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The Forgetting River by Doreen Carvajal

The Forgetting River: A Modern Tale of Survival, Identity, and the Inquisition

Deep in every family history is a mystery of who we really are.

The Forgetting River is an unexpected and moving story of an American journalist who unravels her Catholic family's long-buried Sephardic Jewish ancestry in Spain.

As Doreen Carvajal searches for proof that her family was forced through the Inquisition to convert to Christianity 600 years ago, she moves into a mystical white pueblo on Spain's southern frontier to crack the secret messages left by hidden Jews – an ancient cry from the past.

She comes to understand that her family's history flows like a river through time – and that while the truth might be submerged, it is NEVER truly lost.

Visit Doreen Carvajal's official website, and read our Twitter discussion with the author from October 23rd below! Make sure to follow the Jewish Book Council ( @jewishbook), Jewcy (@jewcymag), and Doreen Carvajal (@dorcarvajal) and search #JLit to follow next month's conversation.

JewishBook: Hello all and welcome to a brand new #JLIT Twitter Book Talk, now co-sponsored by @jewcymag!! Today we've got @dorcarvajal answering Qs!

JewishBook: Also, RT contest! RT by 5PM for a chance to win a signed copy of @dorcarvajal's THE FORGETTING RIVER!! #JLIT

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal Any new “finds” since your book was published? #JLit

DoreenCarvajal: Greetings from Paris #Jlit

Jewcymag: Twitter Book Club is ON, plus SWAG! RT this by 5pm for a chance to win a signed copy of @dorcarvajal's 'The Forgetting River' #Jlit

DorCavajal: Yes! We checked my husband's DNA. his father was from French Algeria. His DNA is dominant for Sephardic Jews. matches in Spain, Mexico

DorCavajal: A shock because his father's name is Mohammed...though he was always secular and his sons insisted he was a berber. #jlit

NYCBook: Hi @dorcarvajal, I'm curious: Are you aware of any customs that are specific to crypto-Jews of Costa Rica? #JLit

DorCavajal: A lot of endogamy-- cousins marrying cousins. Also burying the dead the next day. I always thought it was the heat.#jlit

Jewcymag: .@dorcarvajal do you think your research/discovery would have been possible pre-Internet? #JLit

TheodoreRoss: @jewcymag .@dorcavajal do you think your research/discovery would have been possible pre-Internet? #JLit Why not?

DorCarvajal: Couldn't have done it w/o Internet. Baptismal records online. Connections with other Anusim. Contacts all over the world. #Jlit

EmmaMorgenstern: @theodoreross @jewcymag @dorcarvajal and you also needed the medical technology! #jlit

DorCarvajal: Med tech absolutely. no DNA matches for my Dad, but astounding to see my husband's that followed diaspora of Sephardic Jews #jlit

DorCarvajal: My husband was baptized, but long secular. he was not surprised tho. his father ran away from Algeria to flee a forced marriage.#jlit

DorCarvajal: pre-Internet? Difficult to access records and make DNA connections to others. But could plunge into firsthand research in Spain #Jlit

Jewcymag: .@dorcarvajal how did your career as a journalist prepare you for this more personal project? #JLit

DorCarvajal: Journalism prepared me by giving me curiosity and the openness to watch and listen to others #Jlit just took me awhile to apply to family

NaomiFirestone: .@dorcarvajal Can you tell us more about the Jewish Sephardic dishes (and their stories!) featured at Francisco’s restaurant? #JLit

DorCarvajal: here is Francisco in all his glory talking about his cuisine. he makes his own rosé and little tapas. #Jlit http://t.co/oooS6wjR

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal What has been your family’s reaction to the publication of your book? #JLit

DorCarvajal: parents have been supportive. Cousins have come to me about other mysteries. a cousin discovered me while reading the book #Jlit

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal We’re fascinated by the idea of “Genetic Memory” (ref: http://t.co/VphzzykJ). #JLit (1 of 2)

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal Can you share examples that are being studied in other populations? #JLit (2 of 2)

DorCarvajal: received letters from around the world about gen memories. many shared experiences about knowing a place intimately from fam's past.#jlit

DorCarvajal: Some critics scoffed at notion. But scientists are fascinated by epigenetics and gene switching impact on memory, addiction, health#Jlit

DorCarvajal: For genetic studies, Swedes are now looking at four generations to determine impact of trauma (famine) on descendants #jlit

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal It's such an interesting field... #JLit

BookGal102: .@dorcarvajal Can you share some of the interesting books you read about Crypto-Judaism throughout the past several years? #JLit

Jewcymag: .@dorcarvajal what books are you reading now? #JLit

DorCarvajal: Reading "am I a Jew" by Theodore Ross, "submission" and ancestor syndrome by Anne Anceline #jlit

DorCarvajal: Read by fire, by water by Mitchell James Caplan. Also a history of Sephardic Jews by Jane Gerber. Love work of Israeli researcher #Jlit

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal What’s next for you? Are you working on another book? #JLit

DorCarvajal: Right now focused on returning to Spain to report for NYT. Going to walk part of camino de santiago de Compostela to think #Jlit

Lakiva: @dorcarvajal I ask myself a lot re that one. My kids have 2 grandparents, 6 great grandparents who hungered.

Jewcymag: .@dorcarvajal has your daughter been inspired to do any more research of her own? #JLit

DorCarvajal: Next step is to go to Algeria. Town of David. There was a tribe of Jewish Berbers #Jlit

DorCarvajal: Touchy subject. She is 16 and not ready to make a move. Won't force her. Has studied in Spain #Jlit

DorCarvajal: actually she and classmate in France are entranced with American elections. #Jlit

JewishBook: Re: @jewcymag @dorcarvajal well she's got important things to think about! like... boys? #jlit

JewishBook: .@dorcarvajal sounds like you've got some amazing things planned-- thanks so much for sharing with us!! It was great to chat today! #jlit

DorCarvajal: my pleasure. good night from Paris. #Jlit

JewishBook: Remember all RT by 5PM today for a chance to win a signed copy of @dorcarvajal's THE FORGETTING RIVER! @jewcymag's got a copy too! #Jlit