Normal Family

Hilarious, wrenching, and achingly tendermemoir of one wildly unconventional family that gains new meaning with each newly discovered member (Susan Orlean). What is a normal family, and how do you go about making one? Chrysta Biltons magnetic, larger-than-life mother, Debra, yearned to have a child, but as a single gay woman in 1980s California, she had few options. Until one day, while getting her hair done in a Beverly Hills salon, she met a man and instantly knew he was the one shed been looking for. Beautiful, athletic, artistic, and from a well-to-do family, Jeffrey Harrison appeared to be Debras ideal sperm donor. A verbal agreement, a couple of thousand in cash, and a few squirts of a turkey baster later, and Chrysta was conceived. Over the years, Jeffrey would make regular appearances at the family home, which grew to include Chrystas baby sister. But how much did...