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Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape from Tibet
On September 30, 2006, gunfire echoed through the thin air near Advance Base Camp on Cho Oyu Mountain. Frequented by thousands of climbers each year, Cho Oyu lies nineteen miles east of Mt. Everest on the border between Tibet and Nepal. To the elite mountaineering community, it offers a straightforward summit—a warm-up climb to her formidable sister. To Tibetans, Cho Oyu promises a gateway to freedom through a secret glacial path: the Nangpa La.
Murder in the High Himalaya is the unforgettable account of the brutal killing of Kelsang Namtso—a seventeen-year-old Tibetan nun fleeing to India—by Chinese border guards. Witnessed by dozens of Western climbers, Kelsang's death sparked an international debate over China's savage oppression of Tibet. Adventure reporter Jonathan Green has gained rare entrance into this shadow-land at the rooftop of the world. In his affecting portrait of modern Tibet, Green raises enduring questions about morality and the lengths we go to achieve freedom.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2010
About the author
Jonathan Green
3 books74 followersJonathan Green is an award-winning author and investigative journalist specializing in narrative non-fiction.
Sex Money Murder: A Story of Crack, Blood and Betrayal tells the story of the infamous Bronx gang through inside access to gangsters and the federal agents, police officers and prosecutors who took them down. It was an Edgar finalist by Mystery Writers of America and a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick.
His first book, Murder in the High Himalaya, won the coveted Banff Mountain Book Competition in the Mountain and Wilderness Category and the American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Non Fiction Book of the Year. The book is endorsed by the Dalai Lama and actor Richard Gere. It was translated into Polish in 2016. (Trivia: The book and the story of Kelsang Namtso served as the inspiration for the song Absconders by Canadian Metal band Gorguts on their critically acclaimed album, Colored Sands.)
Green has reported from Sudan on jihadist militias, the guerilla-controlled jungles of Colombia on the cocaine trade, corruption in oil-rich Kazakhstan and the destruction of the rainforest in Borneo among many other demanding assignments around the globe. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Men's Journal, British Esquire, Fast Company, and British GQ among others.
He has been the recipient of the Amnesty International Media Award for Excellence in Human Rights Journalism, the American Society of Journalists and Authors award for reporting on a significant topic, Environment Story of the Year by the Foreign Press Association and Feature Writer of the Year in the Press Gazette Magazine and Design Awards among many others. His work has been anthologized in the Best American Crime Writing. On winning Exclusive of the Year at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards the judges said, "It shows Green's painstaking research and dogged determination and belief that a story must be followed to the bitter end."
Jonathan has been interviewed about his work on CNN, the BBC and NPR among others.
Sex Money Murder: A Story of Crack, Blood and Betrayal tells the story of the infamous Bronx gang through inside access to gangsters and the federal agents, police officers and prosecutors who took them down. It was an Edgar finalist by Mystery Writers of America and a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick.
His first book, Murder in the High Himalaya, won the coveted Banff Mountain Book Competition in the Mountain and Wilderness Category and the American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Non Fiction Book of the Year. The book is endorsed by the Dalai Lama and actor Richard Gere. It was translated into Polish in 2016. (Trivia: The book and the story of Kelsang Namtso served as the inspiration for the song Absconders by Canadian Metal band Gorguts on their critically acclaimed album, Colored Sands.)
Green has reported from Sudan on jihadist militias, the guerilla-controlled jungles of Colombia on the cocaine trade, corruption in oil-rich Kazakhstan and the destruction of the rainforest in Borneo among many other demanding assignments around the globe. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Men's Journal, British Esquire, Fast Company, and British GQ among others.
He has been the recipient of the Amnesty International Media Award for Excellence in Human Rights Journalism, the American Society of Journalists and Authors award for reporting on a significant topic, Environment Story of the Year by the Foreign Press Association and Feature Writer of the Year in the Press Gazette Magazine and Design Awards among many others. His work has been anthologized in the Best American Crime Writing. On winning Exclusive of the Year at the Magazine Design and Journalism Awards the judges said, "It shows Green's painstaking research and dogged determination and belief that a story must be followed to the bitter end."
Jonathan has been interviewed about his work on CNN, the BBC and NPR among others.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
June 14, 2012
This is a story that could practically tell itself, and it's one that should have been gripping every step of the way. Instead, the author seems to have gone out of his way to make it dry and disjointed and hard to follow. Not bad, but could have been better.
It's sort of a crossbred look at the climbing community (not pretty) and the brutal Chinese treatment of Tibetans who want to escape to Nepal (also not pretty).
It's sort of a crossbred look at the climbing community (not pretty) and the brutal Chinese treatment of Tibetans who want to escape to Nepal (also not pretty).
April 8, 2011
Murder in the High Himalaya is an exquisitely crafted tale that depicts nearly indescribable horrors. It is actually three vivid stories, woven seamlessly together: the heroic attempts of impoverished Tibetans to survive economically, culturally and spiritually; the ethical dilemma of wealthy Westerners faced with choosing between dangerous self-indulgence and moral imperative; and the abuse and torture inflicted by the Chinese as they pursue genocide in their relentless drive for world dominance.
These three irreconcilable cultures converge at a moment in time - September 30th 2006 - at a single place on Earth: the Nangpa La Pass through the Himalayan Mountain Range between Tibet and Nepal. In the brilliant morning sunlight on snowy mountains, Western climbers witness Chinese border soldiers murdering Tibetans, including a 17-year-old nun, as the Tibetans attempt to go to India to meet their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Tibetans want to leave oppressive captivity in their own country - some briefly, some permanently - and are restrained, retained and tortured by the Chinese occupying forces. The Western climbers want to battle the thin air and treacherous ice of the world's highest mountains, and pay extraordinary amounts of money to the Chinese for the right to safely enter Tibet. The Chinese stand at the fulcrum, AK-47s fully loaded in the hands of young soldiers.
It is one thing to tell a story; it is another to tell a story truthfully; it is yet again a much more nuanced and delicate task to be both elegant and objective, and allow the story to unfold itself to the reader. The author has achieved the last of these three, and the death of 17-year-old Tibetan Buddhist nun Kelsang Namtso is all the more heart wrenching because Mr. Green remains objective and lets the facts to be the judge. Additionally, he goes beyond superficial cultural stereotypes as he describes the political history of Tibet, the complexities of current world politics and the motivations and choices of individuals.
