Namma: a Tibetan Love Story

by Kate Karko

In this story of her love and marriage to Tibetan, Tsedup, Kate Karko tells of the plight of the dignified, nomadic Tibetans, as the tale unravels of a girl from the suburbs, who went to live in a tent on the roof of the world. Paperback edition ISBN 0340794631.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Travel, Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 stars - Nederlandse paperback - ik heb dyslectie -
- Annan liep de hele tien kilometer lange weg erheen, want ze kon niet tegen het rijden in de jeep die mijn ouders gehuurd hadden. -
Kate ontmoet een vluchteling uit Tibet en wordt verliefd. Na jaren in "ballingschap ", kunnen ze voor een half jaar naar Tibet, naar de berghellingen, het dak van de wereld. Terug naar het nomaden bestaan. Nu zijn de rollen omgedraaid, haar man voelt zich thuis, Kate probeert geaccepteerd te worden. Steeds ziet ze voorbeelden van de Chinese onderdrukking.
De schrijfster is ook de hoofdpersoon. Ik ontdekte Tibet door haar ogen. En een prachtig beeld schetst ze. Echt, je waant je in Tibet, tenminste als je een beelddenker bent als ik. Heb dit boek graag gelezen. Met dank aan mini- bieb Venlo waar ik het boek vond. Straks gaat ie weer op reis.
- Onze zoon is de brug tussen onze twee werelden. - 🌹🌺🌹

[Drew Pyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a massive fan of travel books this was my cup of tea. Learnt loads about Tibetan culture, especially the midnight raids on eligible women for marriage, and of course, Yaks. Also gives hope for those couples of differing cultures. You couldn't get more diverse as these 2

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this over the last week. It's been interesting, certainly an insight into a very different way of life. And although she's maybe a wee bit rose-tinted about it, I don't think it's a lifestyle I could do. She must really love her husband to do this.

So Kate Karko is a London girl from a wealthy family who met a Tibetean in India. They fell in love, got married and he went back to the UK with her. When he'd got his passport, they got visas and went back to Tibet - the first time in 9 years for him - and spent six months there. This book is mostly about these six months and her experiences living there and adjusting to the culture, climate and lifestyle.

In some ways it sounds wonderful in that they're not bogged down by masses of materialism, feeling pressure that they always have to be achieveing things - career, money, children etc... well, the children bit isn't right, there seems to be even more pressue there for women to have kids. It's shocking that a 30 year old woman doesn't have kids. It's really the treatment of women that I couldn't live with. Men and women live quite seperate lives in a way. I suppose this stems from ancient gender roles - the women had the kids and looked after the domestic chores in the tents; the men went hunting and had to stay out making sure the animals weren't eaten by wolves. The women still have to do all that, getting up at the crack of dawn, milking and other chores and don't stop until everyone goes to bed. Yet the men don't have to stay out guarding the animals because of fencing etc, so they don't have much at all to do. They sleep late then go into town to gamble and hang out with friends. Not much of a fair division of labour there. It's also normal for girls not to get an education, and you kept getting hints of this kind of repression - when Kate's husband sent letters home to his mother, she couldn't read them because she was illiterate, so the husband had to read them outloud. When dealing with the Chinese traders in town, the men could talk to them; the women only knew a few words of Chinese. Even Kate never really spoke much Tibetean before getting to the country, which I thought was just laziness on her part, but then maybe there was also something of an attitude that she's the woman, she doesn't need to worry about that. But on the otherhand her husband seemed to be a bit more open minded - he was keen for his younger sister to go to school and angry when she quit. I also loved the story about when his mother was pregnant with her youngest - I think she was about 40 - and really suffering with it - so he went out to help her with the milking, which was a big no-no for a teenage boy, but he did it anyway.

You can really tell that she's completely fallen in love with the country.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this four instead of five stars, was because the story was a little hard to follow at times. I sought out this book which is currently out of print, because I am marrying a Tibetan man from Amdo. I was looking for similarities to my experience. While I am not in Tibet, and he is not a nomad, the cultural differences were familiar and comforting to read. This story is a real account of the experience of a woman from England, who meets a Tibetan in India and marries him. They move to her home in London for a time, and she accompanies him to his home in Tibet. She lives with his family on the Tibetan Palteau /grasslands of Amdo. Her personal views and reflections of being a foreigner ,and learning to maneuver in such a different way of life are written with an unfolding love of where she is. It's beautiful in the end. I began to feel the land and the people.
I hope one day to accompany my husband to his homeland as well. I ended up being very moved by this story and grateful to have read it. Tibetans are special, and the culture is so different from our western ways. This is a book that will stay in my library, and I am grateful to Kate Karko for sharing her personal and moving story with the world.

[Eugenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi zo'n inkijkj. We redelijk eenvoudig beschreven. Iets wat ergens ook nomaden bestaan te goede komt natuurlijk.

[Baljit · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enlightening view of life within rural Tibet is the Amdo tribe.

[Heidi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful. Not just a love story, this book delves into the heart of Tibetan culture- hence making it a wonderful piece of travel writing too. The narration is sincere, heartfelt and very eye-opening.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be put off by the title. "A Tibetan Love Story" sounds a bit cheesy to me. This is a great story.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had never read a story about tibet and this one is so descriptive and such a lovely love story. the mix of cultures is so interesting. a very enjoyable read.

[Annemarie Munro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read into a culture and way of life I would not otherwise have had the privilege to share. Thank you Kate. This book takes you along on a journey of a man exiled from his own country and how he eventually manages to return, now from the perspective of straddling two cultures, that of his English wife and a Tibet he has been away from for so long. The warmth and opened of the Tibetan people in welcoming in an English family allowed a glimpse into their world: a harsh but beautiful life on top of the world.

[Marika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was easy to get through and enjoyable to read. The writers vivid descriptions of her experiences bestows the reader the same longing for the beautiful environment that she harbours herself. The book made me instantly want to run out into the cold winter and walk through the hills for days. The way she observes and presents the contrast between western and nomadic culture without discrediting either shows great skill - leaving the reader with an appreciation of both.

[Maureen Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and a fascinating story. I read this just after finishing the first draft of my own book set in Tibet, albeit in earlier times, and it really raised my spirits: it is possible to write about a little known culture and leave readers touched, moved and inspired. Thank you, Kate Karko, for so eloquently sharing your experiences and the life of your nomad family.

[Chani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always had a fascination for Tibetan culture and spirituality since my early 20s. This book gave me a deeper glimpse into a nomads life through the eyes of a western woman- which added perspective, understanding and context. This memoir opened something in me, maybe it’s the vast, open landscape on the roof of the world. Such fertile ground for imagining a different kind of life on Earth.

[Paulina Binas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really touching and genuine story. It shows that it is not only possible to live together with so many cultural differences, but also how rewarding an experience it can be.

[Margie VE]

Kruidenwijsheid

[Saleris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book on a whim in a charity book store, looking for a quick read on a bus ride. I was pleasantly surprised to find a wonderfully told account of mild culture shock brought about due to the love of a husband. I couldn't put it down.

[tenzin tsomo · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice story.. :)
love tenzin

[Meria · Rating 4 out of 5]

how Tibetan people still live nowadays. interesting.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a romantic tale, it reads like fantastic fiction

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing insight into a culture so very different from our own. Colourful and heartwarming. An armchair traveller's dream.

[Ursula Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, some culture shock on both parts, but lovely written.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting portrayal of Tibetan nomadic life. One of its kind.