Омъжена за Бутан: Как открих себе си в Земята на Дракона

by Linda Leaming, Линда Лийминг, Десислава Сотирова (Translator)

Закътано в източния край на Хималаите, лежи малкотo, но необикновено кралство Бутан. Невъобразимо далечно и почти недостъпно, то е богато на природни красоти, екзотични растения и животни и чудновата мъдрост. Жителите му са истински щастливи с много малко материални придобивки и правителството измерва успеха на страната не с брутен национален продукт, а с брутно национално щастие.

В този забавен и увлекателен мемоар читателят придружава Линда Лийминг в нейните пътешествия из Бутан, докато тя изучава новия език, обичаи и религия, потапя се в изненадваща романтична връзка с будистки художник и достига до прозрения за неочаквания път към щастието и внезапното просветление.

Като един от малкото чужденци, живели в Бутан, Линда предлага рядък поглед към чудатото планинско кралство, за което мнозина само мечтаят. В продължение на почти 20 години Лийминг живее и работи в столицата Тхимпху, където няма светофари и населението е под сто хиляди души. „Ако на този свят е възможно просветление, мисля, че Бутан е най-подходящото място“, пише тя.

Бутанският начин на живот може да изглежда плашещ за повечето от хората на Запад, чието ежедневие се диктува от часовника, нуждата от продуктивност и трупането на вещи. Но Линда ни показва, че не трябва непременно да обиколим света, за да се насладим на частица от Бутан в собствения си живот, и че следването на мечтите е начинът да бъдем истински щастливи.

Редактор: Елена Можолич

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Asia, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

292 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Linda Leaming went to Bhutan for the first time in 1994. "A nice diversion," is how the travel agent described it. It was. And it still is. She found a home and a voice among the remote and mysterious Himalayan mountains. She also found romance with an intriguing Bhutanese painter. Her work has appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal, Mandala, Guardian UK, A Woman’s Asia (Travelers’ Tales, 2005), and many other publications. Eric Weiner included her in his 2008 bestseller, The Geography of Bliss. Originally from Nashville, she has an M.F.A. in fiction from the University of Arizona, and she regularly speaks about Bhutan at colleges, churches, seminars, and book groups. She is married to the renowned Bhutanese thanka painter, Phurba Namgay. Find her at www.lindaleaming.com and follow her at www.twitter.com/lindaleaming.

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the best of my knowledge the U.S. is not - nor have they ever been at war with Bhutan. While this is probably a good thing for both countries and their people, it means that most of us don't know where Bhutan is... (Hence the map.)

It's rare for me to win a first-reads book, even more so for me to win one that I really enjoy reading - and I really enjoyed reading Married to Bhutan.

Married to Bhutan was unpretentious and honest. I'm fairly well travelled - spending a couple years in Haiti, more than a year in Croatia, more than a month in China, more than a week in Dominican, more than a day in Hungary, more than an hour in the Bahamas... When one spends any amount of time in another culture, I've found it's easy to develop an affinity for it. They become your kinsmen and your blood. You are Livingstone , ready to bury your heart deep in the continent you love. It’s easy to become critical of your home culture (or to be critical of aspects of your new love...) Viewing cultural ingredients as “right” or “wrong” rather than, “different.”

Leaming does an excellent job of recognizing this snare and disarming it. While her bond with Bhutan is obvious, she recognizes the merit in the western way of thinking as well. It’s not wrong, or evil, just different.

One of the biggest differences hops like a hurdler over the pages, landing all over the place as I flipped through them – time. Cyclical, or linear? In the west, we hold to a more linear/ progressive view of history and time. We’re moving forward - to something. The Judeo-Christian world views definitely have a hand in this. We’re waiting for a Messiah, or waiting for His return. We’re moving toward heaven or hell. Whereas Hindu/Buddhist thought – with beliefs in reincarnation and samsara - have shaped the views of time and history in the East. Life and history are ever repeating and reoccurring. ... That’s not to say we don’t have aspects of both in both – see Ecclesiastes or Moksha/Nirvana. (Which is why I still firmly believe we’re limiting ourselves in how we view time...)

The point is, Leaming could have easily written the book as, “I’ve found a new, BETTER way of doing things,” instead of, “I’ve found a different way of doing things that I, personally appreciate more.” I, personally appreciate the fact that she took the latter path.

