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The Voice that Remembers: A Tibetan Woman's Inspiring Story of Survival
Ama Adhe's spirit soars over national and cultural boundaries. Her tenacious struggle to remain human in the face of inhuman torture and deprivation while imprisoned by the Chinese for 27 years inspires any reader fortunate enough to encounter this remarkable woman's story. The Voice that Remembers features additional material on Tibet and China in the last half of the 20th century.
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First published November 25, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 7, 2024
Eine sehr bewegende Geschichte von Ama Adhe. Es ist unglaublich, was jemand erleben kann und trotzdem nicht daran zerbricht. Trotz des traurigen Themas sehr ermutigend.
March 13, 2022
The parallels between what is currently happening in Ukraine and the events in this book are striking. In addition, a parallel can also be drawn with the rise of the Nazis and their looting and destruction of anything that they felt was somehow rightfully theirs.
After Adhe's release and her return to Karze she said "Even looking into the forests and hills one could see that the herbs and flowers had been exploited to the extent that the hills were completely barren. How could such a complete lack of reverence for life ever be explained? How could one rationalize the enslavement of the Tibetans as "freeing" us from a system that, though imperfect, was our chosen way of life? They took away our families, homes, possessions, land, religion, culture, and the right to speak our thoughts publicly. They seemed a people enslaved to a system that had no soul...a system of plunder and destruction, hatred and lies."
This book is a heartbreaking read but an important one, I feel.
After Adhe's release and her return to Karze she said "Even looking into the forests and hills one could see that the herbs and flowers had been exploited to the extent that the hills were completely barren. How could such a complete lack of reverence for life ever be explained? How could one rationalize the enslavement of the Tibetans as "freeing" us from a system that, though imperfect, was our chosen way of life? They took away our families, homes, possessions, land, religion, culture, and the right to speak our thoughts publicly. They seemed a people enslaved to a system that had no soul...a system of plunder and destruction, hatred and lies."
This book is a heartbreaking read but an important one, I feel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2020
‘I was sadly reminded that the life and death of every Tibetan we saw in the camps was a testimony of constant suffering that would most likely never be heard by anyone except fellow prisoners, who were powerless to initiate any change in the future’ p. 179
This is why Amnesty International calls this a must read book.
This is why Amnesty International calls this a must read book.
January 2, 2025
Inspiring story that is illustrated in a catching way. An insightful yet very emotional reading showing what one of many Tibetan women have experienced in China’s conquest of Tibet.
January 18, 2018
As a story this is an amazing book. Ama Adme had courage to stand up for her convictions endured so much during her 27 years of imprisonment and somehow still had courage and support to speak out afterwards.
As a piece of writing it, I found it difficult to keep going. I did because a friend gave me the book because Ama Adme’s story drove her to seek a career in refugee resettlement. It was difficult because the book describes in detail the trials and tribulations of Ama Adme while imprisoned. Overall it was well worth the read. It made me consider many things. I compared it to “Man’s Search for Meaning” and decided that Ama Adme had a different take on imprisonment than Viktor Frankl did. I thought about how when the U.S. was settled from about 1600 - 1970 and in some ways still ongoing people and policies wiped out Indigenous tribes and grew America on the backs of immigrants.
She ends the book with something that will stick with me forever “I have come to learn that the most noble causes is not enough to motivate a world whose leaders do not consider the rights of human beings their main concern “ We’ve come a long way. There is still more road to travel, especially if Tinetans live in exhile.
As a piece of writing it, I found it difficult to keep going. I did because a friend gave me the book because Ama Adme’s story drove her to seek a career in refugee resettlement. It was difficult because the book describes in detail the trials and tribulations of Ama Adme while imprisoned. Overall it was well worth the read. It made me consider many things. I compared it to “Man’s Search for Meaning” and decided that Ama Adme had a different take on imprisonment than Viktor Frankl did. I thought about how when the U.S. was settled from about 1600 - 1970 and in some ways still ongoing people and policies wiped out Indigenous tribes and grew America on the backs of immigrants.
She ends the book with something that will stick with me forever “I have come to learn that the most noble causes is not enough to motivate a world whose leaders do not consider the rights of human beings their main concern “ We’ve come a long way. There is still more road to travel, especially if Tinetans live in exhile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2013
a truly heartbreaking and important account of the very violent occupation of tibet by china that continues to this day. more than a million tibetans brutally murdered, while the remaining populace is subjected to humiliation, starvation, extreme abuse, destruction of their land, religion and culture...with no help on the way. genocide.
ama adhe has the deepest integrity to experience personally the worst torture for 27 years and then relate such injustice and tragedy with so much calmness. to not give in to hatred. the people of tibet are truly the kindest, most benevolent, altruistic people on earth, and put through absolutely the worst atrocities. adhe has given me much inspiration to strengthen my own faith and continue practicing for the freedom of all beings.
ama adhe has the deepest integrity to experience personally the worst torture for 27 years and then relate such injustice and tragedy with so much calmness. to not give in to hatred. the people of tibet are truly the kindest, most benevolent, altruistic people on earth, and put through absolutely the worst atrocities. adhe has given me much inspiration to strengthen my own faith and continue practicing for the freedom of all beings.
