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The Fortune Teller's Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor
When a military coup in Ghana leads to the abrupt closure of Lally Pia’s medical school, she is left stranded there, thousands of miles away from her family in California, with no educational prospects or money. Adding to her turmoil is her discovery that her American Green Card has been botched, which means she has no country to call home. But a Sri Lankan priest told Lally that she would one day become a “Doctor of Doctors” —and she is intent on proving him right.
This sizzling multicultural roller coaster illustrates the power of self-determination as Lally, a young immigrant with a drive to succeed, takes on obstacle after obstacle—an abusive relationship, the welfare state, and a gruesome job where she has to dismember human bodies—in order to fulfill her dreams. A story that will resonate with anyone who has faced cultural and immigration hardships, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy is a nail-biting journey across continents, through hardships, and into ultimate triumph.
This sizzling multicultural roller coaster illustrates the power of self-determination as Lally, a young immigrant with a drive to succeed, takes on obstacle after obstacle—an abusive relationship, the welfare state, and a gruesome job where she has to dismember human bodies—in order to fulfill her dreams. A story that will resonate with anyone who has faced cultural and immigration hardships, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy is a nail-biting journey across continents, through hardships, and into ultimate triumph.
- GenresNonfictionMemoirMedical
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 15, 2024
This is a memoir of resilience and perseverance. When Lally Pia was a few months old, born in Sri Lanka, her father sought out a fortune teller to learn what life would hold for his daughter. The priest in Shiva’s temple told the adoring father, “Your daughter will become a doctor of doctors.” Pia’s heartwarming memoir charts the long and frequently interrupted journey to fulfillment of that prophecy.
Sometimes global events waylay her. A coup in Ghana closes the medical school she’s enrolled in months before she would have received her BA. Other times, the reader watches the young Lally make fateful decisions about love and marriage that will bring even longer delays in her journey. These personal troubles threaten to kill her dream entirely. Thankfully, her close-knit Sri Lankan family keeps her in their warm embrace through it all.
The author’s voice comes through on every page: informal, cheerful, sprinkled with the author’s sometimes humorous Briticisms. The young woman who comes through so vividly sometimes sounds painfully naïve but gradually achieves the self-confidence the reader is rooting for.
The prologue of the memoir, which opens with a scene from part of Pia’s life when she prepared cadavers for a medical school, reveals the memoir’s tone, combining humor, self-deprecation, and determination:
The first time I removed a woman’s head, it took just under two minutes….My brand-new job, euphemistically labeled director of Donated Body Program…had sounded cool at the outset, but somehow they’d failed to put in the job description that the only humans I’d be “directing” were deceased.
For a sense of hope no matter what life delivers, read The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy.
Sometimes global events waylay her. A coup in Ghana closes the medical school she’s enrolled in months before she would have received her BA. Other times, the reader watches the young Lally make fateful decisions about love and marriage that will bring even longer delays in her journey. These personal troubles threaten to kill her dream entirely. Thankfully, her close-knit Sri Lankan family keeps her in their warm embrace through it all.
The author’s voice comes through on every page: informal, cheerful, sprinkled with the author’s sometimes humorous Briticisms. The young woman who comes through so vividly sometimes sounds painfully naïve but gradually achieves the self-confidence the reader is rooting for.
The prologue of the memoir, which opens with a scene from part of Pia’s life when she prepared cadavers for a medical school, reveals the memoir’s tone, combining humor, self-deprecation, and determination:
The first time I removed a woman’s head, it took just under two minutes….My brand-new job, euphemistically labeled director of Donated Body Program…had sounded cool at the outset, but somehow they’d failed to put in the job description that the only humans I’d be “directing” were deceased.
For a sense of hope no matter what life delivers, read The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy.
June 6, 2024
As I read this inspiring and powerful memoir, I joined the author on her epic journey to becoming a Doctor. Her path included many adventures, obstacles, challenges and side trips along the way. Her life began in Sri Lanka and then continued in Ghana. Unforeseen circumstances caused her to relocate to South Wales and then she ultimately found her home in the United States.
