This short book is an intensely personal and deeply moving account of the author's journey from rural Mongolia to the west coast of Scotland. It is an engaging insight into grief and the close knit communities of her native land.

MONGOL is a gem. Read it. It may not change your life, but it may change the way you see the title.

Mongol is about memory, and about keeping memory alive. Uuganaa shares with us slices of her life, some in Mongolia, others in the UK. The power of her writing means that we are there, inside the (true) story. In Mongolia we are in the centre of the ger (circular tent), as Uuganaa shows us her family going about their daily activities or going outside to see the unbounded land meet the limitless sky. Then there is the story of coming to the UK and making a new home with a new family, the sadness of departure mixing with the happiness of arrival and beginning – and the comedy of cultural misunderstandings. And throughout, there is the story of Billy, born with Down’s Syndrome, and in whose memory this book was written. As I read about Billy and his family’s struggle, I felt my heart first break and then slowly mend as Uuganaa’s and her family’s love and strength inspired me to see the hope and the good that can build on the saddest of foundations. This is a beautiful book with a challenging title. It made me laugh, and cry, and then smile through the tears. It made me want to know more about Mongolia, more about Uuganaa and her family and more about Down’s Syndrome.

A poignant story of personal strength with intriguing insight into cultural contrasts

This simply told story of one woman’s life from a nomadic, ger-living childhood in Mongolia, to university, Europe and the west coast of Scotland, conveying relationships, tragedy and love, was captivating from the outset.

Glimpses of historical and political change in Mongolia to cultural differences across countries and attitudes toward Down’s Syndrome flicker through this personal tale; giving intriguing insight and warm reassurance of courage and love in the face of adversity.

I laughed and cried with this book. A recommended read.