Rabbit in the Moon

by Deborah Shlian, Joel N. Shlian, Joel Shlian

Book Overview

San Francisco, 1989: Forty years after Mao and hisPeople's Liberation Army set out to change China forever, Dr. Lili Quan prepares for a journey that will change her life forever.

To honor her mother's dying wish that she "return" home, American-born, Lili, reluctantly sets out for China. For Lili, a passionate idealist, this will be an extraordinary trip filled with remarkable discoveries - from meeting and falling in love with Chi-Wen...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1732230196
• ISBN13: 9781732230194
• Release Date: February 2019
• Publisher: Deborah Shlian
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A great year for the Chinese

In a year of the Chinese Olympics, one couldn't ask for a better thriller than Rabbit on the Moon by Deboral and Joel Shlianj to focus on the generational differences in China. What a great read! Anyone looking for a mixture of mystery, science and Asian culture can't go wrong by picking up this "unputdownable" novel. From the first pages, one is drawn into the conflict faced by Dr. Lili Quan to either turn her back on her Chinese origins or be drawn back into a world she knows little about in order to fulfill a promise made to her mother. No one could predict how terrifying this experience will turn out to be. With China very much in our memories because of the Olympics, this novel could not have come out at a better time. I loved every page turning twist and found Lili's predicament one with universal implications.

A most fascinating read

An ancient Chinese folk tale claims that there is a rabbit in the moon pounding out medicinal elixirs. In 1989 in China the old guard of Maoists were trying to hang onto the old order in the face of student uprisings and demands for more freedom. This uprising led to the now-famous march and massacre in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Shlians have used this as the backdrop for this exciting novel. The main character, Dr. Lili Quan, is a Chinese-American working on her residency in geriatric medicine. When her mother dies, she begins to have several interpersonal problems. Just before her death, Lili's mother expressed the wish that Lili would someday visit China. An opportunity arose, sending Lili into a maelstrom of intrigue and espionage. She finds that her grandfather, Dr. Cheng, long believed dead, is alive and working on a secret method to extend human life by 30-40 years or longer. One of his experimental patients is over 120 years old. However, several unscrupulous individuals within the Chinese government, as well as within the international pharmaceutical and business world, have found out about Dr. Cheng's work. Lili unwittingly becomes a pawn in their illicit plots to learn the secret. This book has wonderful details and well-developed characters, for the most part. While initially there are quite a few characters and locations to keep straight, by the final fourth of the book they fall into place. The pace of the book starts at a walk and picks up speed at every turn. By the last few chapters it is a page-turner that is difficult to set down. I also enjoyed the way the authors touched on political, cultural, business and medicinal differences between East and West. Armchair Interviews says: Most interesting story set in China.

OUTSTANDING THRILLER

Dr. Lili Quan is a young physician, an American, of Chinese descent. Lili has always considered herself as an American, never appreciating the Chinese language or Chinese customs, never intending to travel to China -- until she honors her mother's dying wish and finds a grandfather she did not know was alive. Lili's journey though China is so realistic, so touching that the reader will feel as if he/she is her traveling companion. Her journey is anything but routine as Lili is targeted by powerful, evil men intent to use her as a pawn to access her grandfather's stunning research on longevity. She can trust no one, not her American friends, not her new Chinese friends. Chinese culture, history and humanity as well as the morality of longevity are at the core of this novel which is rich in intrieige and romance. This is the season for books about China and for fiction lovers, this is a five star treat.

An Olympic winner!

I wanted to read this book because I wanted to get a flavor of China with the upcoming Beijing Olympics. My budget won't allow me to fly there, but Rabbit in the Moon transported me there in my mind, as I was able to explore China through Lili's eyes. The main character, Lili, is an appealing young woman struggling with her identity--her quest for her roots leads her to gripping excitement and danger. I had so much fun reading this book: Lili's adventures, especially after uncovering a remarkable secret, kept me reading all night, and I finished the book in one sitting. A must-read for fans of thrillers and suspense, as well as everyone who wants to "visit" China in their hearts.