There is a fourth thread in this braided tale: the perseverance and courage of the author, award-winning investigative journalist Jonathan Green. He obviously thoroughly researched the history and current events of Tibet and is well schooled in world politics. It is also clear, by implication only, that Mr. Green risked his own welfare, traveling to India, Nepal and the Roof of the World to gather first-hand information for the story. It is clear only by implication because it is the writer's job to step aside and allow the story to emerge, and that is exactly what Mr. Green achieved.
I hope Jonathan's next book is the back-story; the risks and dilemmas he faced in order to tell the truth with extraordinary clarity, depth and compassion. We, the readers, have a responsibility to honor and thank investigative journalists for bringing the world to us in our safe homes and comfortable chairs. Too often, we forget that investigative journalists are irreparably harmed or killed in their commitment to tell the truth.
So I say here: Thank you, Jonathan Green, for all you did to write this book, and then for writing it. It is essential that human rights violations be documented and the details available for all in the world to know.
These three irreconcilable cultures converge at a moment in time - September 30th 2006 - at a single place on Earth: the Nangpa La Pass through the Himalayan Mountain Range between Tibet and Nepal. In the brilliant morning sunlight on snowy mountains, Western climbers witness Chinese border soldiers murdering Tibetans, including a 17-year-old nun, as the Tibetans attempt to go to India to meet their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Tibetans want to leave oppressive captivity in their own country - some briefly, some permanently - and are restrained, retained and tortured by the Chinese occupying forces. The Western climbers want to battle the thin air and treacherous ice of the world's highest mountains, and pay extraordinary amounts of money to the Chinese for the right to safely enter Tibet. The Chinese stand at the fulcrum, AK-47s fully loaded in the hands of young soldiers.
It is one thing to tell a story; it is another to tell a story truthfully; it is yet again a much more nuanced and delicate task to be both elegant and objective, and allow the story to unfold itself to the reader. The author has achieved the last of these three, and the death of 17-year-old Tibetan Buddhist nun Kelsang Namtso is all the more heart wrenching because Mr. Green remains objective and lets the facts to be the judge. Additionally, he goes beyond superficial cultural stereotypes as he describes the political history of Tibet, the complexities of current world politics and the motivations and choices of individuals.
There is a fourth thread in this braided tale: the perseverance and courage of the author, award-winning investigative journalist Jonathan Green. He obviously thoroughly researched the history and current events of Tibet and is well schooled in world politics. It is also clear, by implication only, that Mr. Green risked his own welfare, traveling to India, Nepal and the Roof of the World to gather first-hand information for the story. It is clear only by implication because it is the writer's job to step aside and allow the story to emerge, and that is exactly what Mr. Green achieved.
I hope Jonathan's next book is the back-story; the risks and dilemmas he faced in order to tell the truth with extraordinary clarity, depth and compassion. We, the readers, have a responsibility to honor and thank investigative journalists for bringing the world to us in our safe homes and comfortable chairs. Too often, we forget that investigative journalists are irreparably harmed or killed in their commitment to tell the truth.
So I say here: Thank you, Jonathan Green, for all you did to write this book, and then for writing it. It is essential that human rights violations be documented and the details available for all in the world to know.
December 9, 2010
A very important book for anybody interested in Tibet, modern China, human rights, and climbing.
It deals with an incident which became known as Nangpa La shooting/murder. In this incident, a 17 year old nun was attempting to cross the border to Nepal when she was shot at from behind and killed. The incident, in itself not so rare, was for the first time captured on camera and therefore documented, and subsequently made headlines and brought awareness to the plight of Tibet around the world.
There are many issues that are dealt with in the book. The murder itself is symptomatic of human rights abuses by the Chinese occupying Tibet, and the glimpse we get of the ordinary life in the Chinese part of Tibet is quite appalling. Another big part of the story deals with commercialization of climbing and what seems to be loss of ethics and/or lack of sensitivity to the suffering of others in some climbing expeditions and their leaders.
The story follows two people as their fates intertwine very closely over the period of a few weeks, even though they know nothing about each other- a close friend of the shot nun- Dolma Palkyi and an American guide and expedition leader, Luis Benitez. Their lives will be changed forever by what happens on Nagpa La pass.
It is especially interesting in light of another book that I just read, also about Tibet, The Snow Leopard. It’s amazing how much has changed in the last 40 years. Unfortunately, it does not seem to have changed for the better.
Here are the links to the real footage of the killing, and the documentary that was made of it.
The trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFw-Gm...
Murder in the Snow Part 1/6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrj9JO...
(follow the links for further parts)
Thanks to First Reads for the review copy.
It deals with an incident which became known as Nangpa La shooting/murder. In this incident, a 17 year old nun was attempting to cross the border to Nepal when she was shot at from behind and killed. The incident, in itself not so rare, was for the first time captured on camera and therefore documented, and subsequently made headlines and brought awareness to the plight of Tibet around the world.
There are many issues that are dealt with in the book. The murder itself is symptomatic of human rights abuses by the Chinese occupying Tibet, and the glimpse we get of the ordinary life in the Chinese part of Tibet is quite appalling. Another big part of the story deals with commercialization of climbing and what seems to be loss of ethics and/or lack of sensitivity to the suffering of others in some climbing expeditions and their leaders.
The story follows two people as their fates intertwine very closely over the period of a few weeks, even though they know nothing about each other- a close friend of the shot nun- Dolma Palkyi and an American guide and expedition leader, Luis Benitez. Their lives will be changed forever by what happens on Nagpa La pass.
It is especially interesting in light of another book that I just read, also about Tibet, The Snow Leopard. It’s amazing how much has changed in the last 40 years. Unfortunately, it does not seem to have changed for the better.
Here are the links to the real footage of the killing, and the documentary that was made of it.
The trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFw-Gm...
Murder in the Snow Part 1/6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrj9JO...
(follow the links for further parts)
Thanks to First Reads for the review copy.
January 26, 2015
A good book that will make you angry. I love how everyone ignores the fact that China has invaded countries like Mongolia and Tibet but yet nothing is done. Guess it's because they have no oil. But anyway, a good book. Kinda sad.... Kinda aggravating.... Kinda educational. Definitely a story that needed to be known. A good read for modern history. I usually prefer older history, but I learned a lot from this book and I personally consider it an important piece to teach people of the horrible things China's government is doing in Tibet.
April 8, 2024
BLUF: "Communist China" sucks. See "Tibet," see "Xinjiang," see "Hong Kong," see "South China Sea," and - more and more every day - see "Taiwan." Why would any area willingly give up their self-government to be ruled by these assholes? The Chinese people themselves? Just wonderful. But the Beijing government (from basically Mao to the present)? Yeah, fuck those guys.