Enduring setbacks and times of darkness, she never let bitterness take hold. She learned from each difficult experience and grew in compassion and hope.
What impacted me the most, is the author’s chosen attitudes of gratitude and hopefulness. These two characteristics were a huge part of her emotional makeup. She did not keep this gratitude and hope to herself. Instead, she extended them to others, along with generous helpings of grace.
Lessons to take away from this book are never give up, always be grateful, choose acts of kindness whenever possible and share your hope with someone who doesn’t have enough of their own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSparks and She Writes Press. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Enduring setbacks and times of darkness, she never let bitterness take hold. She learned from each difficult experience and grew in compassion and hope.
What impacted me the most, is the author’s chosen attitudes of gratitude and hopefulness. These two characteristics were a huge part of her emotional makeup. She did not keep this gratitude and hope to herself. Instead, she extended them to others, along with generous helpings of grace.
Lessons to take away from this book are never give up, always be grateful, choose acts of kindness whenever possible and share your hope with someone who doesn’t have enough of their own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookSparks and She Writes Press. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
April 25, 2024
Joining the #SpringPopUp book review tour with BookSparks was a joy, especially with this book! This captivating memoir took me into the world of its remarkable protagonist and narrator, Lally. I was deeply invested in Lally's journey, rooting for her through every twist and turn. While some of her decisions frustrated me, her resilience and determination never failed to inspire me. I was surprised by the delightful touch of romance – a refreshing addition to a genre not typically known for it. The pacing was perfect, with a mostly linear storyline interspersed with flashbacks of memories. Lally's exploration of her feelings and motivations at crucial junctures of her life is admirable. She navigates reflections on her relationships with grace and honesty, offering insights that resonate personally. I appreciate her acknowledgment of the privilege she's been afforded, thanks to the unwavering support of her family. Despite her struggles, she never diminishes the experiences of others, always fostering empathy and understanding. The vivid descriptions of her experiences in Sri Lanka, Ghana, England, and California transported me to each place, creating an appreciation for the diverse cultures and landscapes. Reading her story, I went through a wave of emotions – from heartbreak to motivation, inspiration, and comfort. It prompted me to reevaluate my aspirations and want to hug my mom. This memoir transcends borders, with a glimpse into the complexities of life's choices and the beauty of fleeting moments. If you're looking for a heartfelt read filled with thoughtful reflection and uplifting moments, look no further!
March 28, 2024
This memoir traces the journey of the author’s life. She was born in Sri Lanka, lived in Ghana and the UK. and became a U.S. citizen and ultimately fulfilled the prophecy of a Sri Lankan priest that she would become a doctor. She did so despite life’s challenges and personal decisions. While the book wasn’t necessarily extraordinary in terms of an immigrant’s journey or overwhelming life challenges like some other memoirs, it was this author’s story and a view into how she persevered to become a doctor with the amazing support of her family. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 25, 2024
I am so glad I got to be a part of Book Sparks Spring Pop Up to read and review this memoir from She Writes Press.
Dr Lally Pia tells the story of achieving her dreams through numerous obstacles. It is an inspiring story that addresses the sacrifices made by immigrants to live the “American dream.”
As a nurse who was initially medical school bound and mother of an aspiring doctor, I really loved reading Dr Pia’s story.
Dr Lally Pia tells the story of achieving her dreams through numerous obstacles. It is an inspiring story that addresses the sacrifices made by immigrants to live the “American dream.”
As a nurse who was initially medical school bound and mother of an aspiring doctor, I really loved reading Dr Pia’s story.
