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The Same Moon: A Touching Memoir About Intercountry Adoption in Vietnam and Unconditional Love Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 204 ratings

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A unique and intimate memoir about adoption, prejudice and shared destiny, thousands of miles from home.

For years Ruth Spira never even dreamed of motherhood and children. She was left a young widow when her husband was killed in Israel’s Yom Kippur war in 1973, and she chose not to remarry.

At the age of forty something began to stir within—the desire to become a mother made itself increasingly heard with each passing day. Her age and the decision to stop long and draining fertility treatments, eventually lead her to the other side of the world - to Vietnam.

In an honest and moving book, Ruth describes the process she went through—from the moment she decided to adopt, through the difficult months she spent in Vietnam, the immediate connection between her and her new baby, Lien, and the process of acclimation back home, along with other hurdles she encountered.

This extraordinary book raises important and essential questions about parenthood, cross-border and cross-culture adoption, single motherhood, prejudice, racism, the role fate plays in our lives and the inexplicable feeling of love a parent feels for her child.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The description of an odyssey toVietnam... and the search for a baby are at the heart of this book which is allone big heart of sensitivities... the outer odyssey integrates harmoniously withSpira's internal odyssey to create an interesting document."
Yaron Achituv, Makor Rishon, November 2015

"The journey Ruth Spira took me onis much more than geographical. It is a sailing of the human soul towards itsbeauty and generosity... (the book) enfolds in its pages full of meaning andemotion."
Ofra Ofer Oren, Soferet SofrimBlog, April 2015

"The book can be read in onebreath, as it is a captivating document whose human issues are interwoven withabundant information about a grueling and frustrating process, about a countryof many mysteries, and about the love that was born in a single moment ofembrace.
Talma Admon, Ma'ariv, September 2014

"With sincerity and touchinghonesty Ruth Spira reveals the story of the journey she went on eighteen yearsago to Vietnam in order to adopt her daughter. She relates the bliss that was shadowed by the pain of another woman, and a love thatcan overcome any challenge."
EilatNegev, Book Supplement, Haaretz, March 2015

"In a small book that reveals somuch, Spira shares her personal story with honesty and outstanding insight...the fascinating story of a journey, moving and full of love."
Anat Bar-Lev Efrati, Laisha, February 2015

From the Author

My desire to remember, pass my experiences down to my daughter, the fear of forgetting, and passion for documenting, are what motivated me to write this book. My fervor to document and share, is also what fuels my work as journalist and is also the foundation of my second book, Breaking the Silence.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08CTGY71V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (September 30, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2732 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 228 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 204 ratings

About the author

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Ruth Spira
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Born in Finland, a native Swedish speaker and living in Israel from the age of 13, Ruth Spira has gained a prominent status as translator of Scandinavian literature into Hebrew.

For her contribution, she was decorated in 2016 with the Royal Swedish Order of the Polar Star.

She worked for 15 years as Cultural Reporter for the daily newspaper, Ma'ariv and served for two years as Cultural Attaché at the Israel Embassy in Stockholm.

She is the author of two books, The Same Moon, a memoir about her incredible journey to Vietnam and back in 1997 in order to adopt a baby girl, and Breaking the Silence, a book of interviews with Israeli women living under the shadow of loss and war. The latter was awarded the Yitzhak Sade prize in 2019.

Ruth Spira was widowed at the age of 24 when her husband was killed in the Yom Kippur War. She has a daughter.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
204 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the touching story about the determination and patience it took for the author to share her love. The adoption story is interesting and heartwarming, with lots of details and insights. Readers also mention that the book provides a personal perspective on motherhood.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They say it's worth reading, and the author doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties or joys of adoption.

"What a long and often arduous process to adopt, but obviously well worth it and life changing...." Read more

"...Well written, highly descriptive, informative and enjoyable. I would personally love to meet the author in order to meet a mother such as herself...." Read more

"...We honor and cherish those lives just as all the other grands. Good read!!" Read more

"...Nonetheless it was a good read - for the portions that I did read." Read more

7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the story touching and engaging, with details and drama. They describe it as a good story about determination and patience.