Green's book - expanded from an original article in Men's Journal - thoroughly documents the events leading up to, during and after what is known as the "Nangpa La Shooting Incident*." Maybe even a bit too thoroughly; the book gets off to a fairly slow start as Green covers the histories of Tibet, Everest and mountaineering in general (and yet somehow at great length). But then once the main characters are introduced and their fateful paths begin to intersect, the story is as riveting as it is depressing.
If you're unfamiliar with this event, the slightly breathless GR summary - "Chinese police are instructed to take any measures necessary to protect the border of Tibet. When a group of climbers witness the murder of a young Tibetan nun who is fleeing to India, two men have to turn a blind eye and preserve their climbing careers or alert the world to the grand scale of human injustice played out daily in Tibet” - should be enough to tell you whether this book is for you. But for me…well, I can't say I actually enjoyed it, but I'm certainly glad I read it.
Probably the most depressing fact (among far too many) presented here is that nearly half of all Tibetan refugees/escapees who end up in either Nepal or India eventually return to Tibet, largely because of the limited opportunities to work or otherwise improve their lots in the less-than-welcoming countries south of the Himalaya, as opposed to those that still exist in their homeland, no matter how repressively it is controlled.**
Anyway - important book, for those who follow such things. Or who care about China's increasingly-expansionist and threatening policies or, y'know, just freedom in general.
__________________________________
* You can just Google this phrase if you don't want to read the whole book, but it IS something you should know about, at least to some level of detail.
** Which on a certainly smaller scale is kind of like me considering my options if Donald Trump somehow becomes president again - could I actually continue to live in this country, where I still have family, an income and a career? Or would I feel I had to move somewhere else that was more in line with my views of democracy and just general morality - but where I might be unable to find meaningful work? 'Tis a decision I hope I never have to face.
Green's book - expanded from an original article in Men's Journal - thoroughly documents the events leading up to, during and after what is known as the "Nangpa La Shooting Incident*." Maybe even a bit too thoroughly; the book gets off to a fairly slow start as Green covers the histories of Tibet, Everest and mountaineering in general (and yet somehow at great length). But then once the main characters are introduced and their fateful paths begin to intersect, the story is as riveting as it is depressing.
If you're unfamiliar with this event, the slightly breathless GR summary - "Chinese police are instructed to take any measures necessary to protect the border of Tibet. When a group of climbers witness the murder of a young Tibetan nun who is fleeing to India, two men have to turn a blind eye and preserve their climbing careers or alert the world to the grand scale of human injustice played out daily in Tibet” - should be enough to tell you whether this book is for you. But for me…well, I can't say I actually enjoyed it, but I'm certainly glad I read it.
Probably the most depressing fact (among far too many) presented here is that nearly half of all Tibetan refugees/escapees who end up in either Nepal or India eventually return to Tibet, largely because of the limited opportunities to work or otherwise improve their lots in the less-than-welcoming countries south of the Himalaya, as opposed to those that still exist in their homeland, no matter how repressively it is controlled.**
Anyway - important book, for those who follow such things. Or who care about China's increasingly-expansionist and threatening policies or, y'know, just freedom in general.
__________________________________
* You can just Google this phrase if you don't want to read the whole book, but it IS something you should know about, at least to some level of detail.
** Which on a certainly smaller scale is kind of like me considering my options if Donald Trump somehow becomes president again - could I actually continue to live in this country, where I still have family, an income and a career? Or would I feel I had to move somewhere else that was more in line with my views of democracy and just general morality - but where I might be unable to find meaningful work? 'Tis a decision I hope I never have to face.
July 18, 2011
For anyone who calls himself or herself a humanitarian, this book should be on your list to read. It is the harrowing story of a young Tibetan nun trying to make it across the border into India along with her best friend and a large group of Tibetans, to gain freedom, religious and otherwise, from a stifling Chinese rule.
This is a non-fiction book but it reads so smoothly, without the endless citing of statistics or names that can make some books of that genre seem stilted. The chapters alternate between the Tibetans attempting the dangerous journey, and a group of climbers who come face to face with the secret atrocities being committed against human rights, showing the many points of view with a journalist’s careful and impartial eye. The story, however, is almost incredible to read. The author has managed to cross through the red tape that China imposes, to expose a system that abuses a large part of its citizens and that has managed to hide, through censorship and violence, the real truth of Tibetans’ plight under Chinese rule.
This book is not easy to read because of the violence and the cruelty inherent in its theme, but it should be read and shared with as many people as possible. We need to become aware of what is going on around us, and this includes knowing what one of the most powerful countries in the world, China, is doing to its citizens. You will not be disappointed in the book, but you might be in our species.
This is a non-fiction book but it reads so smoothly, without the endless citing of statistics or names that can make some books of that genre seem stilted. The chapters alternate between the Tibetans attempting the dangerous journey, and a group of climbers who come face to face with the secret atrocities being committed against human rights, showing the many points of view with a journalist’s careful and impartial eye. The story, however, is almost incredible to read. The author has managed to cross through the red tape that China imposes, to expose a system that abuses a large part of its citizens and that has managed to hide, through censorship and violence, the real truth of Tibetans’ plight under Chinese rule.
This book is not easy to read because of the violence and the cruelty inherent in its theme, but it should be read and shared with as many people as possible. We need to become aware of what is going on around us, and this includes knowing what one of the most powerful countries in the world, China, is doing to its citizens. You will not be disappointed in the book, but you might be in our species.
January 23, 2011
The book seems written to avoid sucking in the reader: it starts with a rather dry, reporterly sketch of two rural Tibetan girls, their families, daily lives and friendship. Then the narrative switches to a similarly dry description of a mountain-climbing guide's preparation for leading a climb. The story keeps switching back and forth between the two narratives with no explanation of what they have to do with each other. The dramatic events that led the author to investigate the lives of these people are described in strict chronological order--which is way too late in the book to get the reader interested. At other points, Green has no problem with stepping back in time to give historical background--why not start the book with the exciting "hook" events, then go back and start the story.
Still, I read most of it, and was appalled by the incredibly self-centered attitudes of the professional climbers and their wealthy clients. I have always regarded mountain-climbing as totally pointless and needlessly risking one's life and health. It seems that the more extreme the mountain, the more pointless the climb really is.
Still, I read most of it, and was appalled by the incredibly self-centered attitudes of the professional climbers and their wealthy clients. I have always regarded mountain-climbing as totally pointless and needlessly risking one's life and health. It seems that the more extreme the mountain, the more pointless the climb really is.
