A review by jilianh
We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies by Tsering Yangzom Lama

challenging emotional slow-paced

3.75

The majority of my reading experience with this book would have been about a "3 star"- I loved the concept but when I set it down I didn't feel particularly drawn to pick it back up again, I didn't find myself feeling connected to any of the characters or their hardships, and while it was well written I didn't feel like it was actually impacting me. However, after 60% and more specifically by 80% I finally did feel that connection. I even teared up a bit. It is a slow build up but it is a story that I think my opinion on will only improve with time as it sticks in my mind.

 I have some smaller issues with the book but nothing that would deter me from recommending it, more things like the map of Tibet being included so large when most of the locations discussed were not on it (I understand the author wants Tibet to be the central focus but the point of having maps in books is to make it easier to track the story).

On a personal note-
I am Canadian, and I was recently in Nepal to trek, so I felt a particular additional interest in the perception of the locals towards tourists doing this sort of thing. I even crossed the Tibet border at Rui La as part of my journey and found the difficulty to

cross to spread the ashes at the end of the book

made me really aware of my privilege to even step foot into their homeland.