and others in her story。 There are a couple of twists， as well。 。。。more
Karen
，
This memoir is a 'dysfunctional family drama' like no other。 What a wild， riveting story！ This memoir is a 'dysfunctional family drama' like no other。 What a wild， riveting story！ 。。。more
Hannah Symonds
，
What do you do when you discover your dad has secretly donated his sperm over 500 times and that you now find out you have at least 35 other siblings？ that is the question on Chrysta's lips when she discovers just this。 This is an eye opening and heart felt memoir of Chrysta's journey of embracing the family that she has and coming to terms with adjustment。 It is a very engaging story that is thought provoking and makes you feel grateful for your family around you。 You will go through many emoti What do you do when you discover your dad has secretly donated his sperm over 500 times and that you now find out you have at least 35 other siblings？ that is the question on Chrysta's lips when she discovers just this。 This is an eye opening and heart felt memoir of Chrysta's journey of embracing the family that she has and coming to terms with adjustment。 It is a very engaging story that is thought provoking and makes you feel grateful for your family around you。 You will go through many emotions reading this story， there are parts that are funny but also parts that are tender and could make you weep。 Overall though it is a good read and I am glad Chrysta has decided to share her story。 。。。more
Teresa Berntsen
，
A glorified image of mental illnessThis is a glorified tale of mental illness that ends in a story that all will be well with enough resources， love， and tolerance of eccentricity。
Shuping
，
The author writes about her very unique experience， and the many difficulties of growing up in such a unique family， with compassion， insight， and intelligence。 Nothing is made to be sensational， as many "memoirs" tend to be these days。 One cannot but help admire the personal strength of the author， and wish her the continued stability and security she has since experienced in the life she created with a loving husband。 The author writes about her very unique experience， and the many difficulties of growing up in such a unique family， with compassion， insight， and intelligence。 Nothing is made to be sensational， as many "memoirs" tend to be these days。 One cannot but help admire the personal strength of the author， and wish her the continued stability and security she has since experienced in the life she created with a loving husband。 。。。more
Cayla
，
I am not a huge memoir reader so I was iffy on reading it but the whole synopsis of this one had me intrigued。 I thought this was definitely a different story to read about and kept my interest。 It was crazy learning about Debra and Chrysta's past and her whole entire family just in general。 The way Debra started off as being a gay woman and how she wanted to have a baby with a random stranger that walks into her salon named Jeff was crazy and was going to do whatever it took to have her own chi I am not a huge memoir reader so I was iffy on reading it but the whole synopsis of this one had me intrigued。 I thought this was definitely a different story to read about and kept my interest。 It was crazy learning about Debra and Chrysta's past and her whole entire family just in general。 The way Debra started off as being a gay woman and how she wanted to have a baby with a random stranger that walks into her salon named Jeff was crazy and was going to do whatever it took to have her own child。 If you're a parent then i am sure you might find this one interesting to read about。 。。。more
Cami Connell
，
Easy breezy summer read。 Interesting person。 Haven’t found a book that held my interest for so long。
Marilee Steffen
，
Chrysta Bilton and her sister Kaitlyn grew up as children of a single gay woman and a sperm donor。 Living in California， theirs was a life of riches followed by poverty in unending cycles。 The parents suffered from mental illness， drug addition and alcoholism and the girls struggled with anxiety， depression， poor self image and all that goes with being raised in a dysfunctional environment。 As a adult， the author discovered that she had dozens of half siblings due to her father's sperm donor "jo Chrysta Bilton and her sister Kaitlyn grew up as children of a single gay woman and a sperm donor。 Living in California， theirs was a life of riches followed by poverty in unending cycles。 The parents suffered from mental illness， drug addition and alcoholism and the girls struggled with anxiety， depression， poor self image and all that goes with being raised in a dysfunctional environment。 As a adult， the author discovered that she had dozens of half siblings due to her father's sperm donor "job"。 It's a fascinating story！ 。。。more
Kellylynn
，
I must admit， I thought there would be more about the meeting of siblings and that piece of the story。 In the end， that was ok。 This is a very intriguing story about a very dysfunctional family。 There are some pieces that are just so crazy to believe， but then again just crazy enough to believe。 You truly wonder how the heck Chrysta and Kaitlyn survived the things they did and still turn into functioning adults。 But then it helps you take that closer look at your own family and the things you th I must admit， I thought there would be more about the meeting of siblings and that piece of the story。 In the end， that was ok。 This is a very intriguing story about a very dysfunctional family。 There are some pieces that are just so crazy to believe， but then again just crazy enough to believe。 You truly wonder how the heck Chrysta and Kaitlyn survived the things they did and still turn into functioning adults。 But then it helps you take that closer look at your own family and the things you thought were normal but really weren't。 You realize that life really is just this crazy rollercoaster and we all have our own things to deal with， we all find ways to live this crazy life。I actually won this one in one of the giveaways。 。。。more
Aleks
，
Fascinating read。。。 It's incredible this is a real life story。 It makes you consider who family is and what a relationship with a parent is。 Fascinating read。。。 It's incredible this is a real life story。 It makes you consider who family is and what a relationship with a parent is。 。。。more
Justine Dymond
，
