When her Dad asked her to take a trip with him ton Dublin with purpose of researching the family's genealogy Alison jumped at the chance. She wasn't interested in genealogy at all, but her father was 79, suffered from Parkinson's and she knew this would be the last trip they would take together. 

There is so much more to this memoir than one would expect from the title. It is a touching and beautiful story about a father, daughter relationship. We learn tidbits of Irish history along way, and meet quite a few quirky people in various locations. It is told with warmth, tenderness and humor and shows the concern Alison has for her father's condition. 

She brings up an interesting point in their search for their family's story, what happens if you find something you would rather not know about those who came before? Or conversely, what if you find nothing at all? I'm not into genealogy, though I know many who are and I think they would find this book interesting. All in all, this is a well told memoir and one that shows how important it is to appreciate the moments we have with those we love.

This  is a gorgeous, heartwarming tale of a father and a daughter and their relationship, and how it is strengthened through  this shared experience. I especially found it very interesting given how you grow through her perspective. I especially loved the connection to Ireland and their familial history. READ THIS BOOK

Moments of Glad Grace is an amusing story of a father and daughter trip,to Ireland. They are doing family research. The author shares ,ore of the family story throughout the memoir. It's a touching story of family roots, familial bonds, and a look at who one really is.

When I first started reading this I honestly thought it was going to be a little bit of a drag. I didn't really have a previously vested interest in the history of Ireland or its people or the story of the writer, Alison Wearing, accompanying her father for a week-long genealogy hunt in the country whilst also trying to improve their bond but it really proved me wrong. 

To begin with, the obsession with discovering our ancestral roots is definitely interesting to a lot of people. On the one hand, you may discover something of personal importance. On the other hand in the case of Wearing, there could be evidence of being linked to people who have any form of brutality towards other human beings such as colonialism, racism, misogyny, etc.. Not to mention all of the facts and history of which may be cloaked with exaggeration, differing perspectives and/or human error. 

I especially resonated with many of Wearing's opinions on the obsession some people have on discovering their ancestor's history. Reading up their achievements might be interesting but what if their successes have hurt the livelihoods of others who were less fortunate. The discussions on class, race, religion, oppression, and migration were very interesting to read. 

Unlike her father, Wearing seemed to focus more on the general history and humanity, the stories behind the facts rather than the hard cold facts themselves that her father was obsessed with pinning down. I like her eventual transition from complete cynic to discovering that there might be something in the genetics of it all.

The most interesting factor in the memoir is the underlying familial interactions threaded through the week-long endeavor. Her father's passion for ancestral research possibly stemming from the fact that he himself was shunned by his family. Wearing trying to maintain the bond to her father despite her non-interest in his research. Their clashing priorities for their week-long trip in Dublin and how Wearing will have to come to terms with the fact that ailing father's Parkinson disease is getting worse and that she can't avoid the inevitable. The philosophical discussions about finding the truth in absolute facts as well as intuition. 

The writing was actually beautiful as well. The various interactions the writer had with the people around her and her descriptions of places were very lively and compelling so this wasn't a hard read at all.