June 26, 2011
What can I say about this powerful accounting of a complex, multifaceted tragedy? I'll start by saying that the duality in its message profoundly affected me...heroism vs. cowardice, humility vs. egocentricity,desperate fear vs. unbounded courage, altruism by doing good for good's own sake vs. doing good to look good to others, calamitous deceit vs. faithful blind trust, utter helplessness vs. unwavering hope...
Mr. Green's command of timing, tone and descriptive settings had me hooked and I found myself not wanting to put it down so I could read what was next and yet wanting to read it slowly because I knew the eventual outcome. I couldn't help but become introspective after reading it... feeling some stinging shame at being a westerner, questioning what would I have done if I were there and wondering what do I do now, reflecting upon how much I don't know about the world... This is an important book and I will recommend it often. I'm grateful to have won this book from Goodreads.
Mr. Green's command of timing, tone and descriptive settings had me hooked and I found myself not wanting to put it down so I could read what was next and yet wanting to read it slowly because I knew the eventual outcome. I couldn't help but become introspective after reading it... feeling some stinging shame at being a westerner, questioning what would I have done if I were there and wondering what do I do now, reflecting upon how much I don't know about the world... This is an important book and I will recommend it often. I'm grateful to have won this book from Goodreads.
September 1, 2019
Compelling story of tragedy which took place at the base camp of Cho Oyu mountain. Author touches on Chinese - Tibetan conflict and commercialization of Himalayan excursions. He describes pretty well self preserving and egoistic attitude of Westerners toward the situation in far East. Book is definitely worth reading but this is exclusively based on the story which tells itself, as well as highlights of moral choices made by described characters.
Having said that, the writer really does not make it easier for you. Seems to me that editor (if there was any) was indisposed. Book is compilation of sticky notes which should be rearranged to make some kind of logic thought flow.
Worth reading but far from perfect.
Having said that, the writer really does not make it easier for you. Seems to me that editor (if there was any) was indisposed. Book is compilation of sticky notes which should be rearranged to make some kind of logic thought flow.
Worth reading but far from perfect.
January 6, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has much for many different readers. First, the glimpses into climbing culture were fascinating! In many ways, climbing is not what I thought it was and I think this aspect of "Murder in the High Himalaya" will most interesting to many of readers.
Reading about the Chinese domination of Tibet is disturbing. I was mindful as I was reading of the many regimes throughout the world that hold their people under tight control and what a nightmare that can be.
This was a terrific account of an actual event that reads like a novel! I look forward to the author's next book.
Reading about the Chinese domination of Tibet is disturbing. I was mindful as I was reading of the many regimes throughout the world that hold their people under tight control and what a nightmare that can be.
This was a terrific account of an actual event that reads like a novel! I look forward to the author's next book.
March 31, 2017
Obraz zniewolenia Tybetu przez Chiny. Tragiczne i poruszające historie ludzi, którzy pragną być wolni.
August 28, 2012
In attempting to write a review of Mr. Green’s heart-wrenching book, I feel like there is so much that needs to be said. There is not enough room on this blog to post it all, but I have some thoughts I would like to share.
First, there is the author’s writing style. More than an account of a tragic event, he puts his heart into this story. It is far more than a fact-based report. As I told him, when I read his descriptions of the land, I can see his love for that part of the world. The mountains are characters themselves. They stand over time as silent witnesses.
What is the story? It is about a young nun killed while trying to escape to a better life. It is about many others surviving that escape. It is about Chinese control of a beautiful, mystical country. It is also about the values of spirituality and faith clashing with commercialism and socialism.
In Mr. Green’s account, Dolma Palkyi and Dolkar Tomso were best friends from childhood. Dolkar took her vows at the age of sixteen to become a nun, known as Kelsang Namtso. In 2006, the two decide to escape Chinese controlled Tibet in hopes of meeting their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. This simple act of expressing religious freedom, something too many of us take for granted, would cost Kelsang her life.
At the same time, the story interweaves the travels of Luis Benitez, a mountain climbing expert and guide. His occupation was to lead the rich and privileged on luxury expeditions to the tops of the world’s tallest mountains. The way the author builds his narrative, it is interesting to watch Benitez’s path come together with Kelsang and Dolma. Even before the fateful event, they unknowingly cross paths in Lhasa on the same day.
The story is also about the world’s silence when it comes to Chinese control of Tibet. The climbers, like Benitez, witnessed the shooting of Kelsang, but would not speak out against the Chinese, primarily for financial concerns. They did not want to lose money over the death of one person. The book extrapolates that idea as the way the world views China’s treatment of Tibet – the “superpowers” do not want to upset business over one “little” country.
A lot of the much-needed history of Tibet, China and even mountain climbing is thoroughly detailed. Filled with footnotes and an extensive bibliography, it is clear that the author had a dedicated passion for telling this story.
Many events stood out for me. In the author’s words, “the unfiltered sun at 12,000 feet on the plateau drew the world into sharp focus with startling clarity.” I think his descriptions and attention to detail brought the story into “sharp focus and clarity” repeatedly. I felt the tension of the late night truck ride. I felt Choeden’s compassion as he helped the young children on their journey, risking his own life. There are others instances: Jamyang’s experience at Gyalpung base, Sergiu Matei’s paranoia and Benitez meeting with Dolma. That meeting, more than the shooting, brought me to the verge of tears. As a reader, I could identify more with the American entrepreneur and truly felt his emotions. At the same time, I tried to imagine what the Tibetans felt. I thought about how they left behind family. I thought about how they dropped the last of their worldly possessions on the side of the mountainous path. Some of them walked until their feet bled and they went snow blind. In the end, they risked their life on a treacherous glacier while being shot at. I tried to think about what might motivate me to take those risks. People are dying and sacrificing themselves, while we try to decide what Kindle book to download next. I went from the verge of tears to shedding them only a few pages later when Kelsang’s family received word of her death.
That, I think, is the subtle power of Jonathan Green’s book. In a way, it sneaks up on you. At the beginning, everything was foreign to me and I was introduced to so many people. At that moment near the end, I felt compassion and sorrow. As much as discovering a tragedy on the other side of the world, it also made me look at my own life. It made me want to do something to help those people, but I don’t have money or power. I realized that I could help them by doing something in my own life, with my wife, my children. Start small, teach them about truth and faith (things I hope I have been doing). Let those actions take root and grow into something better. Also, I could share the book. Tell people about it. That’s a start, so I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to feel human.