The book is rife with anecdotes that anyone who’s travelled anywhere (or wants to) could relate to - confusing words with other confusing words, confusing customs, unusual stories, and uncertainty with the unexpected. While most of the anecdotes are humorous – calling the headmaster “bracelet” instead of “Principal,” or learning of the Buddhist monk who could spin his... umm... well... you know... and fly from place to place... (Go go gadget copter! ... Talk about a super-hero...) some were not. Cultural travel often brings a tragic unexpectedness. I’m not talking about the rat (R.O.U.S.) in the kitchen that causes you to break down into hysterics and wake the neighbors. I’m talking about the corpse of a dead girl that got caught on a branch in the river outside your home. You can’t dislodge it. There’s just a dead girl floating in the river outside your house, and nobody else seems to think anything of it.

A question travelers should always be asked is, “What do you notice more, the similarities between people or the differences?” Bhutan and the U.S. are vastly different places, but ultimately people are people no matter where they are.

Nostalgia is the secret ingredient for writing a travel memoir. It’s interesting how different people find attachments to different places. Leaming’s love for the remote, the quiet, the hidden land of Bhutan is portrayed admirably in this book. Indeed, we could all use a little Bhutan in our lives.

[Sharanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Linda Leaming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks all for the reviews. Would readers of MTB be interested in a book describing how I translate what I learned and how I live in Bhutan to our lives when we come to the U.S.?

[Габриела Щинова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ще замените ли уредения си живот в модерна богата държава, в която имате условия да се развивате, за да се преместите на края на света в чудато планинско кралство и да обърнете светогледа си наопаки?

„В живота откриваш някои неща, докато търсиш усилено други. Номерът е да бъдеш буден – признавам, че това е по-трудно, отколкото изглежда. Ще ви помогне чувството за хумор, както и готовността да приемете каквото и да се случи – без значение дали е добро, лошо или невероятно различно.”

Линда Лийминг ни запознава толкова приятно с екзотична за нас култура в книгата си "Омъжена за Бутан" – чрез езиковите уроци, които приличат на формули по математика, чрез историите, съчинени в училище, които приключват не със смъртта на главните герои, а с тяхното прераждане, чрез разказите за единствения телефон или трудната кореспонденция с писма и
още всякакви забавни случки от ежедневието, които ни убеждават, че можем да живеем и без излишества и рамките, с които сме свикнали.


Историята напомня малко на култовия роман "Яж, моли се и обичай". С тази разлика, че героинята посещава единствено Бутан като учителка доброволка и се чувства толкова добре там, че се омъжва за колега - учител, който е будистки художник

И аз пожелах да се омъжа в Бутан – щом съпругът ми ще ми кърпи чорапогащника или ще ми носи кофи с вода за банята от чешмата на съседите и ще ме гледа като писано яйце.

Авторката има магистърска степен по творческо писане и невероятно чувство за хумор. Затова книгата се чете неусетно. Наслада носят и вдъхновяващите размисли:

✨“Без преувеличение мога да кажа, че разходките в Бутан са причината да живея. Обхваща ме еуфория под въздействието на разредения планински въздух, яркото слънце и отделяните от мозъка вещества. Бутан е като грамаден фитнес тренажор. Изолацията и околните планини ме захранват.

✨Това е то, да имаш чувството, че си на прав път и около теб се случват вълшебства. Разбирам, че светът е пълен с такива щастливи съвпадения, които променят живота ни. Навярно те се срещат много по-често отколкото смятаме - особено когато сме на път, откъснати от безопасния си пристан. В Бутан те са нещо постоянно. И знам, че ако някой ден се озовете на приказно, вълшебно място и ви обхване усещането, че може да се случи какво ли не, трябва да се отпуснете. Бъдете смели и се оставете на магията.”

[Veronica Schleihauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this novel as it has the makings of the most annoying kind of travel memoir - middle aged american woman goes to a foreign land to discover herself and her spirituality, exoticising and misrepresenting cultures in the process.

But my curiosity about Bhutan drew me in, and I'm so glad it did.

The book isn't perfect - there's not much structure and sometimes lacking drive in between anecdotes. But as a memoir its a fascinating and gentle read.

Linda is also different from other westerners writing about the East, as she wrote this book after living in Bhutan for 10 years. She admits to the things she doesn't understand, calls attention to her own biases from an American upbringing, and is realistic about failings, or what could be perceived as a failing, in each culture.

We are treated to an outsiders-inside view of this largely unknown country. The sections on philosophy are thought-provoking without being preachy. There's just enough history to provide depth without putting you to sleep, and bits of humour out of nowhere to keep things interesting.

If you like reading for the perspectives it can give you into other peoples lives - whether you ever intend to travel to Bhutan or not - I recommend this book!

