When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East

by Quan Barry, David Lee Huynh (Narrator)

From the acclaimed author of We Ride Upons Sticks--a luminous novel that moves across a windswept Mongolia, as a pair of estranged twin brothers make a journey of duty, conflict, and renewed understanding.

Tasked with finding the reincarnation of a great lama somewhere in the vast Mongolian landscape, the young monk Chuluun seeks the help of his identical twin, Mun, who was recognized as a reincarnation himself as a child, but has since renounced their once shared monastic life.
Harking back to her vivid and magical first novel set in Vietnam, Quan Barry carries us across a landscape as unforgiving as it is beautiful and culturally varied, from the stark Gobi Desert to the ancient capital of Chinggis Khan. As their country stretches before them, questions of the immortal soul, along with more earthly matters of love, sex, and brotherhood, haunt the twins, who can hear each other's thoughts.
Are our lives our own, or do we belong to something larger? When I'm Gone is a stunningly far-flung examination of our individual struggle to retain faith and discover meaning in a fast-changing world, and a paean to Buddhist acceptance of what simply is.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Asia, Religion, Contemporary, Historical

Audiobook

First published February 22, 2022

About the author

Born in Saigon and raised on Boston’s north shore, Quan Barry is a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the author of four poetry books; her third book, Water Puppets, won the AWP Donald Hall Prize for Poetry and was a PEN/Open Book finalist. She has received NEA Fellowships in both fiction and poetry, and her work has appeared in such publications as Ms. and The New Yorker. Barry lives in Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freaking amazing! I could not put it down. It's so incredibly unique. Beyond my expectations. Absolutely gorgeous and mesmerizing. The Mongolian and Buddhist reprentation was so important. I loved the relationships. It was just such a lovely read!

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East almost a week ago, and it's been floating around in my mind as I try to understand everything I experienced through it. The short version of the novel is this: a group of five Mongolian Buddhist monks travel together across Mongolia visiting several children, any of whom might be the reincarnation of a revered lama. Two of those monks are identical twin brothers: Chuluun and Mun, who were brought to a monastery as children after Mun was recognized a reincarnated lama. Within the last year, Mun has abandoned the monastery, but he has agreed to join the monks on this journey at the urging of his brother.

Chuluum is the narrator here, and experiencing the world through his eyes is a deeply reflective experience. In addition, each of the characters is fascinating in their own right, giving the reader many ways of experiencing their journey—though their parts of the story aren't told in first person. This is a book that has to be moved through slowly: not because it drags, but more in the way that one slowly consumes a rich, delicious dinner. Any sense of rush will make the richness harder to enjoy.

When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East is a rewarding read for anyone who likes books that move beyond the expected.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive)]

It’s hard to believe Quan Barry’s When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East comes on the heels of We Ride Upon Sticks, her dense but accomplished 2020 novel starring a Salem, Massachusetts, high school field hockey team who dabble in the dark arts to finally start winning games. Set in 1989, it’s a teen movie in book form, needing only a Winona Ryder voiceover to solidify its place in that clique. But Barry has made a hard pivot here, going from the spirit realm to the spiritual, and effortlessly at that.

This new book is set in Mongolia, a country geographically cradled by two superpowers, Russia to the north and China to the south.

Click here to read the rest of my review in The Rumpus.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in Mongolia in 2015, this is the story of two estranged brothers(Chuluun and Mun)who set out across the country and have two weeks to find a reincarnated Buddhist teacher.

My thoughts:

(1) Author Quan Barry has a very poetic hand and there's plenty of beautiful examples of imagery. Yet, I couldn't really immerse myself in the narrative. The pacing just seemed uneven and even though the story is told by Chuluun's persepective, occassionally there was some confusion.

(2) A lot of research went into the making of this book and I believe the strength is certainly Barry's attempt to challenge the stereotypes that Western readers might have about Buddhist Monks. These monks use smartphones and iPads. “Many of us are on Facebook,” Chuluun says.  They emerge as complex humans and the story is infused with Buddhist teachings.

(3) I haven't read many books set in Mongolia and it was nice to have a contemporary novel to explore.

Overall, my review is based on the difficulty I had in reading this egalley. It didn't work for me BUT I am sure other readers will find it delightful.


Publication Date. 22/02/22
Goodreads review published 27/02/22

[Ken]

What do you do with a novel that contains a bibliography? Maybe read some of the books listed, if you're truly interested.

