The Ghost Moths by Harry Farthing is about Tibet’s struggle for independence. A great read infused with history, culture, and mysteries.
Location: you follow the main characters to Tibet, the Himalayas and the Shishapangma summit, various areas in Nepal like Kathmandu and Khumjung, and the residence of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, northern India. Part of the story takes place in 1956 but most of it in 2014.
The Ghost Moths synopsis
Whilst searching a windswept mountainside for the fabled ghost moth fungus, a young Tibetan boy unearths a mysterious relic. Moments later the People’s Liberation Army of China marches into his isolated village in the valley below and begins to dismantle an ancient way of life. As the brutal oppression grows, the boy’s precious find becomes first a symbol of hope for the villagers then a tool of survival for a people and a religion. It must be preserved at all costs.
Sixty years later, mountain guide Neil Quinn is wrapping up his last climb of the season on the highest mountain in Tibet when a transport shortage leaves him stuck in an empty base camp. An earthquake sets off a chain of mysterious events that directly connect the English climber to the ongoing tragedies of a troubled land where the Chinese authorities strive still for complete control.
Unsure of precisely what he witnessed yet determined to protect its truth, Quinn returns to Kathmandu and enlists the help of a famous historian of the Himalayas, an erstwhile American journalist, and a cast of locals as enigmatic as that ancient city—each with their own reasons for joining his quest. Manipulation and murder dog their every step as they strive to piece together a complex puzzle from Tibet’s tortured past while navigating the treacherous present.
Book review
“For the past to determine the future, it must survive the present.” Central to the story are the history, culture, and politics of the Tibetan region. It features mysteries set in the Himalayas and stories that have grown huge from historical accounts. Is something like the Brocken specter a beautiful natural phenomenon or the omen of death? These things depend on who you ask.
If you are not a mountain climber, you’ll learn about the aforementioned Brocken specter – your own reflection cast by the rising sun onto the cloud below – and many other things. The author’s knowledge shines through. You will also read about Tibet’s history, present and past, and its struggle to be an autonomous region.
The main characters want to do right by their conscience or country. You’ll find these people on both sides of the fight. Sometimes you don’t have a choice when powers bigger than you determine the course, though there are some who defend the cause they believe in, until the end.
But what is even more important than a well-designed setting, is that The Ghost Moths also has an interesting storyline, with credible characters. While the plot thickens and all characters get the information needed for their end game, the relevance of the events in the past become clear at the right time.
It is rewarding to take notice of the chapter titles, as they are witty and often come across as a joke or a comment on the situation. I also like the subtitles stating the year and the location of the chapter, which makes it easy to follow the story.
The Ghost Moths by Harry Farthing is a good read for those visiting Nepal, Tibet, or Dharamsala in India. I enjoyed reading it a lot and loved the fact that it transported me to the other side of the world.
Interested?
Pre-order your copy of The Ghost Moths from Amazon (available 9 February 2021).
Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
