Born Under an Assumed Name: The Memoir of a Cold War Spy's Daughter

by Sara Mansfield Taber

From literary journalist Sara Mansfield Taber comes a deep and wondrous memoir of her exotic childhood as the daughter of a covert CIA operative. Born under an Assumed Name portrays the thrilling and confusing life of a girl growing up abroad in a world of secrecy and diplomacy—and the heavy toll it takes on her and her father. As Taber leads us on a tour through the alluring countries to which her father is assigned, we track two parallel stories—those of young Sara and her Cold War spy father. Sara struggles for normalcy as the family is relocated to cities in North America, Europe, and Asia, and the constant upheaval eventually exacts its price. Only after a psychiatric hospitalization at age sixteen in a U.S. Air Force hospital with shell-shocked Vietnam War veterans does she come to a clear sense of who she is. Meanwhile, Sara's sweet-natured, philosophical father becomes increasingly disillusioned with his work, his agency, and his country. This is the question at the heart of this elegant and sophisticated what does it mean to be an American? In this fascinating, painful, and ultimately exhilarating coming-of-age story, young Sara confronts generosity, greatness, and tragedy—all that America heaps on the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Book Club, Espionage, Biography Memoir, Japan, History

396 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2011

Reviews

[Donna Leather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely written, including a great understanding of being an American living in a foreign country. I’m adding this to my list of favorites!

[Emily Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this enormously. She gets a little preachy in the end and I still think over idealizes Japanese culture but it is a minor quibble about a really engaging read. She also makes a strong case for the challenges of growing up as a quiet introvert in American society - especially as a teenager.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't help thinking all the way through--slogging through, a very slow read--that she wrote this memoir about the wrong person. I kept waiting for more about her father. He seemed much more interesting to me than she did.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite interesting especially in her personal experiences. When she got into lots of interpretations of same it was much less compelling. This was more a problem toward the end.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so much a book about espionage but more about honoring her father. How an introvert child has to learn how to express herself to become a happy and adult woman. Her parents set a wonderful example how to appreciate different countries and cultures. A book that gave me insight how children can experience multiple relocations to different countries. I truly enjoyed this memoir.

[Michele · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the true story of Sara Taber, whose father was a government agent of some kind that had to do with secret meetings, staying in the background, and being a true believer in American democracy. Dad transmitted his uncritical view of US foreign policy to his daughter, who couldn't help but feel Americans superior to the Chinese who were so poor and illiterate. Although assuring the reader that her father's rosy view matured after a while, as did hers, I couldn't get past page 28. I found the writing style to be ridiculous. Perhaps Taber writes the initial chapters like an eight-year-old on purpose to show her naive state of mind. Perhaps the writing becomes more mature as Sara grows. I'll never know. The last paragraph I could force myself to read was "After a breakfast of donuts from the PX, my father paused at the door to wipe his horn-rimmed glasses and gave us all kisses before he set out the door to work. He left on foot in the steamy heat, to do his important work for President Kennedy and the Gimo."

This was a book club read, and I may go to the meeting, but I don't have enough time for good books, let alone bad ones.

[Patrick Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Taber is a masterful writer, and she pulls off an ambitious undertaking with this memoir. It is both a story of her childhood moving from place to place (Taiwan, D.C., The Hague, Japan and other places) but also a portrait of American foreign policy during the Cold War. We see her changing perspective on America's role in the world both through her own evolution but also through the depiction of her father, a patriotic CIA agent who is an idealistic globalist and increasingly chafes under the policies he is expected to implement. In that respect this book also serves as a biography of her father, with Taber's voice of the present interjecting at times to provide back story the Taber of then didn't know. Many readers will be drawn to the unusual about her childhood, but Taber spends a fair amount of time capturing the universality of childhood--popularity, crushes, etc.--that it becomes clear form wherever children may be and whatever their backgrounds. Taber has a gentleness to her writing that is comforting and inviting; in other words, her voice is one that you will be happy to spend time with.

[Denise L Jenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

a personal journey that takes the reader through recent history providing a different perspective -- that of a child, an adolescent and then an adult who lived through the events of the era closer than many of us and influenced by an insider. If you are, as I am, approximately the same age as the author, you will find her experiences unique and different from yours, yet, in some respects, strangely familiar. Tabor describes events from our history growing up during the Cold War. She confirms many of our own memories, impressions and understanding, while simultaneously challenging them. I enjoyed this book for the memories it evoked and for providing the "food for thought" to look at them again but, this time, with hindsight and the author's insight.

