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What sets this book apart is the rich descriptions of what life was like for a young missionary couple in Siam (Thailand) during the 1920's. The story is told from Bab's (Barbara's) point of view...the reader follows her from the time she is a young woman with dreams of becoming an opera singer, through her courtship with Harvey, and her reluctance to follow him onto the mission field. Harvey may have been called to be a medical missionary, but Barbara's faith is not as strong, and she resents giving up her comfortable life and her dreams of becoming a singer.
The descriptions of the jungles, villages, wildlife, and people of Siam make this a powerful read at times, but the characters never really came alive for me. I felt like the faith of both of them was superficial, which while realistic did not always make it the most uplifting read. Yet the descriptions were marvelous so read if if you are interesting in finding out more about life in exotic locals and during this time period. ( )

This is a story that I enjoyed. It is based on the life of the author's grandmother. in the 20s and 30s. It tells of the marriage of Harvey and Babs. Babs wants to be a singer and her chance has arrived to go places when her husband, a doctor, accepts a position as a missionary doctor in Thailand (Siam). Babs is thinking of Bangkok when she reluctantly agrees to go but they are sent to a remote community in the far north of Thailand. Babs struggles there amongst the very conservative missionarys. Her husband thrives on it and Babs feels that even though she loves him he does not need her and she sees no role for herself in this community. The time comes when she cannot stand it any more. She has to get out and find her place and a purpose in life. She goes to Europe with her two daughters. There she is given the chance to learn singing as she wished to earlier, but the time comes when she again has to make a choice. Can she have it all? When she chooses one of two things does that mean the other is lost for ever? Will she in the end find a purpose and a place in the world? I won't give the end away. This is an issue that spans time and is still relevant today when compromises have to be made in a marriage when the two parties goals and ambitions do not sit comfortably together.
It was beautifully written, some great descriptive packages. It gave a reall feel for what life would have been like in Thailand (Siam) at that time ( )

This book was actually a disappointment. From the start, the writing style was difficult. It seemed forced, contrived. I kept reading, thinking that maybe I’d get used to it. I never did, unfortunately. The book was full of vivid imagery which painted beautiful environments. It did not do a lot by way of a plot, though. An afterword explained that the story was based on real events shared by the author’s grandmother. The author admitted that some of the story had been fictionalized, which, one would hope, would have made the story more engaging, more cohesive.

The story is of Barbara, young suffragette and wannabe opera singer who seems to get “swept up” in a life that she hasn’t asked for. At no point does this woman who claims to be for the equality of men and women stand up to say “This isn’t what I want.” to her husband at first. She goes to a place for which she is completely unprepared. I found that a bit strange for someone so over-the-moon about her chance for the Chicago Opera, someone who believes she has a chance to make her dreams come true to just let it go by the wayside. It seemed out of character. Actually, the picture that’s painted at the beginning of the book about the character doesn’t jive with the character that’s presented in the rest of the book. The beginning shows a self-confident young woman, blooming into adulthood who has the world at her feet, who believes that she has tremendous opportunities to do great things. The rest of the book involves a milktoast young woman who doesn’t seem to know where she is or what she’s about, who is confused, disoriented, and seems perpetually lost. I found her woe-is-me attitude somewhat trying, particularly as she dragged her husband away from things that he cared about because she really didn’t seem willing to try to adapt to the situation, even after several years.

Really, this should be an inspirational story, but it turns out to be a trying account of a selfish and uncertain young woman, interested in fun and frolic, and who doesn’t seem to understand the magnitude of the work that her husband does and could be doing. Everything that happens in their lives becomes a tug of war; it’s either all what he wants because she gives in entirely, or all what she wants because she’s finally made a demand and he acquiesces.

I regret to say that this book, which I had been so excited to read, turned out to be a major disappointment. The style never grew on me and the character failed to connect, failing to make me feel sympathetic to her plights. The imagery was probably the best part of the book, but if I wanted only images, I would read a picture book. I can’t recommend this book for anyone who likes cohesive story, actual plot and sympathetic characters. ( )

The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen is historical 1920's story about a young married couple who travel to Siam (what is today Thailand) so the husband can work as a medical missionary. The wife is a singer who was about to join the opera, but leaves her dreams behind to follow her husband and be a good wife. She struggles with having to choose between following her dreams and being a supportive wife. She also doesn't fit in well with the husband's Christian mission group and finds herself questioning their purpose in Thailand.

This is fiction based on the true events in the life of the author's grandmother. The characters were realistic and I felt for the main character "Babs". I was drawn into the life they lived. My only criticism would be that it was a little long. It really wasn't even that there were long drawn out passages, because there wasn't anything that I got bored with reading, but there were scenese that weren't important either. I was happy with the way the book ended and happy I had the chance to read about this era and experience. ( )