July 25, 2024
Lally Pia's The Fortune Teller's Prophecy takes us on an illuminating and dizzying ride through expatriate life in Ghana, Wales, the U.K., Pennsylvania, and California. Buoyed by a fortune teller in Lally's native Sri Lanka who predicted she would become a "doctor of doctors," she holds onto her dream through immigration mishaps, becoming a refugee during a military coup, an emotionally abusive marriage, and single motherhood of two daughters.
This book gives us a slice of life in Sri Lanka, Ghana, country villages of the UK/Wales, and California's Central Valley (Davis, where I live now), with several images I still have in my mind after finishing the novel. It also depicts the struggle of professional immigrants to get re-established in their professions after moving to a different country (this happens to Lally's parents as well as herself).
The writing is solid and befits the characters and the tone of the book: elegant descriptions, varied sentence length to highlight dramatic versus reflective chapters, and a plot that never seems rushed or bogged down in details. Lally is also a strong character because she's determined and while she allows herself to mourn her tragedies, she never gets stuck in self-pity. Although she does achieve her dream of practicing medicine, she allows for the possibility that she could have a meaningful life doing something else if doctoring doesn't work out.
Finally, this book highlights an example of a physician who not only values technical mastery (when she learned piano as a young woman, she practiced six hours a day!) but who brings human compassion to medicine. She overcomes some understandable anxiety to become a psychiatrist and ends the book with a story about a patient whose life she helped change.
I recommend this book to people interested in culture, healthcare, travel, or just gripping human stories!
This book gives us a slice of life in Sri Lanka, Ghana, country villages of the UK/Wales, and California's Central Valley (Davis, where I live now), with several images I still have in my mind after finishing the novel. It also depicts the struggle of professional immigrants to get re-established in their professions after moving to a different country (this happens to Lally's parents as well as herself).
The writing is solid and befits the characters and the tone of the book: elegant descriptions, varied sentence length to highlight dramatic versus reflective chapters, and a plot that never seems rushed or bogged down in details. Lally is also a strong character because she's determined and while she allows herself to mourn her tragedies, she never gets stuck in self-pity. Although she does achieve her dream of practicing medicine, she allows for the possibility that she could have a meaningful life doing something else if doctoring doesn't work out.
Finally, this book highlights an example of a physician who not only values technical mastery (when she learned piano as a young woman, she practiced six hours a day!) but who brings human compassion to medicine. She overcomes some understandable anxiety to become a psychiatrist and ends the book with a story about a patient whose life she helped change.
I recommend this book to people interested in culture, healthcare, travel, or just gripping human stories!
June 15, 2025
This was an unexpected book. I do not know what I expected from the starting chapters and the cover, but Lally’s tale of an abusive marriage was not it.
We have a girl on the brink of womanhood whose education is interrupted by things outside of her control. Her family moves to the US but she’s left behind in more ways than one. It’s frightening to think of what might have happened if any of the positive things that happened in the beginning were absent. There are so many hurdles that come in the way that it’s nothing short of a miracle that things turn out well at some point.
There’s a rich cultural representation in the book and the struggle is very vividly portrayed. There’s something about the narrative style that didn’t work for me. It was by itself a good presentation, but that fact that it was a memoir made the whole thing seem a little strange. I am trying and failing to be more coherent than that. Basically, if the book was about all the myriad experiences the author has with people who absorbed other cultures then I wanted more details on that front. The doomed relationship was the central highlight and her actual medical fight felt like an afterthought towards the end of the book despite being the main draw on the title.
Overall the author is definitely someone to look up to and cheer for. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who finds the blurb even a little interesting. The writing is also well done and descriptive. It’s just the content and the way it was laid out seemed odd to me( a very random personal reaction I’m unable to shake).
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
We have a girl on the brink of womanhood whose education is interrupted by things outside of her control. Her family moves to the US but she’s left behind in more ways than one. It’s frightening to think of what might have happened if any of the positive things that happened in the beginning were absent. There are so many hurdles that come in the way that it’s nothing short of a miracle that things turn out well at some point.
There’s a rich cultural representation in the book and the struggle is very vividly portrayed. There’s something about the narrative style that didn’t work for me. It was by itself a good presentation, but that fact that it was a memoir made the whole thing seem a little strange. I am trying and failing to be more coherent than that. Basically, if the book was about all the myriad experiences the author has with people who absorbed other cultures then I wanted more details on that front. The doomed relationship was the central highlight and her actual medical fight felt like an afterthought towards the end of the book despite being the main draw on the title.
Overall the author is definitely someone to look up to and cheer for. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who finds the blurb even a little interesting. The writing is also well done and descriptive. It’s just the content and the way it was laid out seemed odd to me( a very random personal reaction I’m unable to shake).
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
November 13, 2023
The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor, by Lally Pia, MD
The author takes us on a rollercoaster journey spanning multiple countries and cultures. Her joy and pain are palpable as she leaves behind country, culture, family and friends and embarks on new adventures, getting married, becoming a mother, being separated from her support - family - and suffering terrible heartbreak and loneliness. At times the reader is enraged, almost wanting to yell out warnings to the author. Other times we are delighted by the childlike innocence and joy the author feels in her new surroundings, curiously exploring the world around her. She has so many experiences that many of us will never experience and make me wonder at her stamina and determination. I especially loved her reaction to seeing the Liberty Bell and taking the Oath of Allegiance when she became a citizen of the United States of America. She seems to be a natural in whatever situation or culture she finds herself in. Her attitude of gratitude is evident throughout the book. Her road is long and strewn with obstacles but she continually overcomes, taking one day at a time. Some of her steps (and occupations) along the way leave the reader groaning at what she must endure and we cheer her on as she picks her self up time and time again. Finally finding true love and happiness and fulfilling a life-long goal, this is a story of love of family, love of country, love of knowledge and, ultimately, love and acceptance of self.
November 1, 2023
There’s something weighty and satisfying about having taken a trip down the lane of someone else’s life. Particularly, the life of a person so real and changing and hitched to the wind as Lally Pia.
This fast-paced story of self-discovery and courage takes more than a few detours into the dark realities waiting for a female, Tamil-born Sri Lankan set adrift in the world. With only a beat-up suitcase and a startling prediction from a revered fortune teller, Ms. Pia tests the limits of prophesy, gender and cultural constraints, and her own tenacity.
From the vivid surroundings and changing political landscape of her early life in Ghana to the jarring and life-altering obstacles of her immigrant experiences in both the UK and the States, Pia’s story explores the shadows of despair and the heights of hard-won accomplishments.
Though much of what has befallen Ms. Pia was out of her control, I feel the author was brutally honest about her mistakes and open enough to allow the reader to measure every step of her personal growth. This boundary-pushing, chance-taking world-traveler has been on an epic inner journey to shed her submissiveness, find the strength to endure heart-breaking sacrifices, and create her own a hopeful and rewarding destiny.
This relevant, relatable tale offers a different take on fate and how one intrepid soul took ownership of her own path. A transformative read!
This fast-paced story of self-discovery and courage takes more than a few detours into the dark realities waiting for a female, Tamil-born Sri Lankan set adrift in the world. With only a beat-up suitcase and a startling prediction from a revered fortune teller, Ms. Pia tests the limits of prophesy, gender and cultural constraints, and her own tenacity.
From the vivid surroundings and changing political landscape of her early life in Ghana to the jarring and life-altering obstacles of her immigrant experiences in both the UK and the States, Pia’s story explores the shadows of despair and the heights of hard-won accomplishments.
Though much of what has befallen Ms. Pia was out of her control, I feel the author was brutally honest about her mistakes and open enough to allow the reader to measure every step of her personal growth. This boundary-pushing, chance-taking world-traveler has been on an epic inner journey to shed her submissiveness, find the strength to endure heart-breaking sacrifices, and create her own a hopeful and rewarding destiny.
This relevant, relatable tale offers a different take on fate and how one intrepid soul took ownership of her own path. A transformative read!
June 22, 2024
What a fantastic memoir! This book follows the journey of Lally Pia, and spans four continents. It starts in Sri Lanka, then moves to Ghana, then to Wales and England, then to Pennsylvania and California. It all begins with a prophecy that the author’s father receives from a Sri Lankan priest that his daughter will be a “doctor of doctors.“ There is a long and winding road to get there. And what a journey!
We follow Lally on her path of a charmed childhood with her family in Ghana, to then being without a home, without her family, and finding herself in a turbulent, troubled marriage after the blush of first love wanes. From there, we watch her deal with being a single mother while putting herself through medical school with a job that most people wouldn’t be able to stomach. All the while we are cheering for her! All the while we want her to find her inner strength, keep her resilient, humorous nature, and succeed.
If you love memoir, and particularly watching someone keep moving forward despite the odds, do yourself a favor and give this one a read! You will be inspired while laughing and shedding a few tears.
We follow Lally on her path of a charmed childhood with her family in Ghana, to then being without a home, without her family, and finding herself in a turbulent, troubled marriage after the blush of first love wanes. From there, we watch her deal with being a single mother while putting herself through medical school with a job that most people wouldn’t be able to stomach. All the while we are cheering for her! All the while we want her to find her inner strength, keep her resilient, humorous nature, and succeed.
If you love memoir, and particularly watching someone keep moving forward despite the odds, do yourself a favor and give this one a read! You will be inspired while laughing and shedding a few tears.
June 6, 2025
Wow, what a story. I knew Lally Pia from zoom meetings because we share the same publisher and our books were released about the same time, but I had no idea what she had gone through in her life. This book opened my eyes. Pia, born in Sri Lanka and raised in Ghana, was in medical school in Ghana when a government coup shut down everything, including her school. She waited to see if it would reopen while her family fled to the United States. When the school remained closed and she decided to leave, the U.S. would not let her in. Her green card had expired. She had already given up her home in Ghana. Hoping it would only be a month or two before she was issued a new green card, she went to stay with friends in Wales. She was there almost a year and still couldn’t get into the U.S. In many ways, it was an idyllic time--until she fell in love with an older man she called JR. Between this man and the vagaries of the U.S. immigration system, it would be many years before she found her way again. The writing is a little florid for my taste, but the story drove me on. Like most Americans, I don’t know enough about other cultures. I recommend this book.
May 3, 2024
This was a really interesting read, and I definitely enjoyed many parts of it. I also learned a lot; I previously had no clue about the multicultural diversity in Ghana in the ‘60s and ‘70s and the large number of expats living there. Pia’s perseverance and determination to achieve her dreams are truly remarkable, and her journey is quite inspirational.
What I was not fond of was the excessive attention paid to the utterly despicable man that is John Russell. While I was deeply saddened and frustrated by his manipulation and abuse of Pia, and I recognize the indelible impact it had on her and her daughters’ lives, this memoir is Pia’s story and quite frankly, he just doesn’t deserve a second thought. That part dragged on for me a bit.
Overall though, this is such a roller coaster read that follows Pia’s path to becoming a doctor. You will definitely be cheering for her throughout!
Special thanks to BookSparks for the opportunity to be a part of the #SpringPopUp review tour and for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What I was not fond of was the excessive attention paid to the utterly despicable man that is John Russell. While I was deeply saddened and frustrated by his manipulation and abuse of Pia, and I recognize the indelible impact it had on her and her daughters’ lives, this memoir is Pia’s story and quite frankly, he just doesn’t deserve a second thought. That part dragged on for me a bit.
Overall though, this is such a roller coaster read that follows Pia’s path to becoming a doctor. You will definitely be cheering for her throughout!
Special thanks to BookSparks for the opportunity to be a part of the #SpringPopUp review tour and for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2024
The Fortune Teller's Prophecy is the powerful and honest story of Lally Pia's long journey to become a doctor. From Sri Lanka to Ghana to England and finally the United States, Lally never gives up on her dream to become a doctor. She encounters many obstacles along the way including unstable governments, immigration roadblocks, and the most traumatic, marriage to an abusive, gaslighting, narcissist.
Lally gains the perspective and confidence to leave her toxic ten-year marriage and with the unwavering support of her family, enters medical school as a mature student and single parent. This emotional, inspiring memoir is a tribute to resilience, hard work and family. Lally's gratitude to her family and friends, her mentors and the United States, where she finally finds a home, shines through.
Thank you to BookSparks, SheWritesPress and Dr. Pia for a gifted copy.
@BookSparks #FortuneTellersProphecy #SpringPopUp #BookSparks #SheWritesPress
Lally gains the perspective and confidence to leave her toxic ten-year marriage and with the unwavering support of her family, enters medical school as a mature student and single parent. This emotional, inspiring memoir is a tribute to resilience, hard work and family. Lally's gratitude to her family and friends, her mentors and the United States, where she finally finds a home, shines through.
Thank you to BookSparks, SheWritesPress and Dr. Pia for a gifted copy.
@BookSparks #FortuneTellersProphecy #SpringPopUp #BookSparks #SheWritesPress
January 19, 2024
An inspiring story of family, friendship, ambition and destiny, love, and the choices we all make that shape our lives for better or worse. With exquisite detail and emotionally rich language, Pia describes both her loving home and her hellish marriage which she was manipulated into because of youthful naivety and promise of freedom and love, ignoring the warnings or those who saw more clearly who her suitor really was, and the anger that lay ahead. Most inspiring though, was the determination, drive, and true love of those who encouraged and enabled Pia to achieve her dream, and supported and cheered her along the way. My heart jumped with her when she reached her dream, a dream so many never reach. A beautifully told memoir that I could not put down, and which I could sadly relate to in many ways. I loved it.
March 22, 2024
From the title I thought this memoir would go through the process of becoming an unlikely doctor. Which technically in the end it does. The author really draws you into all the places she lived (Ghana, UK, USA and born in Sri Lanka).
I wish I knew that the book would focus a lot on her very very disfunctional romantic relationship with her partner.
It was a truly horrible situation for her, being gaslight, manipulated, isolated and abused. The book does a really good job of showing her frame of mind in the different stages and following her decisions.
It sucks you into the rural town in the UK and Davis, California and the other places she’s in.
Sometimes the book felt more like a really well written diary with a lot of descriptive details than a memoir, but I guess the line can be thin in some cases. I feel that more editing would have been beneficial to this book. The pacing is very slow at times.
I’m glad the author is now finally in her desired field with two daughters and a supportive partner.
TW: Abortion, abuse, neglect, manipulation, gaslighting, isolating.
I wish I knew that the book would focus a lot on her very very disfunctional romantic relationship with her partner.
It was a truly horrible situation for her, being gaslight, manipulated, isolated and abused. The book does a really good job of showing her frame of mind in the different stages and following her decisions.
It sucks you into the rural town in the UK and Davis, California and the other places she’s in.
Sometimes the book felt more like a really well written diary with a lot of descriptive details than a memoir, but I guess the line can be thin in some cases. I feel that more editing would have been beneficial to this book. The pacing is very slow at times.
I’m glad the author is now finally in her desired field with two daughters and a supportive partner.
TW: Abortion, abuse, neglect, manipulation, gaslighting, isolating.
May 30, 2024
Thank you to the author, She Writes Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I had a bit too much going on.
This memoir of a life filled with challenges and hurdles, that the author tackles with perseverance, hard work and humor, is a captivating read. Having no idea of the bureacratic limbo she will find herself in, she arranges to follow her family immigrating to the US from Ghana once her academic year in Ghana is finished. Unfortunately, things do not go smoothly, and the author takes us with her as she passes through various way stations - and once she finally arrives in the US, she faces new difficulties. It is heartwarming to see how she overcomes the situation with the support of her family and mentors, and is able to find fulfillment in a career she herself would not have chosen of her own volition.