First, there is the author’s writing style. More than an account of a tragic event, he puts his heart into this story. It is far more than a fact-based report. As I told him, when I read his descriptions of the land, I can see his love for that part of the world. The mountains are characters themselves. They stand over time as silent witnesses.
What is the story? It is about a young nun killed while trying to escape to a better life. It is about many others surviving that escape. It is about Chinese control of a beautiful, mystical country. It is also about the values of spirituality and faith clashing with commercialism and socialism.
In Mr. Green’s account, Dolma Palkyi and Dolkar Tomso were best friends from childhood. Dolkar took her vows at the age of sixteen to become a nun, known as Kelsang Namtso. In 2006, the two decide to escape Chinese controlled Tibet in hopes of meeting their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. This simple act of expressing religious freedom, something too many of us take for granted, would cost Kelsang her life.
At the same time, the story interweaves the travels of Luis Benitez, a mountain climbing expert and guide. His occupation was to lead the rich and privileged on luxury expeditions to the tops of the world’s tallest mountains. The way the author builds his narrative, it is interesting to watch Benitez’s path come together with Kelsang and Dolma. Even before the fateful event, they unknowingly cross paths in Lhasa on the same day.
The story is also about the world’s silence when it comes to Chinese control of Tibet. The climbers, like Benitez, witnessed the shooting of Kelsang, but would not speak out against the Chinese, primarily for financial concerns. They did not want to lose money over the death of one person. The book extrapolates that idea as the way the world views China’s treatment of Tibet – the “superpowers” do not want to upset business over one “little” country.
A lot of the much-needed history of Tibet, China and even mountain climbing is thoroughly detailed. Filled with footnotes and an extensive bibliography, it is clear that the author had a dedicated passion for telling this story.
Many events stood out for me. In the author’s words, “the unfiltered sun at 12,000 feet on the plateau drew the world into sharp focus with startling clarity.” I think his descriptions and attention to detail brought the story into “sharp focus and clarity” repeatedly. I felt the tension of the late night truck ride. I felt Choeden’s compassion as he helped the young children on their journey, risking his own life. There are others instances: Jamyang’s experience at Gyalpung base, Sergiu Matei’s paranoia and Benitez meeting with Dolma. That meeting, more than the shooting, brought me to the verge of tears. As a reader, I could identify more with the American entrepreneur and truly felt his emotions. At the same time, I tried to imagine what the Tibetans felt. I thought about how they left behind family. I thought about how they dropped the last of their worldly possessions on the side of the mountainous path. Some of them walked until their feet bled and they went snow blind. In the end, they risked their life on a treacherous glacier while being shot at. I tried to think about what might motivate me to take those risks. People are dying and sacrificing themselves, while we try to decide what Kindle book to download next. I went from the verge of tears to shedding them only a few pages later when Kelsang’s family received word of her death.
That, I think, is the subtle power of Jonathan Green’s book. In a way, it sneaks up on you. At the beginning, everything was foreign to me and I was introduced to so many people. At that moment near the end, I felt compassion and sorrow. As much as discovering a tragedy on the other side of the world, it also made me look at my own life. It made me want to do something to help those people, but I don’t have money or power. I realized that I could help them by doing something in my own life, with my wife, my children. Start small, teach them about truth and faith (things I hope I have been doing). Let those actions take root and grow into something better. Also, I could share the book. Tell people about it. That’s a start, so I strongly recommend this book to anyone that wants to feel human.
May 30, 2019
Jonathan Green tells a riveting story regarding the brutal treatment of Tibetan natives attempting to cross over the Himalayas to religious freedom in India. All the while brutal Chinese forces at one of the highest points globe are pursuing the Tibetans, many mere children. Specifically, Green addresses the death of a teenager, a 17 year-old Tibetan nun, Kelsang Namtso, shot and killed at long range, by Chinese Border guards. The nun and her compatriots are hoping for an audience with the revered Dalai Lama, now exiled in India, and receptive to all Tibetans completing the perilous journey into India via Nepal. Sub-zero temperatures, bottomless crevices, gale force winds and potential avalanches, all endured by these impoverished, ill equipped and half starved Tibetans makes for a interesting enough read, but Green adds a non judicial execution to the narrative which makes for a spellbinding storyline. Nefarious and often exploitive guides lead Tibetans through a labyrinth of Chinese defenses and along trails sporadically littered with the frozen corpses of would be border crossers.
The story intertwines itself with the somewhat self- serving and narcissistic Western climbers and their guides when the predatory Chinese
Border guards are observed shooting at defenseless Tibetans as they attempt to cross the Nangpa La path. The Western climbers are camped at nearby base camp biding their time in anticipation of an ascent on Cho Oyu, 19 miles east of Mt Everest, when the shootings occur.
One climber captures the murder on video and manages to get it out of China. Soon all climbers and guides must struggle with their moral compass to publicly acknowledge the murder or risk almost certain expulsion from the mountain and possibly China, as well as future bid for an Everest summit, or to adapt a code of silence. Climbers must weigh the up to 65,000 cost of a summit attempt while the expedition guides and Sherpa’s must choose whether to risk their very livelihoods, as any link to the report of the killing will end their career in a sphere of the World dominated by the Chinese.
Controversy and infighting are replete amongst the witness’s while the murder victim’s fellow crossers, some captured and now in the custody of Chinese, must accede to Chinese demands for information or place themselves, fellow crossers and their families in peril. International implications abound as an innocent Tibetan nun, killed by the Chinese, confirms the long denied brutal treatment of Tibetans at the hands of the occupying Communist China. Green keeps the reader engaged and addresses the plight of all concerned parties, fleeing Tibetans, climbers, and guides. Green deals handily with the political aspects of the crime as the Chinese attempt to deflect the worldwide condemnation for the cold-blooded murder of an innocent 17-year-old girl.
Thank you Jonathan Green for your research, time, risk and amazing effort to write an objective narrative with such compassion and insight. Above all thank you for documenting the details of this atrocious human rights violation, that if not for you and one brave cameraman, the world would never know.
The story intertwines itself with the somewhat self- serving and narcissistic Western climbers and their guides when the predatory Chinese
Border guards are observed shooting at defenseless Tibetans as they attempt to cross the Nangpa La path. The Western climbers are camped at nearby base camp biding their time in anticipation of an ascent on Cho Oyu, 19 miles east of Mt Everest, when the shootings occur.