June 4, 2011
A very eye-opening book about the situation in Tibet from a personal standpoint. The book was very moving and disturbing in regard to the horrors inflicted upon the Tibetan people, not only in the past but that which continues today. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in hearing a personal perspective and eye-witness account of the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
The book was a little slow to start, but after the first dozen or so pages I found it hard to put it down.
The book was a little slow to start, but after the first dozen or so pages I found it hard to put it down.
January 26, 2020
"Unlike grass, which can be wiped out in a strong wind, we are as the earth."
It's numbing to fathom the 27 years of internment that Ama Adhe describes, and bearing witness to her being absolutely reaffirms the importance of humbly healing, loving, and reclaiming what is ours. So much gratitude for our elders, who hold the convictions that move us into the future.
It's numbing to fathom the 27 years of internment that Ama Adhe describes, and bearing witness to her being absolutely reaffirms the importance of humbly healing, loving, and reclaiming what is ours. So much gratitude for our elders, who hold the convictions that move us into the future.
December 10, 2008
amazing. with a beautiful first hand account of what free tibet was truly like, and what the chinese destroyed. amazing amazing amazing
Read
June 27, 2011Such an amazing story of forgiveness and hope. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Ama in Dharamsala, India on my 26th birthday. Pretty surreal.
March 21, 2021
Incredible and awe-inspiring story of grit and faith. Opened my mind and heart to the Tibetan Buddhism and their resistance movement.
September 2, 2021
Amazing book.
October 7, 2025
kein einfaches Buch aber durchaus ein sehr wichtiges!
December 27, 2025
Heroic doesn't even do Ama Adhe justice. She shows an internal strength that is unbreakable, while describing the devastation of her beloved Tibet. Remarkable
September 15, 2014
Ama Adhe is an amazing woman who has lived through a terrible time in Tibet's history. She endured the deaths of many of her family members, the loss of her two children, the destruction of a traditional way of life, and most of all, over twenty years in jail. She emerged determined to tell her story, and remind people in the outside world of what has happened - and is still happening - within Tibet.
Ama Adhe has a remarkable memory for names and detail, and her story is well told, thanks to the very good relationship between Ama Adhe and her American translator/fellow writer.
Everyone with an interest in Tibet and the Tibetans should read this book.
Ama Adhe has a remarkable memory for names and detail, and her story is well told, thanks to the very good relationship between Ama Adhe and her American translator/fellow writer.
Everyone with an interest in Tibet and the Tibetans should read this book.
January 26, 2015
A truly remarkable book! I was aware of how the Chinese took over Tibet, but did not know the real story of the degradation of the land and the abuse toward the Tibetan people. Ama Adhe, a deeply religious Tibetan woman, speaks out for those Tibetans who survived and for those who perished under the Chinese. Through her book she lets the world know the truth about what really happened.
Thank you Adhe for taking the risks to make your story and that of all Tibetans known and heard. FREE TIBET NOW!
Thank you Adhe for taking the risks to make your story and that of all Tibetans known and heard. FREE TIBET NOW!
January 23, 2016
Lexile: 1130
Historical Event/ Time Period: Chinese Invasion of Tibet
Liked: I liked how honest it was about a sad topic not a lot of people are aware about.
Disliked: I didn 19t like how slow the plot moved.
Summary: Anna Adhe was a Tibetan who lived and grew up in Tibet in a close-knit, religious family. The Chinese invaded and took her to prison and began killing many people she knew. She spent 27 years in prison and experiences torture and the horrible life of a prisoner. Her strong will and determination got her to live to be free.
Historical Event/ Time Period: Chinese Invasion of Tibet
Liked: I liked how honest it was about a sad topic not a lot of people are aware about.
Disliked: I didn 19t like how slow the plot moved.
Summary: Anna Adhe was a Tibetan who lived and grew up in Tibet in a close-knit, religious family. The Chinese invaded and took her to prison and began killing many people she knew. She spent 27 years in prison and experiences torture and the horrible life of a prisoner. Her strong will and determination got her to live to be free.
January 31, 2009
very encouraging story of a tibetan woman who struggled and lived through the years of hardship and torture.. two tumbs up and my salute to adhe taponstang. thank you for sharing your story with us.
October 8, 2009
WOW! How did we all not notice what was happening to Tibet! Once again.....humans suck!!!
June 5, 2010
A remarkable and haunting account of one Tibetan woman's imprisonment and torture and of a nation's suffering. An important read for anyone interested in human rights issues.
June 17, 2013
I want to remember China's desecration, rape + murder of Tibet + Tibetans. This freedom speaks out against what is happening in Tibet even today.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews