Review: Literary and Informed
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 23, 2013
'The Same Moon' chronicles the early life of Pearl Zhang whose childhood was spent in Sichuan during Mao's Great Leap Forward. Although spared some of the horrendous follies that many Chinese peasants suffered during this period - and millions died in the great famine - her life was nonetheless hard and punctuated with tragedy. Ms Kirk paints a picture of a loveless upbringing where notions of duty, both familial and state, take precedence over an individual's dreams and desires.Some Western readers who have not been exposed to Chinese history and culture may be shocked at the apparent matter-of-fact attitude to such matters as abortion and the early death of loved ones. But this was a society where for most people survival was the key issue, not personal happiness and fulfilment.The author's narrative is packed with detail. I don't know how much of Ms Kirk's own life experiences are contained herein, but I should hazard quite a bit. Much of the book reads like a young woman's diary.'The Same Moon' rewards the patient reader. There is much to take in and absorb in this 'rites of passage' novel. Being a lover of all things Asian, I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the second. Europe is just too familiar to me to get excited about descriptions of the various places that Pearl visits during her Western awakening. This is nonetheless a great read: literary in tone, informed and imbued with a deep sense of awe at this Brave New World.I look forward to learning of Pearl's further adventures.