One climber captures the murder on video and manages to get it out of China. Soon all climbers and guides must struggle with their moral compass to publicly acknowledge the murder or risk almost certain expulsion from the mountain and possibly China, as well as future bid for an Everest summit, or to adapt a code of silence. Climbers must weigh the up to 65,000 cost of a summit attempt while the expedition guides and Sherpa’s must choose whether to risk their very livelihoods, as any link to the report of the killing will end their career in a sphere of the World dominated by the Chinese.
Controversy and infighting are replete amongst the witness’s while the murder victim’s fellow crossers, some captured and now in the custody of Chinese, must accede to Chinese demands for information or place themselves, fellow crossers and their families in peril. International implications abound as an innocent Tibetan nun, killed by the Chinese, confirms the long denied brutal treatment of Tibetans at the hands of the occupying Communist China. Green keeps the reader engaged and addresses the plight of all concerned parties, fleeing Tibetans, climbers, and guides. Green deals handily with the political aspects of the crime as the Chinese attempt to deflect the worldwide condemnation for the cold-blooded murder of an innocent 17-year-old girl.
Thank you Jonathan Green for your research, time, risk and amazing effort to write an objective narrative with such compassion and insight. Above all thank you for documenting the details of this atrocious human rights violation, that if not for you and one brave cameraman, the world would never know.
December 11, 2010
I initially didn’t think I was going to like this book because of the slow start and the myriad of foreign names and locations. The author had to integrate the history of the Tibet/China hostilities into the parallel stories of the Tibetan refugees and the mountaineering expedition of Luis Benitez on Cho Oyu. By the time all the introductions were made and the tension began, I was hooked. I had developed strong sympathy for the two teenage refugees, Kelsang and Dolma, who were seeking a better life without religious and ethnic persecution. The sense of urgency was palpable and the scenes at Advanced Base Camp were heart-racing. As one hundred international witnesses at ABC stood by while Chinese militants shot at the escaping Tibetans and killed Kelsang, there was moral ambiguity as to their lack of action. The author puts into question whether they were helpless and would have put themselves in danger if they assisted the refugees or if they were more concerned about their own mountain conquest. It soon became obvious who felt the injustice in Kelsang’s murder and who had their own self interest in mind. Luis Benitez took a huge risk in reporting the incident to the outside world, and Sergiu Matei put himself in grave danger by shooting footage of the assault and smuggling the film out of China. Famed expedition leader Russell Brice was ruthless in his demand for silence in order to preserve his own access to the Himalayas by maintaining a conciliatory relationship with the Chinese.
The sadness of Kelsng’s death pervaded the narrative, especially when Dolma learned the fate of her best friend. I was deeply moved by the refugees’ meeting with the Dalai Lama, whose presence was ethereal and his reassurance was an enormous comfort. More than anything, this book illustrated the gross violation of human rights that the Chinese inflict on the Tibetans. It was an eye-opener for me, and I found it extremely enlightening in its commentary of politics in the region. Free Tibet!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads program
The sadness of Kelsng’s death pervaded the narrative, especially when Dolma learned the fate of her best friend. I was deeply moved by the refugees’ meeting with the Dalai Lama, whose presence was ethereal and his reassurance was an enormous comfort. More than anything, this book illustrated the gross violation of human rights that the Chinese inflict on the Tibetans. It was an eye-opener for me, and I found it extremely enlightening in its commentary of politics in the region. Free Tibet!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads program
August 23, 2012
Audiobook: Narrator not the strong suit, but a riveting story. I am thoroughly disgusted with the climbers who witnessed this tragedy and did nothing at the time or later. Well-researched and timeless, this story will touch you, unless you're a mountain climber of the type in this book. Though Dolma can't return to Tibet, I admire perseverance and strength. I hope she gets over her survivor's guilt. Bonitez was not a likable person, even as he tried to make things right. He did seem too egocentric, but that's how all climbers are at heart. Even though I didn't empathize with him, my hackles still rose when the other climbers were badmouthing him. The whole situation with China annexing Tibet is incomprehensible to me--shouldn't other world leaders and governments done something in the early fifties when they started their campaign? China's government shouldn't be given MFN trade status from any country, based just on how they treat Chinese people, but then add the Tibetans. This book left me feeling disgusted with climbers, China's government, the US government, and Nepal's government. I guess I'll have to jump into the fray.
March 7, 2013
My mind is still spinning after reading Jonathan Green's Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape from Tibet. Green's gripping account of the escape attempt & murder of a Tibetan nun, is spellbinding. In the shadow of the highest peaks in the world, over 40 individuals from Tibet seek to find refuge in India, and under the thumb of the Chinese government. This nonfiction account reads like a fast-paced thriller, told from the perspective of two young Tibetan girls planning their escape to an experienced mountain climber from the West who ultimately ends up witnessing the murder. Through this story, I learned so much about Tibet, and it's sad history & oppression, and I learned even more about the Chinese government, and it's slow [& bloody] rise to worldwide superpower.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys nonfiction, political, travel reads. I couldn't put it down!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys nonfiction, political, travel reads. I couldn't put it down!
December 12, 2010
I rated this book five stars for the concise but captivating rendition of the lives of modern-day Tibetans and for its description of the power of China to manipulate the facts. Like "Zeitoun," I think this book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning about events as they actually occurred, rather than how they have been presented to us. The author's website has the Romanian video of the shooting described in the book.
August 6, 2012
Listening to this book again... I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time. I recommended it to a friend and just had to listen to it again. I'm glad I did... There is so many things I forgot and missed the first time.
April 11, 2021
Reads like a thriller but is, in fact, a sad and timely story that reveals the horror of China's brutal occupation of Tibet. It also reveals the vacuity and dubious morality of commercial mountaineering within occupied Tibet.
January 20, 2019
Good read
It was shocking to hear what has happened there, but as a supporter of the Dalia Lama I was somewhat aware. Glad this is in print.
It was shocking to hear what has happened there, but as a supporter of the Dalia Lama I was somewhat aware. Glad this is in print.
June 21, 2020
If you have to read one literature on Tibet in your life, pick this book: “Murder in the high Himalaya”, by a seasoned journalist Jonathan Green. Simple and comprehensive, Green brings into light what a true reporting should be when it involves a Herculean task of reporting the truth but also when his safety is at risk.
The aim is the same- to climb Nangpala for western climbers and to cross the pass to Nepal for Tibetan escapees. But a brutal fate, unfathomable to humankind rises. Two young girls from Juchen in Tibet plans to escape the Chinese regime to India and get a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Leaving behind their family and friends, two of them along with 70 other escapees mostly young children sent by their parents to avoid Chinese re-education boltens the courage to cross the 19,000 ft Nangpala pass.