No, it's not historical fiction. That said, you can definitely sense the "research" element that went into this book. Facts about Mongolia and Tibet. About Buddhism. About the Dalai Lama. About reincarnation. About searching for the next lama when you lose the existing one. About death being non-death.

This comes to us through twin boys, twenty-something, each "discovered" as special at age 8, but only one willing to play ball (Chuluun, the narrator), while the brother, Mun, prefers to enjoy the temptations of the world. At least as much as they're available in Mongolia, thank you.

Chuluun gets a little of this thanks to vicarious thoughts that almost look like telepathy between identical twins. Telepathy that can be shut off like a spigot when one brother wants to keep a secret. If you buy that, it's available at the bazaar here.

Overall, a rating nightmare. I'm clapping one hand for the writing, so that's important. I'm clapping the other hand for interesting stuff I picked up about Tibetan Buddhism and Mongolia (of all places!). Stuff I'll likely forget (sigh).

The only drawback I have is interest level. It was more an "informational interest" I experienced than a "fictional dream" interest. Some of you may not care about that, though, so I endorse the book if you're keen on learning about subject matter we seldom get in Western reading. If you insist on being swept up by story, you might struggle a bit more. Therefore, it's unfair in one sense to 4-star it and in another to 3-star it. 3.5, depending.

And I leave you with this quote from Chuluu. It speaks to celibacy but, in the end, seems to encompass much more than that about suffering (Think of the Four Noble Truths, which tell us all suffering comes from desire -- and not just carnal desire, either):

"I know now why the Buddha mandates that his monks walk the path of celibacy. I know it is not a path all can walk, but in doing so, I understand what I gain by living a dispassionate life. Renunciation is an act of liberation. It sets loose the light shining deeply within each of us, a light we can count on in the darkest dark. When you drop the world's bait, you see the world as it is. When you desire absolutely nothing, you become free."

That last line? It's a worthy mantra for your mirror.

[Nadine in California · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most unusual road trip premise ever. Five Buddhists travel across Mongolia in search of the reincarnation of a major spiritual leader: 23 year old telepathic identical twins, Chuluun and Mun, one a novice feeling cold feet over taking his orders, the other a reincarnation of another spiritual leader who left the monastery for a western life in the capital; "Uncle", a senior lama close to the Dalai Lama who will examine three child candidates; Little Bat, Uncle's "heart disciple"; and Saran, a young woman assigned to be their servant and cook. Their journey takes them to the steppes, the mountains and the Gobi desert, a dangerous trip through a very large and underpopulated country, especially in their rattletrap vehicle. Chuluun narrates the trip, and we see this vast, beautiful, harsh land and varied peoples through his earnest eyes. We also see Tibetan Buddhism embodied in Uncle and Little Bat- their serenity and humor never flag throughout this difficult and sometimes tragic trip. Mun mostly has his hoodie on and earbuds in ;) The contrasts between traditional life and modern gadgets can be very entertaining. At one point they enter a town with an internet cafe and Uncle Facetimes with the Dalai Lama! Chuluun is overwhelmed to see His Holiness' face up close - it's very sweet.

Barry's writing feels amazingly light and nimble. This is partly due to the very short 'chapters' - (one or two pages), Chuluun's gentle gaze, and Barry's decision to write the entire book in the present tense, even though the story weaves back and forth in time. It was a bit of a surprise at first, but I liked it. She is also playful with the Table of Contents page :) Which child is chosen as the incarnation?I'm not telling!

[Andrea Gagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyrical, poetic, mesmerizing, and immersive: this is definitely going down as one of my favorite books of the year. Quan Barry has crafted a book that melds fiction with nonfiction, storytelling with poetry, spiritualism with doubt.

"When the only hope is a boat and there is no boat, I will be the boat."

The story follows a group of five monks as they journey to through Mongolia - through mountains, deserts, and frozen grasslands - in search of the reincarnation of a great spiritual leader, the One for Whom the Sky Never Darkens. The story is narrated by Chuluun, a novice, as he travels alongside his twin Mun who rejected monastic life.

Over the course of their quest, we see Chuluun grapple with his own beliefs and with his relationship with his brother. We learn about Buddhist traditions and Mongolian history and culture. We dip into the emptiness of the vast expanse under the Eternal Blue Sky.

