Shadow Migration: Mapping a Life

Suzanne Ohlmann's boomerang travels take her from a childhood in America to a cowshed in rural India, and finally to Texas, where she is haunted by the vision of a dead child. She recounts her search into the shadows of her life with honesty, compassion, and humor.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2022
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Suzanne Ohlmann, with her feet firmly rooted on the plains of Nebraska, takes the reader on a captivating journey across miles and decades of migration. From her apple-pie childhood in America's Fourth of July City to the dirt floors of a cowshed in rural India, we zigzag across time and geography, witnessing the world through Ohlmann's eyes and embarking on a profound discovery alongside her.

Through various incarnations as a musician, arts manager, and registered nurse, Ohlmann eventually finds herself in Texas, where she purchases a house and acquires a loyal companion—a dog. However, her newfound home is haunted, and so is she. In the eerie solitude of Ohlmann's basement, a haunting vision of a deceased child confronts her, presenting a daunting choice: she can return to Nebraska, seeking the truth about her biological past, or succumb to the depths of her own darkness, mirroring the fate of the boy.

With unwavering honesty, profound compassion, and a delightful sense of humor, Ohlmann recounts her relentless pursuit into the shadows of her life. Her story unfolds like a tapestry, weaving together threads of resilience, self-discovery, and the profound impact of family and history. Through her travels, Ohlmann uncovers the painful secrets that have haunted her for years, and in the process, she emerges stronger, more enlightened, and more fully alive.

This captivating memoir offers a profound exploration of the human condition, reminding us of the power of resilience, the importance of embracing our past, and the transformative potential of self-reflection. Suzanne Ohlmann's journey is a testament to the human spirit's enduring strength and the boundless possibilities that lie within us when we courageously confront our shadows.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496226860