After days of frostbite, fatigue, Chinese spies and informants and fear of being caught, the group reached the Nangpala but only to be waited upon by the Chinese army monitoring the area. In an unfortunate event, many unarmed Tibetans were shot, captured and driven to exhaustion in thigh deep snow. One of the two young girls, Dolma was at last free. But she was at last without her best friend Kelsang.
When these brutal murders took place in the isolated pass of Nangpala, hundreds of Western climbers just either ignored or pretended not to see it for the fear of being caught by the army. Climbing the mountain suprassed their humanity. Except for Sergiu Matei, a photojournalist. Despite being threatened, he captured a two-minute video of Kelsang who was shot, and then slumped on the ground in a pool of blood. It served as a testimony to the world of Chinese brutality in Tibet.
Kelsang and Dolma, untainted by the great evil of our age, cyniscism, acted as a perfect prism refracting the human condition. Their quest and its outcome shone a powerful light in how the West often acts only in self-interest. Yet Kelsang’s and Dolma’s dream and their single-minded pursuit of the concept of freedom- something they had never known, but sensed was on the other side of the Himalaya and represented by the Dalai Lama- was worth the risk.
The book of the finest unbiased journalistic writing misrepresents no one. It is neither wavered towards the West and China nor towards Tibet as often is the case in most of the writings on Tibet.
The aim is the same- to climb Nangpala for western climbers and to cross the pass to Nepal for Tibetan escapees. But a brutal fate, unfathomable to humankind rises. Two young girls from Juchen in Tibet plans to escape the Chinese regime to India and get a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Leaving behind their family and friends, two of them along with 70 other escapees mostly young children sent by their parents to avoid Chinese re-education boltens the courage to cross the 19,000 ft Nangpala pass.
After days of frostbite, fatigue, Chinese spies and informants and fear of being caught, the group reached the Nangpala but only to be waited upon by the Chinese army monitoring the area. In an unfortunate event, many unarmed Tibetans were shot, captured and driven to exhaustion in thigh deep snow. One of the two young girls, Dolma was at last free. But she was at last without her best friend Kelsang.
When these brutal murders took place in the isolated pass of Nangpala, hundreds of Western climbers just either ignored or pretended not to see it for the fear of being caught by the army. Climbing the mountain suprassed their humanity. Except for Sergiu Matei, a photojournalist. Despite being threatened, he captured a two-minute video of Kelsang who was shot, and then slumped on the ground in a pool of blood. It served as a testimony to the world of Chinese brutality in Tibet.
Kelsang and Dolma, untainted by the great evil of our age, cyniscism, acted as a perfect prism refracting the human condition. Their quest and its outcome shone a powerful light in how the West often acts only in self-interest. Yet Kelsang’s and Dolma’s dream and their single-minded pursuit of the concept of freedom- something they had never known, but sensed was on the other side of the Himalaya and represented by the Dalai Lama- was worth the risk.
The book of the finest unbiased journalistic writing misrepresents no one. It is neither wavered towards the West and China nor towards Tibet as often is the case in most of the writings on Tibet.
June 27, 2021
Wow. I knew little to nothing of the events described in this book. It's a remarkable, depressing, heart-rending story that should be better known in the West.
September 7, 2020
The news of human rights abuse of the Tibetan people by the Chinese had been hearing around the globe since its invasion in 1950, however people didn't heed much in view of lack of concrete evidences until the brutal cold-blooded murder of a young tibetan girl carried out by the Chinese PAP soldiers in the Cho Oyu of high Himalaya in September 2006. The devastating news along with a short video clip secretly filmed by one of the mountain climbers goes viral over the entire world and people were shattered and enraged as they become witness to the very atrocious act of the Chinese soldiers. As clearly spoken by the Dalai Lama himself while consoling the refugees that this wasn't the very first time Chinese had killed refugees in the mountains, this broad daylight murder of Tibetan people trying to escape the country had been going unnoticed many a times since its uprising.
This book is a story of young Tibetan girls, Kelsang Namtso and her best friend Dolma Palkyi's hell on earth journey in the Himalaya mountains along with several other refugees. The two intrepid girls were desperately planning to seek a free Tibetan education in a foreign land while on the way the misfortune happened. And not to forget their undying longing to meet the one and only the Dalai Lama, of course most Tibetan refugees travel to India with the sole purpose to receive blessings from his Holiness and return to their own land.
I bet this story has the strong influence to break down every reader spiritually and emotionally. Luis Benitez, the cheerleader and one of the most enthusiastic mountaineering guides calls off his journey to the summit of Cho Oyu after witnessing the most brutal cold-blooded murder in the mountains of high Himalaya. He was mentally disturbed and couldn't advance further. He couldn't act as if nothing happened in the mountains.
Grab this book to discover more truths and secrets (hard-earned facts of Jonathan Green) behind the Chinese misusing Tibetan people's rights.
This book is a story of young Tibetan girls, Kelsang Namtso and her best friend Dolma Palkyi's hell on earth journey in the Himalaya mountains along with several other refugees. The two intrepid girls were desperately planning to seek a free Tibetan education in a foreign land while on the way the misfortune happened. And not to forget their undying longing to meet the one and only the Dalai Lama, of course most Tibetan refugees travel to India with the sole purpose to receive blessings from his Holiness and return to their own land.
I bet this story has the strong influence to break down every reader spiritually and emotionally. Luis Benitez, the cheerleader and one of the most enthusiastic mountaineering guides calls off his journey to the summit of Cho Oyu after witnessing the most brutal cold-blooded murder in the mountains of high Himalaya. He was mentally disturbed and couldn't advance further. He couldn't act as if nothing happened in the mountains.
Grab this book to discover more truths and secrets (hard-earned facts of Jonathan Green) behind the Chinese misusing Tibetan people's rights.