Reading this book is an experience that stays with you. I would recommend reading it at a time when you're looking for something that you can savor slowly and really reflect on.

Then again, time is irrelevant and "in the universe's eternal calendar, it is always now."

[Carmel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most unusual little read, one I took my time with, absorbing all the details it offered.

At its foundation, this is a story of five Buddhists traveling across Mongolia to meet three children who might be the reincarnation of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Seeing through the eyes of one of an identical set of twins, but telepathically connected to the other, we experience the inner thoughts of our narrator as he observes, muses, struggles with his life destiny, while also hearing the occasional thoughts of his twin that break through, the brother who discarded his own "destiny" in favor of living a different kind of life. It's an interesting premise for a story.

As this journey plays out, we get a tour of Mongolia in a changing landscape, learn of the customs and behavior of its people, revisit important historical events, become more familiar with Buddhist beliefs, and brush elbows with the influence of neighboring Russia and China. Sprinkled throughout the travels is commentary on commitment, destiny, life choices, love, jealousy, resentment, doubt...all the foibles that plague organic bodies, no matter how many times they come back to try again.

I enjoyed this diverse set of characters, as well as their mission, and the learning I did along the way along with the narrator.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - as with the previous book I read from this author (We Ride Upon Sticks), I absolutely loved the prose in this one. There is such a lyrical but not flowery quality to the writing that really works for me. I didn't enjoy this as much as WRUS but I still did enjoy this character driven "road trip" type story

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Mongolia, this story follows a young Buddhist monk named Chuluun. He is asked to find the reincarnation of a great spiritual teacher somewhere across the vast Mongolian landscape. Chuluun enlists the help of his estranged identical twin brother, Mun, who had renounced his own monastic vows. Mun had been recognized as a reincarnation but found he was unsuited for the role, so he left the monastery. The brothers share a telepathic connection in “hearing” each other's thoughts. It is structured as a quest, told in short chapters, and contains elements of Buddhist philosophy, religion, spiritualism, and traditions of the region. It is beautifully written in a fluid manner, reflecting one of its main topics: the nature of time. I always enjoy books that immerse me in different cultures of the world. This is my first book by Quan Barry, but it certainly will not be the last.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was different from anything I’ve read in a while, and I don’t mean that at all as faint praise. It’s the story of a Mongolian novice Buddhist monk who joins the search for the next young reincarnation of a great lama, along with two other monks, a (Buddhist) nun, and his twin brother, who has left the order after years in the monastery as a child recognized as a reincarnation himself. In addition to being the tale of a quest, with a lot of interesting background on Mongolia and its distinct sect of Buddhism, the narrator is struggling with his faith, and his feelings about his twin’s loss of faith—the tension between religion and secularism is a subject that always interests me, and the fact that this isn’t framed in a Judeo-Christian context makes it especially interesting. It might help to have at least a passing interest in Buddhism to enjoy this one, but maybe not.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives the Western reader a couple of rare things: a novel set in Mongolia and Buddhist monk characters who struggle with doubts and self-belief. Twins Chuluun and Mun, sent to join a monastery as children, have taken divergent paths as young adults. Chuluun is part of a mission to find the reincarnation of a lama in Tibetan Buddhism, which is also practiced in Mongolia. Mun has renounced his identity as a reincarnated leader himself and abandoned Buddhist teachings but is willing to assist his twin on this mission. From these two seemingly opposite poles the brothers move along the spectrum of belief and disbelief in a believable way through the story.

I've never seen the topic of identifying child reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism treated in such a fully realized way; in Western reporting, where Tibetan Buddhism obviously has a pretty lofty spiritual reputation, it doesn't seem to get looked at from the perspective of the child himself (always a "he", though suggested here that evolution on gender roles could one day change that), asking what it means to be taken from a normal life into not just a monastic life but a complete identity - "you are this person, who did this and this and this in previous lives" - that the child doesn't get to choose for himself. In the West we're familiar with the idea of someone's childhood being taken from them due to things like super-competitive athletics (gymnasts, etc.) or bad family situations; here we see it as part of being identified as a reincarnated religious figure.

I enter my brother's chambers and find him sitting in his altar room among his booty. I'm not allowed to keep it, he says. All week gifts pour in. Stuffed animals, sports equipment, electronics, candy. It is all to be whisked away tomorrow and donated to the local school, places where children are allowed to be children.

