In the Garden Behind the Moon
A Memoir of Loss, Myth, and Magic
Alexandra A. Chan is an archaeologist, and her eloquent, inventive memoir In the Garden Behind the Moon chronicles her search through her family’s history, which woke her to new ways of seeing.
The book begins with a riveting account about Chan’s grandfather, a scholar in imperial China whose revolutionary ideas prompted him to leave for the US under the threat of execution. This story is used to deliver the subtle implication that lineage and the will to live by one’s convictions are powerful. From there, the book’s sections build around the years of the Chinese zodiac, its animal lore, and stories of endurance gathered after Chan’s father’s death when he was 102 years old. She knew him as a veteran and a maverick in addition to his parental role; in the wake of his loss, she reconciled herself to the notion that living can’t be directed by rationality alone. Herein, she forms a collage of memories, recalling childhood enchantments, absorbed wisdom, and her multitalented mother. And she draws inspiration from her relatives’ lives throughout.
The interconnected essays seek the magic that underlies the visible world, reaching out for what’s just beyond Chan’s grasp. Poetic quotations, vintage photographs, and original Chinese brushwork embellish the book, alongside references to other books, travel, and ideas about the importance of telling stories and making “patterns of meaning.” These are used to reshape Chan’s grief. She also addresses her audience, encouraging activities like going into nature, gardening, self-exploration, and shamanic journeying in an inviting way.
Mixing insights from psychology and philosophy into its fond personal reflections and appreciation for tradition, In the Garden Behind the Moon is a hopeful memoir about cultural heritage, family, and healing.
Reviewed by
Karen Rigby
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