EDIT: To be fair, I also know nothing about Bhutanese culture so she may have actually horribly misrepresented it, for all I know... Just to add a grain of salt ;)

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Linda Leaming's first experience with Bhutan in August of 1994 a true love was forged in her heart forever linking and drawing her back to this wondrous land and its people.
The author transports the reader to her beloved, adopted country of Bhutan, an isolated, little known country in the Himalayan region. It is in this place where an uncomplicated, slower-paced existence suits the kind and introspective people of this land.
The charm and love of Bhutan is vividly portrayed. This land of supernatural beauty beckons Miss Leaming, but the greater tale is in her total immersion into the culture and people. Her passion leaps off the pages as one encounters her journey toward her own "awakening" and discovery of a happy and love-filled life.
Leaming's unconventional life is unveiled to the reader with it's numerous challenges and more than abundant joy and peace amongst this welcoming community. I also liked the cover art and photo provided by Namgay. The author provides a book to savor and a magical place to escape to.

[Shrihari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would call this book 'a crash course of Bhutan and its history' through the eyes of an American woman.

This is a beautifully written story about how a woman moved to Bhutan, embraced the culture and found peace. The western perspective makes it all the more interesting. The language is simple and the writing is engaging.

Along with her personal story, Linda blends in a lot of information about Bhutan's history and culture. This was much more interesting for me than reading on Wikipedia or Lonely Planet guides. I read this book just before going to Bhutan. So, it helped me understand the country better.

Lastly, Linda paints Bhutan as something akin to a Shangri-La. But, in my opinion, she could have traveled to any country in the Orient and have had a similar tale to tell. As clichéd as it sounds, the journey is what matters more than the destination.

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having heard Leaming interviewed on NPR, the book sounded intriguing. The book was not well written and she was too self-indulgent. I didn't care enough about her to read so much about her love of Bhutan.

[Vineeth Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb read about the mountain kingdom. Covers all aspects, the place, its people and their culture in a very interesting manner. Sure to fall in love with Bhutan after you read this real page turner.

[Mike Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Linda Leaming, a freelance writer in Nashville, dropped everything one day and moved to Bhutan, the tiny country tucked away in the eastern end of the Himalayas. She had traveled there and fallen in love with the landscape, the people and their way of life.

She found a teaching job, and, soon thereafter, found a man, a native Buddhist artist who had never been to the West. They married and, 12 years later, live happily together on a farm outside Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital. Linda’s adventure is the topic of this fascinating, touching and often very funny book.

Linda is a gentle spirit with a great sense of humor—qualities she shares with the people of Bhutan. One of the things I like best about her book is the loving way she describes the differences between American and Bhutanese culture. Unlike many expats, she is never disdainful about the land she left behind, and she still embraces her Southern roots.

My favorite passages include her description of the fried chicken dinner complete with banana pudding she prepared for 10 Bhutanese friends (they all chowed down) and the trip she took to a remote part of eastern Bhutan, when she grew teary-eyed listening to the bootlegged Ronnie Milsap tape the driver was playing. The Bhutanese people love Ronnie Mislap. Who knew?

In the book, Linda shares a great deal about the history, language, religion and mores of Bhutan, whose king declares he is more interested in his people’s GNH—Gross National Happiness—than Gross National Product. But the best parts are her personal insights, her stories of her sometimes rocky adjust- ment to work and marriage in a country that couldn’t be more different from her own.

It’s a book about courage. She writes: “I recommend two things to anybody interested in finding out more about who they really are, what they’re made of, what they can endure, and how far humor will take them: running away and hiding out. If you have a chance to do either or both in your life, then by all means take it.”

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you've never heard of Bhutan or you don't have any desire to travel to Bhutan, this book is a beautifully written story of the simplicity of the Bhutanese people. They are considered the happiest people in the world. They live very simple, kind lives and have a great sense of community. We are very privileged to live in America, but with all that privilege, we live very complex and complicated lives. This book reminds us that there may be a way for us to simplify our lives and perhaps be happier while we enjoy the comforts of our American lifestyle. Traveling to Bhutan in October was the motivation to read this book, but I would recommend it to anyone who just wants some inspiration.

[Laura Bang · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first experience of Bhutan (other than vaguely knowing that they exist somewhere in the Himalayas) was when they were one of the cultures featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in 2008. I found the presentations I attended very interesting, but I knew I would never actually make it to Bhutan for a visit. Linda Leaming, on the other hand, gave up her entire life in the U.S. to move to Bhutan after visiting the country for just two weeks while on a longer tour of South Asia and Europe.