And so my brother and I spend the night playing with objects we don't even know exist until now. One is a remote-control truck that has a siren on top that flashes red and blue lights, washing the walls with color. Tomorrow my brother is to don the gold brocade lama hat like a horse's mane. He is to be carried on an open-air litter through the crowds, the sangha of the whole country and beyond gathered... But tonight we are two little boys playing among a pile of treasures the world mysteriously brings into our lives.

A great deal of research as well as some personal experience of Mongolia went into the writing, and the story shows it off as it travels from the vast interior grasslands to the northern ice to the western mountains to the southern desert, working in a non-Western perspective that portrays Genghis (Chinggis) Khan's distant rule in a far more benevolent light while condemning the more recent rule of Mongolia's communist puppet state that destroyed the monasteries and murdered their monks, part of the 5-10% of the population that died in the communist purges. It shows the current day rebirth of Mongolian Buddhism, its intertwined connection to Tibet, and the beliefs and practices of its adherents. Sometimes the information transmission gets in the way a bit of the storytelling, but it's such interesting stuff that I hardly minded.

In sum, a unique and memorable novel, from a skilled poet/novelist/playwright who has shown off quite an impressive literary range in her career thus far.

[Ned Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are lucky, once in a great while you find yourself reading a book you don’t want to end while being overwhelmed with a palpable urgency to find out what happens. This delightful tension signals a great read. "When I Am Gone, Look For Me in the East" is one of those books. Admittedly, I was reborn to be interested in much of what this book is about… Vajrayana, Buddhist culture, the Dharma, Tibet, Mongolia, rebirth, and so on. So color me the target reader. Barry's gentle eloquence and her perfect recreation of the inner dialog of the seeker captivated me from page one. Even so, I imagine readers who are not so primed for the spiritual aspects of this saga, would be enthralled by Barry's enchanting characters, and her rich descriptions of Mongolian geography, history and culture, not to mention the mystery at the core of this tale - a search for a reincarnated Tulku of great political as well as spiritual significance. Her unadorned prose has the evocative power of poetry. Indeed the narrative often feels reminiscent of things from a past not consciously remembered and her insights into the dharma sometimes breath life into concepts previously only known superficially or perhaps just dormant. "Wonderful" in every sense of the meaning of the word.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otherworldly and mysterious. Esoteric and contemplative. Reading about monks in Mongolia who seek the reincarnation of an important teacher took me on a journey far from my life. The characters cross extreme landscapes of ice and snow, the scorching sands of the desert, visit the tents of reindeer herders and the bustling city of Ulaanbaatar. The monks aspire to an enlightenment most only receive upon death. Like us, they also struggle with doubt.

When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East is a journey story. How Chuluun, a novice monk, is tasked to travel to the city and find his twin brother Mun, who left the monastery. With little Bat, they are to accompany Venerable Uncle to seek the the child who is a reborn teacher destined to bring the truth to the modern world.

You and I, [Uncle] says, we don’t choose this life. But the ones among us who thrive, like His Holiness, at some point, we do choose it. We choose it every hour with every breath.
from When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry

Chuluun’s journey is also internal; he is anguished, lonely, uncertain. He finds himself near a woman for the first time since he was eight, the party’s cook Saran. His physic connection with his twin has been severed, but sometimes they can still enter each other’s minds as they had in early childhood, before the monks took them to the monastery when they were eight years old. Mun was identified as The Redeemer Who Sounds the Conch in the Darkness. But he had a rebelliousness and left, and now sports Western t-shirts, a phone and ear buds, leading tours for tourists.

Buddhism had been suppressed under the Soviets, their holy books and men destroyed. Likewise their history, dating to Chinggis Khan, was suppressed. These modern monks must reestablish the faith.

This world felt so real to me, Chuluun’s first person voice offering entry into his memories, observations, and recalled Buddhist teachings. We learn about the lives of the nomadic Mongolian peoples, their gers with electricity from solar energy or a generator and colorful painted furniture, the cuisine of mutton and turnip soup and marmot roasted from the inside with hot stones.

Buddhist teachings are densely woven into the story, guiding these characters. “When the only hope is a boat and there is no boat, we will become the boat,” Chuluun repeats to himself. What he learns over this journey brings insight that could change all our lives.