This memoir of a life filled with challenges and hurdles, that the author tackles with perseverance, hard work and humor, is a captivating read. Having no idea of the bureacratic limbo she will find herself in, she arranges to follow her family immigrating to the US from Ghana once her academic year in Ghana is finished. Unfortunately, things do not go smoothly, and the author takes us with her as she passes through various way stations - and once she finally arrives in the US, she faces new difficulties. It is heartwarming to see how she overcomes the situation with the support of her family and mentors, and is able to find fulfillment in a career she herself would not have chosen of her own volition.
October 14, 2023
A truly page-turning memoir, from start to finish! Dr. Pia’s soulful prose shines through, as she vulnerably shares her journey — the many setbacks and struggles, alongside the moments of hope and transformation. I loved the overarching message of resilience and had so much to reflect on as I read. Dr. Pia does a brilliant job of highlighting the a full range of human emotions and experiences. Anyone who reads this book will be amazed at how much she has overcome and what a profound impact she has made. I can’t recommend this memoir enough!
May 21, 2024
I don't read a lot of memoirs, but this one, almost novel-like, kept my interest until the happy ending. The author had my sympathy as she encountered numerous obstacles in her long journey to reach her goal. The strength and poignancy of Lally's struggle had much to do with the ties and loyalty to her family that put her at odds with the determination and perseverance that were needed for her to finish her training and qualify as a doctor. I found myself admiring her and pulling for her every step of the way. An engaging read and an inspiring story.
June 28, 2024
Lally Pia’s story is one of bravely surmounting numerous obstacles, from a Ghanaian military coup to an abusive husband. Her inherent sassiness and irrepressible humor accompany her through travels and hardships until she finds her true path, becoming a caring, creative, heartfelt psychiatrist. From the very beginning of the book, readers LIKE Lally: they like her voice, her refusal to be cowed by challenges, her courage and honesty. The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy is a delightful, fascinating and inspiring read.
August 21, 2023
A gripping story about overcoming overwhelming odds--the horrors of an unstable country, anti-immigrant policies, domestic abuse, the hurdles women face within the medical education system. Any one of these could destroy a person's spirit. Not so Lally Pia! She not only survived these situations but came out the other side embodying compassion, kindness, humility, integrity. I learned so much from reading her book.
September 27, 2023
The Fortune Teller's Prophecy is a powerful story told with sensitivity and heart. Pia's incredible journey through so many different types of obstacles--from the intimate to the international--is compelling enough, but I most appreciated her honest and vulnerable voice. The story of a woman finding her path, her power, and her voice not just despite all the challenges, but because of them, this is a unique and valuable book.
February 1, 2024
If this woman's journey doesn't inspire you then nothing will. What an expedition through life. What I really liked is the author holds nothing back and that takes guts! Lally was blessed to have wonderful support from her family but without her spirit she never could have accomplished what she did. A truly beautiful read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 11, 2024
This book for me was a "soap" read at the professional level. It is about a lady who navigates four countries, negative cultural influences, financial crises, and a failed marriage while gaining a desired medical education when near the age of forty. "Keep an eye on the prize" could have been the title of her life. It is a sad read with a happy ending which reflects the sub-title: "A Memoir of An Unlikely
Doctor".
Doctor".
July 19, 2025
This is an exciting tale of overcoming great difficulties to achieve a life-long goal. The author was very honest about her own mistakes as well as mistreatment by others. The book also shines a light on the challenges facing immigrants to this country. Finally, this could almost be considered a travel book because of the delightful way that many locations, both here and abroad, are portrayed. It's an engaging story.
