Pretty excited about our trip to Bhutan this month :)
Being the nerd and the planning freak that I am, I want to know all about the history and culture of Bhutan so that I can co-relate and understand when I am there. When I started my online research, I saw one common complaint from most would-be travelers that there is a dearth of books on Bhutan... I found this to be quite untrue...
So, here is a compiled list of reading material I found online.... I can broadly categorize them into two spheres : One set of books written mostly by Western travelers who were bugged up with life, wanted to get away, came to Bhutan for a short while, fell in love with a local guy (rolling eyes) and consequently the country. The second set is written by Bhutanese authors themselves willing share their country's history, contemporary life, the gradual and inevitable foray into modernity and the experience of being dependent on neighboring countries like India for a better life. Naturally, I am more interested in the second genre, although I have my reservations about forming an opinion about life in the country based on these accounts.
The list contains the books I found about Bhutan spanning across genres, with a short description and my initial perception based on reviews, blogs and Wikipedia entries about the work and the author. Quite possibly the list is incomplete, since I have limited my research only to the online sphere. I have omitted works about which I could not find sufficient description. However this should be enough to go on, for a complete newbie to Bhutan based literature.What could also be a valuable input to understanding the country are some books on Buddhism itself. An idea about the general philosophy of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, which is the state religion, could come in handy.
Due to time constraints, I am going to pick just one book to read (cover to cover, every single letter, as I do generally). This list is the summary of the research I did for selecting my reading material. There is every possibility that I come off as judgmental, but isn't that what we all do while selecting a book from a shelf in a bookstore?
In His Majesty's Civil Service: And Other Contemporary Tales
Bhutan: The Himalayan Mountain Kingdom
Author: Francois Pommaret
The author is an acclaimed authority on Bhutan. She has held various esteemed positions like the Honorary Consul of Bhutan in Paris and a consultant for UNESCO. The book in itself includes scholarly accounts of varied aspects of life in Bhutan
Verdict: Under consideration
Married to Bhutan
Author: Linda Leaming
This is a memoir with a funny take on how the american author arrives in Bhutan, struggles to survive in a city with (!) no traffic lights, to learn the langauge, traditions and way of life and (surprise of surprises)falls in love with a local artist. Although the storytelling could be engaging and the narration genuine, I am going to skip it because of the Hollywood-esque plot
Verdict: Miss
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan
Author: Jamie Zeppa
Another memoir from a Canadian student, who steps out of a clearly-cut-out life and chooses the road less traveled. Everybody who has read the book seems to love it. However, it is still an account of the culture shock an outsider experiences, when she enters Bhutan and the process of gradually falling in love with the country. I would still go for something with more of an insider account.
Verdict: Miss
Crystal Dragon
Author: Ann Gustafson
This is one of the few fictions available out there on the country. Its a part of a book series around a protagonist called Kerry Carlyle. True to form, the thriller seems to have exploited all the stereotypes available out there about the country. Should be a fun read. I never discount the ability of fiction to impart value without too much pretension. However not to be taken up when there is a timeline in the picture.
Verdict: Miss
The Raven Crown: The origins of Buddhist monarchy in Bhutan
Author: Michael Aris
This is supposed to be another pro-regime book - I am ok with that - and is supposed to read like a textbook, according to the reviews - I am not ok with that - except for the photographs depicting a lot of the royal family's history. But I suppose I will get to see some of the royal insignia firsthand. So I wont be considering this one.
Verdict: Miss
The Blessings of Bhutan
Authors: Russ Carpenter, Blyth Carpenter
Written by the husband-wife team of author-adventures, this tries to demystify Bhutan for first time travelers and should be a fun read. However I doubt if I need it since, being an Indian, some of the things that may seem mystical to Westerns are a part of day-to-day life for me. Hence I am not going to invest my time in this.
Verdict : Miss
Finally, what decided my reading material are the usual factors of ease of availability and affordability. Among the ones I wanted to read, the only two available on Filpkart were "Bhutan: The Himalayan Mountain Kingdom" and "So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas". The former was slightly heavier on the pocket. So I am going to read about the Vanishing Buddhist Kingdom of the Himalayas. Hope the book gets delivered soon so that I can start reading straight-away. Please watch this space for a review :)
Being the nerd and the planning freak that I am, I want to know all about the history and culture of Bhutan so that I can co-relate and understand when I am there. When I started my online research, I saw one common complaint from most would-be travelers that there is a dearth of books on Bhutan... I found this to be quite untrue...
So, here is a compiled list of reading material I found online.... I can broadly categorize them into two spheres : One set of books written mostly by Western travelers who were bugged up with life, wanted to get away, came to Bhutan for a short while, fell in love with a local guy (rolling eyes) and consequently the country. The second set is written by Bhutanese authors themselves willing share their country's history, contemporary life, the gradual and inevitable foray into modernity and the experience of being dependent on neighboring countries like India for a better life. Naturally, I am more interested in the second genre, although I have my reservations about forming an opinion about life in the country based on these accounts.
The list contains the books I found about Bhutan spanning across genres, with a short description and my initial perception based on reviews, blogs and Wikipedia entries about the work and the author. Quite possibly the list is incomplete, since I have limited my research only to the online sphere. I have omitted works about which I could not find sufficient description. However this should be enough to go on, for a complete newbie to Bhutan based literature.What could also be a valuable input to understanding the country are some books on Buddhism itself. An idea about the general philosophy of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana Buddhism, which is the state religion, could come in handy.