February 24, 2013
Tibet remains such a mysterious country, previously due to its closed borders to foreigners and in contemporary times due to Chinese colonisation and repression. So, writing a book about the murder of a 17 year old Tibetan refugee seeking to fulfill her dream of becoming a nun, meeting the Dalai Lama and discovering her Tibetan roots is no mean feat. Yet, Jonathan Green has done just that and more. True, it helps that the murder of Kelsang Namtso became an international story - no thanks to the tight lipped elite, Western mountain climbing fraternity - but even so sifting through the events and various perspectives, including purposeful untruths, means that this book required considerable tenacity, reflection and discernment. Green has won awards for his human rights writing, including Amnesty International's Media Award for Human Rights Journalism, and this book provides an excellent example of his talents. The book is well researched, crafts characters as complex (rather than two dimensional stereotypes) and draws the reader into the story through detail, analysis and readable prose. For those who wish to better understand the complex politics and human rights issues between China and Tibet, this is an excellent place to learn, understand and question. If you are still wondering what all the protests were about before and during the Beijing hosted Olympics, read this book. If you wonder about the power China has and uses to influence, affect and control other people and economies, read this book. If you wish to understand how Western countries are entangled in China's continued oppression of Tibet and the Tibetan people, read this book. If you love mountains and wish to climb in the "Third Pole", read this book. If you wish to better understand asylum seekers and the extremes they pursue for the freedom many of us take for granted, read this book. Actually, it's very simple - read this book.
July 13, 2023
This is one of the rare books which brings to light atrocities committed by the Chinese on the Tibetan population residing in 'Tibetan Autonomous Region' of China.Furthermore,the dark side of mountain climbing industry is also laid bare to a large extent.
The book,though written in 2010,describes an incident(no spoilers) that happened in 2006.It starts of like a novel and then gradually draws into the world of escapees from Tibet and mountaineers trying to climb Cho Oyu.Finally,the author presents some hard-hitting facts to the international community which are still relevant to this date.
It is a must read for all of us as after reading,one may get an answer to the following question:
'Do we overlook the wrongs of China just because China is the world's factory?'
The book,though written in 2010,describes an incident(no spoilers) that happened in 2006.It starts of like a novel and then gradually draws into the world of escapees from Tibet and mountaineers trying to climb Cho Oyu.Finally,the author presents some hard-hitting facts to the international community which are still relevant to this date.
It is a must read for all of us as after reading,one may get an answer to the following question:
'Do we overlook the wrongs of China just because China is the world's factory?'
May 9, 2010
This book is disturbing on several levels. One is that it reveals some of the worst of the commercialism that has taken over climbing the highest mountain peaks. The other is that it tells the true story of Tibetans and the horrors of their lives under Chinese rule.
The story follows several groups of people as they prepare to cross the Nangpa La in the fall of 2006. Green tells the story of people in the village of Juchen which consists of 70 crudely constructed sandstone houses clinging to the lower inclines of a mountain at 14,000 feet above sea level. Two young girls grow up there best friends all of their lives. The story of Dolma's family is told in great detail to illustrate the hard existence the people have. Her friend, Dolkar, left her crowded family home to become a Buddhist Nun and changed her name to Kelsang.
The other story follows climbers who were on the mountain on the fateful day. Green goes into great detail about the various climbers and their back stories.
I must say that I found this book tedious to read because of all the names and acronyms that Green uses. I understand that the published copy will have a map that the advanced reader's edition does not. I looked up a map and found websites telling the story online. It was only with these aids could I begin to follow the story. My personal feeling is that this book was padded with too much unnecessary information. When I actually came to the murder in the title it was like an after thought, I almost missed it in the barrage of words.
If you want to know the basics of the story check online and don't waste hours and hours plowing through this book.
Comment | Permalink
The story follows several groups of people as they prepare to cross the Nangpa La in the fall of 2006. Green tells the story of people in the village of Juchen which consists of 70 crudely constructed sandstone houses clinging to the lower inclines of a mountain at 14,000 feet above sea level. Two young girls grow up there best friends all of their lives. The story of Dolma's family is told in great detail to illustrate the hard existence the people have. Her friend, Dolkar, left her crowded family home to become a Buddhist Nun and changed her name to Kelsang.
The other story follows climbers who were on the mountain on the fateful day. Green goes into great detail about the various climbers and their back stories.
I must say that I found this book tedious to read because of all the names and acronyms that Green uses. I understand that the published copy will have a map that the advanced reader's edition does not. I looked up a map and found websites telling the story online. It was only with these aids could I begin to follow the story. My personal feeling is that this book was padded with too much unnecessary information. When I actually came to the murder in the title it was like an after thought, I almost missed it in the barrage of words.
If you want to know the basics of the story check online and don't waste hours and hours plowing through this book.
Comment | Permalink
June 1, 2011
Terrific story about a group of Tibetans, many women and children, trying to escape from Tibet, only to be shot down by Chinese Authorities. The story is told by a journalist who interviews survivors who escaped and by foreign mountain climbers who witnessed the shootings and killings. Shocking is the way the climbers debate about whether to tell others or not about the shooting. The climbers fear Chinese authorities and fear even more strongly, their access to the mountains they want to climb in the Himalayas. One climber posts what he saw on a mountain climbing website and others become angry with him for doing so. Most refuse to tell the story to others. One who give up in light of a plea from the refugees themselves, finally visits the Dali Lama himself and realizes that he became a better person because of what he told, not what he climbed. A Romanian news cameraman comes up with the most telling of all stories, actual video footage of the killings and a Tibetan man who hid in their camp's latrine. Good story and good insight into what the cultural clashes has done in this area.
November 23, 2010
The author was a pretty good story teller but he is not a great writer. The book felt like a pretty good manuscript that needed another couple of revisions with a really good editor. Green would provide insights or explanations in a chapter and then give them again a couple of chapters later as though it was being given for the first time.
With all that being said, I would still recommend this book. It is short enough that the negatives in the writing can be looked tolerated. Most importantly, the story is far superior to the writing and is worth reading. I am glad that I read it and I encourage others to do the same.
The story deserves a 4 or 5-star rating while the writing is a solid 2-star. If I could give half star ratings I would give it a 3.5 overall but alas I have to give it 3; while still encouraging others to read it.
With all that being said, I would still recommend this book. It is short enough that the negatives in the writing can be looked tolerated. Most importantly, the story is far superior to the writing and is worth reading. I am glad that I read it and I encourage others to do the same.
The story deserves a 4 or 5-star rating while the writing is a solid 2-star. If I could give half star ratings I would give it a 3.5 overall but alas I have to give it 3; while still encouraging others to read it.
April 2, 2012
When I finished this book I really kind of wished that I could give it six stars to distinguish it from the multitude of very good books that I have read and rated with five stars. This book is a lot of things at the same time: a great lesson on Chinese-Tibetan history, an inside look at the culture of commercial mountaineering, an interesting commentary on the microcosmic interface between between the East and West in the Himalayas, and a heart-wrenching narrative of a horrible atrocity (don't want to give too much away, but the title gives you some sense of what's coming). It's nonfiction, which makes the story much more powerful, but it reads with the pace of a suspense novel. This is a must-read book.
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