May 15, 2024
From Sri Lanka to Ghana, to Wales and the UK and ultimately to the US, we follow Lally Pia's journey to fulfill her destiny, as foretold long ago: to become a "Doctor of Doctors".
A memoir highlighting the struggles in her endeavor to do just that with determination and perseverance.
A memoir highlighting the struggles in her endeavor to do just that with determination and perseverance.
June 9, 2024
This book was so honest and captivating. And as someone who spent time in Davis, CA, the local references were special.
January 1, 2026
Incredibly inspiring!✨
February 28, 2026
I just loved this book. It's such a tender, courageous, thoughtful story of personal growth. Some passages were so beautifully written, I could feel tears coming. I deeply recommend this.
May 8, 2024
📖 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁
𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 🙌🏻
The first sentence immediately drew me in:
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨....“
❥I loved that this memoir’s 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 was always 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 and 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩, with a 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳, that balanced some emotional and serious moments.
❥𝙇𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮’𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨:
From the moment she leaves Ghana trying to join her parents in the US, many 𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 happen and hinder her ultimate dream to become a doctor *•* 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒，𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒，𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠 *•*
❥At some points, Lally had to “adapt” and settle for less than she truly wanted, her priorities being her family and kids, but an inner voice kept pushing her forward, and that’s what made her journey so inspiring!
❥𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛, weak at times, but the way she gradually regained self-confidence and stood up for herself was an achievement in itself!
❥Seeing how her parents played a crucial role in her journey warmed up my heart!
✽Coming from an Arab country I could relate to these 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 🙌🏻
❤︎︎ Lally is not only “a doctor of doctors”, as the fortune teller predicted, she’s also “an inspirer of inspirers” ☺️!
• —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— •
❥ 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒓
✯journey of a Sri-lankan woman
✯from Ghana to the USA
✯ inspiring journey
✯ fast-paced/ short chapters
✯ addictive writing + a hint of humour
❥ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖: 30 April 2024
• —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— •
✨Thank you Booksparks for sending a copy my way and making me discover this wonderful story!
𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 🙌🏻
The first sentence immediately drew me in:
“𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙, 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙨....“
❥I loved that this memoir’s 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 was always 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 and 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩, with a 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘳, that balanced some emotional and serious moments.
❥𝙇𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮’𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨:
From the moment she leaves Ghana trying to join her parents in the US, many 𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 happen and hinder her ultimate dream to become a doctor *•* 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒，𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑒，𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠 *•*
❥At some points, Lally had to “adapt” and settle for less than she truly wanted, her priorities being her family and kids, but an inner voice kept pushing her forward, and that’s what made her journey so inspiring!
❥𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑜 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛, weak at times, but the way she gradually regained self-confidence and stood up for herself was an achievement in itself!
❥Seeing how her parents played a crucial role in her journey warmed up my heart!
✽Coming from an Arab country I could relate to these 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 🙌🏻
❤︎︎ Lally is not only “a doctor of doctors”, as the fortune teller predicted, she’s also “an inspirer of inspirers” ☺️!
• —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— •
❥ 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕣𝕖: 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒊𝒓
✯journey of a Sri-lankan woman
✯from Ghana to the USA
✯ inspiring journey
✯ fast-paced/ short chapters
✯ addictive writing + a hint of humour
❥ℝ𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝔻𝕒𝕥𝕖: 30 April 2024
• —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— • ✩ • —— •
✨Thank you Booksparks for sending a copy my way and making me discover this wonderful story!
May 1, 2024
Going into this book I thought it was going to feature the medical profession a little more than it did, but I still thought it was a great memoir. I read so much fiction that I always remind myself when reading memoirs that this was someone’s real life. I found myself frustrated with some of the decisions Lally made but I can understand why she made them. Lally faced so much heartbreak and sometimes fear during her life, being separated from her family and not knowing when she would see them again. When she found someone who filled that void, she didn’t let go. It was an unexpectedly emotional story. Seeing Lally grow and learn from her experiences was so heartwarming by the end.
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