The Color of Water by James McBride (1995)

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James McBride's memoir captures the riveting story of his mother Ruth's journey from being a poor Polish-Jewish and abused girl, to her flight to New York City, conversion to Christianity, and two marriages to African American men with whom she had eight and four children, respectively. Though twice widowed and still poor, she managed to impart love, discipline and wisdom to each of her twelve children, and they have all succeeded wildly. She passed away in 2010 at the age of 88.

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In his search for his identity -- as the son of a white mother and a black father -- James asked his mother what color is God? and she answered, "The color of water."

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Ben Yagoda writes, on page 241 of Memoir: A History, “In 1996, [James] McBride published the story [of his mother] as a memoir, The Color of Water. The book, like many other memoirs, confirmed the wisdom of the writing-class bromide 'Write about what you know.' It is compelling and authoritative and close-to-the-bone honest. In another era, the story would have been told in a magazine article, or a not especially believable first novel. Thanks to the memoir boom, it is a fine book.”

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This book is a lovingly told portrait of an unusual American family. I can't recommend it highly enough.