Thanks to A. A. Knopf for a free ARC.

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book that manages to be poetic, meandering and very matter of fact at the same time.
I felt the chapters were very abrupt and the story itself didn't flow very nicely.

However the subject matter was fascinating and I learned a lot about Mongolian culture and some more about Buddhism.
I don't regret reading it but it wasn't really a book for me, mainly because of the writing style.

If these topics interest you, you should pick it up, but beware it's not a fast-paced book, more of a quiet tale.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly original novel set in Mongolia in which twin brothers, both Buddhist monks (though one has recanted his vows), are part of a small group tasked by the Dalai Lama with vetting three child candidates in a quest for the reincarnation of a high holy Tibetan monk. The little I know of Buddhism comes from novels and other popular culture, so this was an enlightening and informative tour, both of the way of the Dharma and also, and especially, into the exotic (for this Westerner) cultures of Mongolia, as their quest takes them to three far-flung corners of that country. (If you’ve seen the wonderful 2017 documentary The Eagle Huntress, you’re familiar with the mountain people who ride horses and hunt with the magnificent golden eagle, one of the tribes visited on the quest.) A marvellous blend of adventure (sheep rustlers, sandstorm in the Gobi, reindeer, wild horses) and respectful portrayal of a deeply religious way of life. I suspect I’ll recall this with affection for a long time.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quan Barry’s outstanding new novel, When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East, is a perfect example of one of the reasons I read fiction. In this engrossing story, we walk along (sometimes literally) with protagonist Chuluun as he, accompanied by his twin brother, two fellow Gelug Buddhist monks, and a woman servant from a monastery in Ulaanbaatar look for the resurrection of one known as the One for Whom the Sky Never Darkens. It’s a journey full of doubt and questions and dharma and, just maybe, enlightenment. This book is so beautifully written, so realistic and so human, that I was nearly moved to tears by the end...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.

[Mae B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and inspiring.

This book was such an interesting journey. Seeing two people who came into this world together live drastically different lives left me glued to how it would all turn out. The book presents a completely alternative view from the norm we see in the Western lifestyle. It was nice to be able to learn these unknown values and see how they applied to life. Such a great book. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a deeper read.

[Sami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of the story or character development because the novel lacked both, in my opinion. I do look forward to reading a different Barry novel, We Ride Upon Sticks, because it should be better than this!

[Melissa Joulwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, I can’t find the words yet to talk about this book. I love it so much.

[Ming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was apprehensive about picking up this title after having DNF'd her most recent title, We Ride Upon Sticks for its glacial, spinning-wheels pacing.

But I did pick it up and I am glad I did.  The setting and the initial premise were intriguing.  And the book checked several of my boxes: Mongolia, Silk Road, etc.  Okay, mentions of Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal were noted and also appreciated. And the Dalai Lama makes an appearance too!

I will start at the ending.  The resolution is beautiful and tender, very tender. It's a cascade of resolutions and each makes sense in its own way and shows us how impressions are just that and that there are many greys in life.  I remain awed by how it was crafted.  It's one of the most satisfying conclusions I've read.

The overall vibe is gentle and soothing. The level of anxiety and conflict (or tension) has a purpose and, I would add, is forgiving...and at least, forgiven within a Buddhist mindset. If you're looking to see how Buddhist ideas and philosophy occur or are "lived out," this book certainly presents it well.  (And since Barry is intimately familiar with Buddhism, I felt like I was in good hands.)  I felt the author deftly shared information, about Mongolian history and culture, the despicable role of Russian and Chinese governments/colonialism, etc., without it coming off as explaining or preachy.

This search/adventure reminds me of Coehlo's The Alchemist. The search for the reincarnation of a blessed senior monk spurs the movement of the book. On the cusp of his final vows, the monk Chuluun joins (or enlists?) his twin Mun, a former monk who is now a tour guide and a rascal of sorts (if not just a much more worldly twin). The identical twins have a telepathic connection and are often in conflict. Twinhood is a necessary element here...this is carefully designed and works so well to tell the story.

The book is intricately plotted and beautifully written.  At times, Barry uses some peculiar grammar, where a modifying clause would have you think it's something in the past, but then the verb is in the present tense. I'm not sure if this is some creative usage but I noted it; and it had me wondering what is going on.

I highly recommend this book.

