Portrait of a Daughter by Liz O’Toole Papazian

Portrait of a Daughter by Liz O’Toole Papazian is a short and poignant novel about how to find meaning in life and death. New York City in the 80s is the perfect nostalgic backdrop to this novel that deftly mixes tragic upbringing with personal triumph. Papazian does not coddle the reader as we follow Grace through the death of her mother to the hedonistic clubs of the Big Apple, and finally becoming a mother herself. While the story has some predictable dramatic plot points, the spirit of Grace’s character pierces through each scene so it’s impossible not to admire her, as well as Papazian’s subtle, yet dynamic portrayal of her inimitable heroine.