BOOKS FROM MONGOLIAMongol
Tags:
Set in Mongolia
Female author
Description:
Exteremely interesting'emotionally engaging (Stuart Kelly). Uuganaa is a Mongol living in Britain, far from the world she grew up in: as a nomadic herder she lived in a yurt, eating marmot meat, distilling vodka from goat's yoghurt and learning about Comrade Lenin. When her new-born son Billy is diagnosed with DownOCOs Syndrome, she finds herself facing bigotry and taboo as well as heartbreak. In this powerful memoir, Uuganaa skilfully interweaves the extraordinary story of her own childhood in Mongolia with the sadly short life of Billy, who becomes a symbol of union and disunion, cultures and complexity, stigma and superstition ? and inspires Uuganaa to challenge prejudice. Mongol is the touching story of one woman's transformation from outsider to fearless champion of love, respect and tolerance. It's a moving tribute by a remarkable woman to her beloved baby son, testifying to his lasting impact on a sometimes imperfect world."
Reviews:
(1 month ago) |
02 Nov, 2024
A memoir that interweaves past and present. The author grew up in very isolated Mongolia, living a mostly traditional life surrounded by loving family and friends. As she grew so did her desire to see more of the world, and she's made her adult life in the UK. The title references her personal heritage and the prejudice and ignorance she encountered when her son was born with Down Syndrome. A beautiful story full of interesting detail. I really enjoyed it.
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