"...the background leading up to the adoption, which takes up a good majority of the story...." Read more

"...The story was lovingly told and I feel that this mother and daughter were a perfect match from the moment the baby was placed in her arms." Read more

"...Lots of details & drama. Great insights." Read more

"Engaging book about adoption of Vietnamese baby by Finnish-Israeli woman...." Read more

6 customers mention "Adoption story"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading about the author's adoption experiences. They find the story interesting and well-written, with personal details about a Vietnamese adoption. The book is described as an incredible journey to become a mother.

"I loved reading about her adoption experiences. So glad it worked out for both of them!..." Read more

"...pull any punches as she told about the difficulties and joys in adopting a baby from Vietnam...." Read more

"It had lots of detail and personal information about a Vietnamese adoption. It was very well written! I really enjoyed reading it." Read more

"...It was an incredible journey to become e mother. I have no doubt your daughter will Berman incredible woman such as yourself...." Read more

3 customers mention "Detail"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's detail and drama. They find it well-written, descriptive, informative, and enjoyable.

"...Well written, highly descriptive, informative and enjoyable. I would personally love to meet the author in order to meet a mother such as herself...." Read more

"...This been book is almost like a personal journal from the author. Lots of details & drama. Great insights." Read more

"It had lots of detail and personal information about a Vietnamese adoption. It was very well written! I really enjoyed reading it." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartwarming"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming. They appreciate the selfless love and how uncertain parents feel when they feel helpless.

"Adoption, internationally or otherwise, is the ultimate act of selfless love...." Read more

"...We went through a lot of the same experiences. Loved All you shared and how uncertain parents feel when we feel helpless waiting on another country..." Read more

"Heartwarming..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
    What a long and often arduous process to adopt, but obviously well worth it and life changing. Ruth was blessed by Lien being healthy, happy, intelligent and very adaptable to her new life, I'm sure in big part due to her mom Ruth ! Would love another book about Liens adult life!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2020
    These adventures in adoption would resonate deeply with parents who have adopted, especially those doing international adoptions. I haven't had that experience, but I could understand the frustrations and the pain of an uncertain path.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2020
    Being adopted myself I gained lavish insight into issues my adopted mother wasn't able to share with me. A new warmth resides within my heart where always there has been confusion. Well written, highly descriptive, informative and enjoyable. I would personally love to meet the author in order to meet a mother such as herself. Not all adoptees are so fortunate. Even though the system took great pains that I resembled my adoptive mother I felt like I was from Mars.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
    I am grandmother to 4 adopted children. I cannot imagine life without them! They each have their own abilities and quirks. I often think of the mother who gave them up and was unable to share their young lives with them. We honor and cherish those lives just as all the other grands. Good read!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2020
    A detailed description of an Israeli woman's adoption of a Vietnamese baby. It would have been nice to learn more about the child's years growing up after the adoption.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2020
    Adoption, internationally or otherwise, is the ultimate act of selfless love. I enjoyed reading about the background leading up to the adoption, which takes up a good majority of the story. Once the author arrives in Vietnam there is a great deal of waiting and angst before she can take her daughter home and I admit I skimmed or completely skipped through the portions dealing with the war. My father is a Vietnam vet and he has dozens of books on the war I can read if I am interested in that topic - which I am not. I was only interested in the story of a mothers quest to bring her child home. Had she left out certain portions and delved a bit more into the early years of motherhood I would have rated this book higher. Nonetheless it was a good read - for the portions that I did read.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
    I loved reading about her adoption experiences. So glad it worked out for both of them! Having been to Viet Nam, it was wonderful to read about her interactions with those beautiful people also.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021
    The author didn't pull any punches as she told about the difficulties and joys in adopting a baby from Vietnam. The story was lovingly told and I feel that this mother and daughter were a perfect match from the moment the baby was placed in her arms.

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