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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this - I don't read a lot of travel books as I tend to get jealous! but the author's sheer enthusiasm for Bhutan, Buddhism and her husband is refreshing, sweet and infectious. Well worth a read and you can only hope Bhutan retains its independant spirit as modernisation moves in. If only all our governments would consider Gross Domestic Happiness as opposed to Gross Domestic Product.
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
great story in and out of Bhutan. Hardships and love of remote Bhutan - btw, all of Bhutan is remote. Worth reading for anybody thinking of visiting.
it's always good to learn about different cultures. Great insight into someplace new :)
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content warnings: death of an infant, mental health
I knew literally nothing about Bhutan going into this. I feel like I know more now, but at the same time, I still have NO idea what Bhutan is like. And I think that's in part because there are no illustrations/photos/plates in this, and that would have been super helpful to have to give the reader a better understanding of the places and views that Leaming is discussing.
So yeah. There was a mixture of American-dealing-with-culture-shock and American-embraces-life-and-love types of stories in this, and I definitely enjoyed it but I just wish there had been a little bit MORE than what we got.
I knew literally nothing about Bhutan going into this. I feel like I know more now, but at the same time, I still have NO idea what Bhutan is like. And I think that's in part because there are no illustrations/photos/plates in this, and that would have been super helpful to have to give the reader a better understanding of the places and views that Leaming is discussing.
So yeah. There was a mixture of American-dealing-with-culture-shock and American-embraces-life-and-love types of stories in this, and I definitely enjoyed it but I just wish there had been a little bit MORE than what we got.
Informative book on a little known country that is one of the happiest countries in the world. I picked up this book because the author was mentioned Eric Weiner's book: The Geography of Bliss. Leaming tells of her travels to Bhutan, falls in love with the country, comes back to the U.S., sells everything and goes back yo live in Bhutan.
Such a fascinating read about a country which is nearly impossible to fly into even in 2011 (I thought maybe we could take one of our vacations there, I think it requires more planning than we generally conduct for travels). A short stay in Bhutan quickly lead to life in Bhutan for Linda Leaming and the stories she shares are humurous, enlightening and entertaining.
A few gems:
"So along with all this peaceful beauty, there's a lot of vulnerability." (p.6)
"Sins of the flesh are probably the least destructive to humankind; and things like anger, hypocrisy, jealousy, greed, and pride are much more damaging in the end." (p.47)
"In Bhutan, saying very little is the epitome of good manners...It's more okay not to talk. People are comfortable with scilence. I believe my Bhutanese friends and family are talking without talking." (p. 64)
"Part of loving is just relishing the mystery and the improbability of it all." (p. 80)
"Winter is an inward time. Trees abandon their leaves, and their sap, their life force, concentrates in their trunks." (p.143)
"In my life, adventure and dreams have taken precedence over desire for material objects." (p.216)
A few gems:
"So along with all this peaceful beauty, there's a lot of vulnerability." (p.6)
"Sins of the flesh are probably the least destructive to humankind; and things like anger, hypocrisy, jealousy, greed, and pride are much more damaging in the end." (p.47)
"In Bhutan, saying very little is the epitome of good manners...It's more okay not to talk. People are comfortable with scilence. I believe my Bhutanese friends and family are talking without talking." (p. 64)
"Part of loving is just relishing the mystery and the improbability of it all." (p. 80)
"Winter is an inward time. Trees abandon their leaves, and their sap, their life force, concentrates in their trunks." (p.143)
"In my life, adventure and dreams have taken precedence over desire for material objects." (p.216)
You know how your favorite pizza feels like? That gooey cheesy texture, combined with the slightly hard thin crust? The heat of the jalapeños with the sweetness of the soft sweet corn? The crunchy onions that are waiting for you to be picked out to be eaten separately? That awesome feeling when you take a bite and it explodes in a multitude of different flavors?
This is what this book feels like.
A wonderful combination of travel, religion and culture held together with strong descriptive writing.
Memoirs work best when you have an unusual hook in the story. Like a foreigner in a unusual context, like in this story. But what sets it apart is the respect the content has received. No judgements, just thoughts put out there.
Maybe the only drawback in this book was that it was bit slow. Certain sections could have been quicker in pace.
Could relate to a lot in this book. Loved the book, would surely recommend it.
This is what this book feels like.
A wonderful combination of travel, religion and culture held together with strong descriptive writing.
Memoirs work best when you have an unusual hook in the story. Like a foreigner in a unusual context, like in this story. But what sets it apart is the respect the content has received. No judgements, just thoughts put out there.
Maybe the only drawback in this book was that it was bit slow. Certain sections could have been quicker in pace.
Could relate to a lot in this book. Loved the book, would surely recommend it.