eBook

Geneva K. Olowoeshin is a native Georgian, born and raised in the heart of the city of Atlanta. She was adopted and raised in a home with three other adopted siblings. Olowoeshin lives in Dayton, Ohio. She has four grown sons and five grandchildren. 

The life of author Geneva K. Olowoeshin began during the time when civil rights were still new, and African Americans were still referred to as Negroes and colored. In A Peach Tree in the Projects, Olowoeshin examines her life and emotions from the angle of one of the last in the baby boomer era. She explains how she coped with being adopted and growing up with parents old enough to be her grandparents, but with the stamina and wit to not only keep up, but leave lifelong lessons necessary in today’s unpredictable society. 

Through poetry dating back to the early 1980s, Olowoeshin shows how words have always been relevant in taming her deepest pains of loves lost, her brother’s plight, and the struggles with a severe identity crisis. The included pictures give real color to her story, vividly illustrating what is being told in the essays and the poetry. 

This compilation shares how writing this life story began as a therapeutic outlet for a tumultuous path. It helped her understand that not knowing who you are and where you come from can have a powerful effect. Gaining strength from not knowing, however, makes for a beautiful picture. 

“Gaining Strength from the Unknown and Painting a Beautiful Picture out of it

One of the most ironic realities is knowing someone else better than knowing yourself. Our identity is molded by a lot of factors. Environment, parents, siblings, experiences, etc., are detrimental to who we become. However, knowing that we are not who we believe we are will create a desire in us to reconnect with our roots. This was the longing in the heart of an adoptee. And with an anthology, she will let us in on the groanings of her heart. Geneva K. Olowoeshin introduces her life through recollections and poetry in her book, “A Peach Tree in the Projects: A Work in Poetry, a Work in Pictures, a Work in Life, My Work, My Signature.”

Being welcomed into a family as an adoptee ushered a longing in Olowoeshin’s heart and mind. This feeling made her search for her origins and her true identity, which later on made her a self-absorbed child. Lost in the feeling of anguish, she resorted to poetry to truly express the angst in her heart. Thus, the birth of this anthology.

In this book, Olowoeshin successfully introduced a unique blend between an autobiography and artistic poetry. This book became her confidant and had given her the freedom to fully express the contents of her wondering heart. She also gave a glimpse of the past by sharing life lessons from her adopted parents that prove to be useful in this dynamic age. She also crosses an effective interpretation of pain through sharing her experiences while dealing with the deepest pains of love lost. She also incorporated photos that not only provide a glimpse of the past but also amplify the message.

Overall, it is a great addition to anyone’s bookshelf. It is an account of the past and how someone can deal with an identity crisis. It also gives hope and a different facet of self-identity; that sometimes, gaining strength from the unknown, can paint a beautiful picture.”