Amy Quan Barry (born Saigon in 1973) is a Vietnamese an American poet, a novelist, and a playwright. In her third novel, “When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East” (2022) the events take place in the Far East, Mongolia.
And what a journey this was with her! Guided by the symbols in Buddishm, a reader travels through different parts of this immense country, reaching from the Northern area with a lake district Khövsgöl Nuur to the Southern desert of Gobi, and in between we get to visit mountainous Western part of the country. The nature is wide and wild, this land which consists of contrasts.
(Btw, did you know that the population of the country is about 1,5 millions, of which more than 90% lives in the capital Ulaanbaatar?
We got to follow the events seen throught the eyes of Chuluun, a monk whose mission is participate in the search of “tulku”, the reincarnation an enlightened teacher. We also learn a curious fact that he has a twin brother who, for some reason, has left the monastery they once shared and lived in together before. From this Gandan Tegchling Monastery we come to learn characters such as little bat, Uncle and Saran. This small group is set out on a mission of a lifetime, their aim to find “the One for Whom the Sky Never Darkens”.
A Finnish reader is happy to learn some typical Mongolian features as we get to travel through “buttes” and see some “ovoos” on the hills, see people living in their “ger” as nomadic people do not stay in a one place forever, e.g. This huge country is by no means homonymous, for there are plenty of different religions and non-religions, and ethnicities. A tulku does not need to be of a buddhist origin, mind you. Could the next tulku also be a girl?… In the book there is an insinuation that a present spiritual leader, Dalai Lama, would have stated that “this is the century of Women”.
What happens in this exciting journey? Will there be some new discoveries and for whom, exactly? Whose thoughts are we thinking when we are …. thinking?
Our book club found this a bit challenging yet such a rewarding and special reading experience.
Review of our group: 4/5
-Marika
Image: goodreads.com
Porvoon kirjaston lukupiiri - Borgå stadsbiblioteks bokcirkel - The Book Club of Porvoo City Library 