Review: Beautifully written, fascinating and highly readable story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2011
Pearl Zhang was born in the Sichuan province on mainland China in 1961.  She was raised in a traditional Chinese manner, went to school, got a job, got married, had her single child ... and then her life changed.  She was given the opportunity to go study at Warwick University in United Kingdom for one year - and stayed.  She adjusted to Western life, divorced her husband, lost her child to him, work, struggled, scrimped and saved.  She was in a new world, a completely foreign situation - but under the same moon.Beautifully written, "The Same Moon" is an (apparently) semi-autobiographical, semi-fiction story.  Ms Kirk tells the story with authority and details that will astound the reader, especially one who, like me, doesn't know very much about China - its fascinating traditions, its beautiful scenery, its generous people.  She also grew up during the Cultural Revolution - she also left home and came to UK and stayed.  I don't know how much else of this story is based on her life, but that is enough to give me an idea - it was not an easy time or place to grow up.This is not the sort of book I would ordinarily seek out and read - however, Junying Kirk asked me to do so and provide a review, and I can happily say that I loved this book and can heartily recommend it to anyone and everyone.  Pick up this beautiful book - the first in a trilogy - and prepare to immerse yourself in a different world.