<b>One woman’s quest to learn Mandarin in Beijing, Arabic in Beirut, and Spanish in Mexico, with her young family along for the ride.</b><br><b>&nbsp;</b><br>Imagine&nbsp;negotiating&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;replacement&nbsp;carburetor&nbsp;in&nbsp;rural&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;with&nbsp;words you’re&nbsp;secretly&nbsp;pulling&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;pocket&nbsp;dictionary.&nbsp;Imagine&nbsp;your&nbsp;two-year-old&nbsp;asking for&nbsp;more&nbsp;<i>niunai</i>&nbsp;at&nbsp;dinner—a&nbsp;Mandarin&nbsp;word&nbsp;for&nbsp;milk&nbsp;that&nbsp;even&nbsp;you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;know yet.&nbsp;Imagine&nbsp;finding&nbsp;out&nbsp;that&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;unexpectedly&nbsp;pregnant&nbsp;while&nbsp;living&nbsp;in&nbsp;war-torn Beirut.&nbsp;With&nbsp;vivid&nbsp;and&nbsp;evocative&nbsp;language,&nbsp;Christine&nbsp;Gilbert&nbsp;takes&nbsp;us&nbsp;along&nbsp;with&nbsp;her into&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;lands,&nbsp;showing&nbsp;us&nbsp;what&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;like&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;a&nbsp;life&nbsp;in&nbsp;an&nbsp;unfamiliar world—and&nbsp;in&nbsp;an&nbsp;unfamiliar&nbsp;tongue.<br>&nbsp;<br>Gilbert&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;young&nbsp;mother&nbsp;when&nbsp;she&nbsp;boldly&nbsp;uprooted&nbsp;her&nbsp;family&nbsp;to&nbsp;move around&nbsp;the&nbsp;world,&nbsp;studying&nbsp;Mandarin&nbsp;in&nbsp;China,&nbsp;Arabic&nbsp;in&nbsp;Lebanon,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Spanish&nbsp;in Mexico,&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;toddler&nbsp;son&nbsp;and&nbsp;all-American&nbsp;husband&nbsp;along&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;ride.&nbsp;Their story&nbsp;takes&nbsp;us&nbsp;from&nbsp;Beijing&nbsp;to&nbsp;Beirut,&nbsp;from&nbsp;Cyprus&nbsp;to&nbsp;Chiang&nbsp;Mai—and&nbsp;also explores&nbsp;recent&nbsp;breakthroughs&nbsp;in&nbsp;bilingual&nbsp;brain&nbsp;mapping&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;controversial debates&nbsp;happening&nbsp;in&nbsp;linguistics&nbsp;right&nbsp;now.<br>&nbsp;<br>Gilbert’s&nbsp;adventures&nbsp;abroad&nbsp;prove&nbsp;just&nbsp;how&nbsp;much&nbsp;language&nbsp;influences culture&nbsp;(and&nbsp;vice&nbsp;versa),&nbsp;and&nbsp;lead&nbsp;her&nbsp;to&nbsp;results&nbsp;she&nbsp;never&nbsp;expected.<i>Mother Tongue</i> is&nbsp;a&nbsp;fascinating&nbsp;and&nbsp;uplifting&nbsp;story&nbsp;about&nbsp;taking&nbsp;big&nbsp;risks&nbsp;for&nbsp;bigger rewards&nbsp;and&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;find&nbsp;meaning&nbsp;and&nbsp;happiness&nbsp;through&nbsp;tireless&nbsp;pursuit—no matter&nbsp;what&nbsp;hurdles&nbsp;may&nbsp;arise.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a&nbsp;treat&nbsp;for&nbsp;language&nbsp;enthusiasts&nbsp;and&nbsp;armchair travelers&nbsp;alike.