A few passages/quotes:

There are eleven people on the shuttle bus. They're mostly young western couples, backpackers taking what in their language is called a gap year. The concept is mystifying to me. I cannot understand it, as the idea of searching for oneself through travel seems counterintuitive. As if self-knowledge can be attained through globetrotting. To know the self, one has only to listen, to slow the mind's inner dialogue and be content with the world as it truly is and not as one wants it to be.

...To my ears the sound of Tibetan is jagged yet watery, a language not all that different from Mongolian in that it too is filled with the music of the natural world--weather and hardship, long nights of dreams and the eternal blue sky.

The rest of the way I concentrate on the beating of my heart, my pulse like a clock, like an icicle dripping from the branch of a tree. From time to time, I scan the sky searching for scavengers searching on the winds. Scavengers are to the grasslands what the albatross is to the mariner lost at sea, namely, a harbinger of land; only in Mongolia the sight of vultures spiraling upward in the deep blue means that death lurks somewhere in the tall grass. Where there is death, there is life, a cycle at the very heart of Buddhism.

...I want to say something to comfort him, but nothing comes to mind.  Right time, right thought, right speech.
Do not speak--unless it improves upon silence!

I am not really thinking of anything at the present moment. Just of the many different types of light in the world. How each one is precious. How each needs a hand to shelter it to keep it from blowing out.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read Harder Challenge 2023: Read a historical fiction book set in an Eastern country.

(LOL I thought this was set much, much further into the past, but I'm still counting it bc I'm tired.)

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Who can be expected to live in a world without the freedom to believe in that which sustains you?”

When I’m Gone, Look For Me in the East by Quan Barry is a story about juxtapositions and foils. It is the story of faith and tradition in a changing world. It is the tale of twin brothers, one a devout monk and one initially thought to be the reincarnation of the lama, but has since fallen to modern vices. The twins are tasked with finding the newest reincarnation of the lama and scour all of Mongolia for this individual.

The prose? Lyrical, gorgeous, ethereal.

The setting? I haven’t read any stories set in Mongolia, so it was incredibly interesting reading vignettes about the regions, cultural practices, and traditions. It’s a country with a wealth of history and culture that is caught in the fray between two superpowers - Russia and China. I think that the most captivating parts of the book were the detailed scenes of traditional competitions.

The vibe? Calm. Soothing. High stakes, not high heart rate.

The story? Reflective and tended to jump in chronology. I found that the short chapters made the pacing feel quite uneven and a bit confusing. However, the facts, culture, and history presented were quite interesting and clearly well-researched. The author seeks to dismantle many preconceptions about monks and does a great job at showing how they are more connected to the modern world that one may think.

Perfect for? Fans of historical fiction, people who want to know more about Mongolia, slow burns, reflective stories about the place of faith in the modern world.

Thank you PANTHEON for sending me a finished copy of When I’m Gone, Look For Me in the East by Quan Barry in exchange for an honest review. This one is already available!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now for something completely different, Quan Barry shows her versatility in shifting from a novel set among a girls’ high school field hockey team to this story of two brothers journeying across Mongolia to help find the child who will become the next Dalai Lama. A road trip like no other, with thoughtful meditations on Buddhism from the novel’s protagonist. What’s next, Ms Barry?!

[Grace]

This was a slog, the writing was beautiful and endearing but i wasn’t following the plot or connecting with the characters. I’m trying to get better at DNFing when it’s not for me. Reminiscent of my memories of the Alchemist. Want to read other work by Quan Barry.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel close to my heart. The only thing that really distracted my reading experience were ubiquitous sentences detailing occurrences or events in the past using the present tense.

[anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became the sibling of Chuluun and Mun as we searched for internal light among reincarnations of reincarnations. This book brought me peace.

[Katrin Olak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parimaid raamatuid mu elus. Andis rahu südamesse. Mongoolia tundub nii huvitav.

[Blodeuedd Finland]

Not feeling it

[Katri · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not my book at all, but it still influenced me. I usually like books that you start slowly, but then the book grabs you so much that the pace accelerates from zero to 100. You have to read this book in small bites to enjoy the nicely written sentences. It's like an 8-hour long meditation. And even if you are reluctant at first, the pace of life will slow down pleasantly by the end of the book. Of course, I expected much more about the brothers hearing each other's thoughts when I read the description of the book...