Due to time constraints, I am going to pick just one book to read (cover to cover, every single letter, as I do generally). This list is the summary of the research I did for selecting my reading material. There is every possibility that I come off as judgmental, but isn't that what we all do while selecting a book from a shelf in a bookstore?
From Bhutan:
In His Majesty's Civil Service: And Other Contemporary Tales
From the Kingdom of Bhutan
Author: Thomas Slocum
This is a collection of short stories about life in Bhutan. The stories range from themes of nomadic life and displacement to corruption in the contemporary society. This is right up my ally and the kind of read I am looking for.
Verdict: Hit
Seeing with the third eye: Growing up with angay in Rural Bhutan
Seeing with the third eye: Growing up with angay in Rural Bhutan
Author: T. Sangay Wangchuk
This is a memoir from a Bhutanese citizen about growing up in Bhutan with his grandmother and aunt. Both of them have accepted the flavor of Buddhism of Bhutan as their way of life. The reviews say even though it may not be high literature, it is beautiful for its simplicity, honesty of storytelling and is adorned with line drawings and photographs. Definitely worth going for.
Verdict: Hit
The Circle of Karma
Author: Kunzang Choden
The highlight here seems to be that it is the first novel in English from a woman writer from Bhutan. Kudos for that! However it seems to go downhill from there. It seems to be an exaggerated tale of elaborate struggles women go through in the mostly-rural Bhutan. While I completely sympathize with that, I guess the struggles are quite similar in any economically and consequentially socially backward region, even in India for that matter. Not what I am looking for at the moment.
Verdict: Miss
The Circle of Karma
Author: Kunzang Choden
The highlight here seems to be that it is the first novel in English from a woman writer from Bhutan. Kudos for that! However it seems to go downhill from there. It seems to be an exaggerated tale of elaborate struggles women go through in the mostly-rural Bhutan. While I completely sympathize with that, I guess the struggles are quite similar in any economically and consequentially socially backward region, even in India for that matter. Not what I am looking for at the moment.
Verdict: Miss
About Bhutan:
Beneath Blossom Rain: Discovering Bhutan on the toughest trek in the world
Author: Kevin Grange
This is about a 33-year old guy from California who seems to be at cross roads in life and wants to discover himself over the "SnowMan Trek" in Bhutan, supposedly the most difficult trek ever. I am told to expect a few interesting interactions with locals, insights about Bhutan, a romantic turn of events and more.
Verdict: Miss
Bhutan: The Himalayan Mountain KingdomAuthor: Francois Pommaret
The author is an acclaimed authority on Bhutan. She has held various esteemed positions like the Honorary Consul of Bhutan in Paris and a consultant for UNESCO. The book in itself includes scholarly accounts of varied aspects of life in Bhutan
Verdict: Under consideration
Married to Bhutan
Author: Linda Leaming
This is a memoir with a funny take on how the american author arrives in Bhutan, struggles to survive in a city with (!) no traffic lights, to learn the langauge, traditions and way of life and (surprise of surprises)falls in love with a local artist. Although the storytelling could be engaging and the narration genuine, I am going to skip it because of the Hollywood-esque plot
Verdict: Miss
Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan
Author: Jamie ZeppaAnother memoir from a Canadian student, who steps out of a clearly-cut-out life and chooses the road less traveled. Everybody who has read the book seems to love it. However, it is still an account of the culture shock an outsider experiences, when she enters Bhutan and the process of gradually falling in love with the country. I would still go for something with more of an insider account.
Verdict: Miss
Crystal Dragon
Author: Ann Gustafson
This is one of the few fictions available out there on the country. Its a part of a book series around a protagonist called Kerry Carlyle. True to form, the thriller seems to have exploited all the stereotypes available out there about the country. Should be a fun read. I never discount the ability of fiction to impart value without too much pretension. However not to be taken up when there is a timeline in the picture.
Verdict: Miss
So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas
Author: Barbara Crossette
From what I glean from the reviews, this book is controversial for being pro-regime. The author seems to take a side in the geo-political scenario currently prevalent and for this, bags both praise and criticism. The anti-regime voice clearly seems to find favor with the Western world, from which the criticism is highest. The author makes a case for the right of Bhutan to retain its independent, traditional existence and the benefits of doing so versus the mindless embracing of supposed modernity over one's time tested way of living. I would definitely like to give it a go for its serious consideration of the issues faced by the current day country.
Verdict: Hit
The Raven Crown: The origins of Buddhist monarchy in Bhutan
Author: Michael ArisThis is supposed to be another pro-regime book - I am ok with that - and is supposed to read like a textbook, according to the reviews - I am not ok with that - except for the photographs depicting a lot of the royal family's history. But I suppose I will get to see some of the royal insignia firsthand. So I wont be considering this one.
Verdict: Miss
The Blessings of Bhutan
Authors: Russ Carpenter, Blyth Carpenter
Written by the husband-wife team of author-adventures, this tries to demystify Bhutan for first time travelers and should be a fun read. However I doubt if I need it since, being an Indian, some of the things that may seem mystical to Westerns are a part of day-to-day life for me. Hence I am not going to invest my time in this.
Verdict : Miss
Finally, what decided my reading material are the usual factors of ease of availability and affordability. Among the ones I wanted to read, the only two available on Filpkart were "Bhutan: The Himalayan Mountain Kingdom" and "So Close to Heaven: The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas". The former was slightly heavier on the pocket. So I am going to read about the Vanishing Buddhist Kingdom of the Himalayas. Hope the book gets delivered soon so that I can start reading straight-away. Please watch this space for a review :)