[Jon Tupper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant and touchingly sensitive book about a woman’s growing up in many cultures. She wrestles with her identity and the fabrics of those different cultures in the context of secrecy and questions of what is honesty, loyalty and truth. Her description of a mental break down unknowingly caused by a medication is absolutely unnerving and real. This is written in prose. However, she is a poet. In the climate of so many books written by and about war fighters this is a refreshing work. It is not simplistic or soft handed. She cuts hard and goes deep; however, it is without rancor or jingoistic platitudes.

[Florence Buchholz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing this author at the Virginia Festival for the Book. She has an engaging presence when describing her unusual childhood as the daughter of a CIA covert officer. Her childhood was quite chaotic. Everytime she began to adapt to a new country and enjoy herself, she seemed to be uprooted. Ironically, becoming adjusted to life in the Washington DC suburbs was especially difficult. I never did understand why she thinks that her father was so badly treated by the CIA. I don't have a clear picture of his role or of the suffering and dissillusionment that Sara says he suffered.

[AT · Rating 5 out of 5]

So thoughtfully written, it is more than the author's story that the book sheds light on. Growing up abroad, the author has a wonderful perspective on the changing culture here in the USA - change brought in the 60's and with the Vietnam War shaking what patriotism can mean. She gives a great understanding of being an American living in a foreign country and the effects of growing up with the many mysteries inherent in not knowing that her father was an undercover CIA agent, and the jarring change of world view when this is disclosed to her.

[Carole Geithner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a shocking and fascinating tale of the author's childhood as the daughter of an undercover Cold War spy, living and hiding in plain sight, longing to adapt in far away lands while struggling to understand what it means to be an American who both loves and hates her country. Her psychological insights into the costs of a clandestine life full of deceptions and near constant loss are fascinating.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read about the ways in which identity can be influenced by location and circumstance. I related to much of what the author discussed, having lived abroad for a large chunk of my childhood. What does it mean to be an American abroad? Much of what she discussed reminded me of the descriptions of border identities. At times it felt unbalanced as if she idealized one culture over another but for the most part it was an engaging read.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book and, sadly, did not bother to finish it. The author has such a good story to tell (at least that's what the reviews said) but that was lost due to a bizarre writing style. Instead of letting the story unfold and drawing the reader in, I felt like she cared more about impressing readers with her command of language. I wanted to care about her, her family and the story but I didn't and lost patience with trying.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sensitive account of the painful dilemmas of a life of espionage, told from the unusual perspective of a child raised with love and curiosity about other peoples and cultures. Woven throughout are recollections and insights about an itinerant childhood, a theme that will resonate with many readers - especially those who have lived with the silences enforced by life in the shadows.

[Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Taber portrays an American family whose patriotism is almost astounding by today's standards, yet they are unwaveringly believable. She does an excellent job of showing us her own evolution as her world changes, geographically, politically, and personally.

I'll say more when I've finished it.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching memoir from a daughter of a CIA agent as she travels around the world growing up and finding her place in life. The sensitivity of this story and how Taber gradually recognizes the cost of her father's work is poignant.
I like the writing, but I did find her regular digressions into side stories slowed down the narrative though.

[Jody Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Sara's memoir, and how she describes her evolving perceptions of her culture-sampling upbringing. I like her ability to describe experiences in a way that uses all the senses. Her candor is brave and refreshing.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started this book and am enjoying it so far. It is an interesting perspective...a child's view of life as the young daughter of a cold war spy.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. An inside look into the life of a covert officer's daughter's life growing up in the 60's.

[Almira · Rating 5 out of 5]

look for "review" shortly

[Karen Fiandaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting thought provoking memoir - with a decided liberal bent - at times a bit slow and repetitive IMHO. But worth reading!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping, lyrical memoir. This book will resonate with anyone who's ever had to move between cultures.

[Karla Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this . Seemed more like fiction than non fiction. Got a little preachy and wordy at times but, overall, thought it was great.

[Marsha Blitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My real live writing mentor, Sara Taber, has an exquisitely poetic command of language and a fascinating tale to tell.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle

[Sigrid Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]