A compelling and page-turning read。 Bilton’s ability to draw truthful and also empathic portraits of her family—however defined—is admirable。 I couldn’t help think that her mother must have been the model for Lily Tomlin’s character in “Grace and Frankie。”
Nadine 。
，
[AD-PR] Thank you for my spot on the Random Things Blog Tour！ I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review！ Chyrsta takes you on her very personal journey， one that is heart wrenching but also incredibly moving！ It focuses on the unconvential and chaotic upbringing her and her sibling faced from early childhood until their adult life when it was discovered that their father was 'Donor 150' - California cryobank's best selling donor。 In turn meaning Chrysta and her sister could have do [AD-PR] Thank you for my spot on the Random Things Blog Tour！ I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review！ Chyrsta takes you on her very personal journey， one that is heart wrenching but also incredibly moving！ It focuses on the unconvential and chaotic upbringing her and her sibling faced from early childhood until their adult life when it was discovered that their father was 'Donor 150' - California cryobank's best selling donor。 In turn meaning Chrysta and her sister could have dozens， even hundreds of biological half-siblings。 In ways it's not only chyrsta's memoir but also that of her mother and the battles she faced！ Debra for sure had demons of her own but the love she had for her children was always there even throughout all the chaos and hardship！ It's a story filled with heavy subject matters！ It focuses on love， loss， betrayal， addiction and mental health。 Chrysta writes about these with such compassion for those involved in her story！ This is the first time I have read a memoir like this！ It reads like a fiction novel which is an aspect I enjoyed and found different to anything I've read previously。 I found the similarities in personalities and interests the siblings all had dispite their different upbringings fascinating！ It's a story that will definitely stick with you with its wild and unexpected turns！ 。。。more
Jeanie
，
How many Sperm donations turn into a Big Family。This is the most unique story of a "desperate to be a mom" lesbian in an era when just coming out was strange。One of the strangest for me personally is that the cover picture looks like my first husband back in the day。。。 no connection though！ Lol。 How many Sperm donations turn into a Big Family。This is the most unique story of a "desperate to be a mom" lesbian in an era when just coming out was strange。One of the strangest for me personally is that the cover picture looks like my first husband back in the day。。。 no connection though！ Lol。 。。。more
Cynthia
，
If you enjoyed Education， Gravel， The Liar’s Club， etc。， I think you’ll whip through this memoir the way I did。 Family dysfunction at its best！
Elizabeth
，
You can’t make this shit up - My favorite kind of memoir。
Leslie
，
"LATimes，" July 17， 2022 "LATimes，" July 17， 2022 。。。more
Diane M。 Berry
，
interesting storyIt was an interesting story。 Very well written。 It makes you realize that the decision to use a sperm bank is not a light decision
ACottageFullofBooks
，
A Normal Family is an extraordinary book that details Chrysta Bilton’s life growing up in Los Angeles with her family， which usually consisted of her Mum Debra， sister Kaitlyn and Dad Jeffrey who her Mum met in a hair dressers and persuaded him to donate sperm。For the early part of her childhood， Jeffrey was in and out of Chrysta’s life and sometimes her Mum would live with other girlfriends。 There situation changed frequently， from huge mansions with swimming pools to a one bedroom annex on the A Normal Family is an extraordinary book that details Chrysta Bilton’s life growing up in Los Angeles with her family， which usually consisted of her Mum Debra， sister Kaitlyn and Dad Jeffrey who her Mum met in a hair dressers and persuaded him to donate sperm。For the early part of her childhood， Jeffrey was in and out of Chrysta’s life and sometimes her Mum would live with other girlfriends。 There situation changed frequently， from huge mansions with swimming pools to a one bedroom annex on the wrong side of town when things got hard。What changed was when Chrsyta discovered that her Dad had secretly donated sperm over 500 times and have fathered at least 35 more children。 This meant that Chrsyta suddenly found out， in her twenties， that she had over 35 siblings。A Normal Family is gripping and addictive to read。 There are some very funny moments and some quite shocking experiences too。This is an amazing book and Chrsyta Bilton is such a talented writer。 I was completely gripped by her story and the description of her mother’s life style as she moved them from grand house to tiny flat。 I sat down on an evening to read a couple of chapters and read late into the night， as I didn’t want to put this down。 。。。more
LindsayP
，
Very interesting and quick read。
Sarah
，
6。5/10
Clarisse
，
I truly did not ever want to put this book down。 Thank you， Chrysta！
Jessica Kinser
，
Wow， sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction！ What a wonderful sharing of a very emotional family history and done with so much grace。
Nets
，
For a lot of us， the picture above is representative of a "Normal Family" as we go into the six week summer holidays from school。 But this is far from some people's normal。In this memorising memoir， Chrysta invites us into her childhood and her unconventional family set up。This is a beautifully written， eye opening read that fascinated me from the opening page。Families come in all shapes and sizes and no two families are in any way the same。 This book shows that perfectly。 I loved this so much a For a lot of us， the picture above is representative of a "Normal Family" as we go into the six week summer holidays from school。 But this is far from some people's normal。In this memorising memoir， Chrysta invites us into her childhood and her unconventional family set up。This is a beautifully written， eye opening read that fascinated me from the opening page。Families come in all shapes and sizes and no two families are in any way the same。 This book shows that perfectly。 I loved this so much and really enjoyed the journey through Chrysta's life。 It made me stop more than once to think about my own upbringing and reaffirm my love for my family， the one I was brought up in and the one I have created with my partner ♥ 。。。more
Mystic Miraflores
，