This book tells how Leaming settled into her new life in Bhutan and expresses her love of Bhutanese culture. I appreciate that Leaming, while noting the many differences between American and Bhutanese culture, is careful to stress that one is not inherently better than the other: "It's not really fair to compare the two countries, as they are like apples and oranges. Americans think the way they do for good reasons, as do the Bhutanese. But it is important to understand that people elsewhere think differently, and being aware of this and flexible about how one thinks can alleviate some discontent and, dare I say it, even make us happier."

An interesting book about an interesting country.

[Snap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combination memoir and travel book about the magical and quirky Bhutan. I've been fascinated with Bhutan for sometime thanks to Anthony Bourdain. He introduced many to Bhutan -- the food, the culture, the magic. I turned the corner down on many pages (shame on me) and I'll share a few of the statements here:
"You find things when you're looking hard for other things. The trick is to be awake- which, granted, is harder than it seems."
"I feel lucky to live in a place where Gross National Happiness is a radical social experiment."
"The average Bhutanese knows more about the world than the average American... Bhutan is small, fragile, and vulnerable. It behooves the people of Bhutan to know their adversaries and to keep tabs on what's happening in the rest of the world."

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: death of an infant, mental health

3.5 stars

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.

[Tania Mateva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Винаги съм харесвала много книгите по истинска история, защото животът може да бъде много по-непредсказуем и интересен от всяко въображение. Тази се оказа едно пътешествие из протежението на красивият Бутан, но и също така вътрешно, към духовността, в откриване на щастието в малките неща и опростеният живот.

"Щастието не идва от външни сили. То идва от начина, по който гледаме на външните сили. То идва отвътре."

[Khin Myo Thant Maw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nege sim Bhutan lu en la - My heart is in Bhutan.

[Audrija Choudhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bhutan has always fascinated me a lot. I have always longed to read this book and now that I am done reading it, I feel to delve more... More into Bhutan... More into myself... And more to let go. A fascinating read indeed.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to win this book in a First Reads giveaway.

Leaming moved to Bhutan after visiting and loving it. She teaches English there, then marries another teacher at the school who is an artist. Leaming documents some of the characteristics of Bhutan that charmed her and surprised her. The government, the environmental protection, the strong Buddhist traditions. Her writing really takes off in the last half of the book, when it becomes more about her personal experiences- shopping for envelopes, visiting family members in the mountains, hiking by streams. These accounts are where you can see Leaming's love for the country and respect for its people, and where you can see the personal growth that she experiences in Bhutan.

I wish the first half of the book were as consistent and had that personal touch. It is a bit uneven and, although I don't think she is being condescending, the witticisms fall a bit flat because we don't know her well enough yet. There are great stories and descriptions of Bhutan in the first part of the book, don't get me wrong-- the ones about her learning the language are hilarious-- but it would have benefited from some stronger editing.

This is a good travelogue and memoir. It is different from Radio Shangri-La in that Napoli spent more time describing interaction with the young radio DJs and fellow expats, and the technical difficulties of getting in to the country. Both are gentle on Bhutan concerning its changes and growth in recent years. Both have touching personal stories about the author learning to live in a very different culture. And both discuss the introduction of Bhutanese citizens to America.

I enjoyed Leaming's story and I am interested to see if there is more coming, since it ended with a bit of a cliffhanger that I wasn't expecting!

[Jaylia3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir Married to Bhutan is a joy to read. It’s an earnest, lighthearted, colorful account of leaving the fast-paced, consumption-driven American life behind to live in one of the most isolated and beautiful spots on the planet. Bhutan is most famous because its king promotes Gross National Happiness over GDP, and because he voluntarily transitioned his country from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional democracy. Bhutan is not easy to get to. It’s a tiny country between India and the Tibetan region of China, with the Himalayan Mountains to its north, west and east and thick jungles to its south.

Author Linda Leaming first visited Bhutan in 1994 as part of a trip that included many other countries. Bhutan’s stunning landscapes, friendly people and sometimes difficult but overall relaxed lifestyle won her heart, so in 1997 Leaming left her job, family and friends to work as a volunteer English instructor at a small art school. It was there that she met her future husband, a Bhutanese thanka painter.

Reading Married to Bhutan is a mini-escape in itself, and it’s both funny and informative. Leaming spends eight pages illustrating the leisurely manner in which things get done in Bhutan by describing how she went about purchasing handmade envelopes, Indian glue and sealing wax so she could mail a few letters. This involved many stops and much post-transaction drinking of tea with the shopkeepers. The mission ends at the post office where she could select from stamps so beautiful and unusual they are collected by people around the world. Leaming reports that the Bhutenese have printed stamps with reproductions of Japanese and European paintings, 3D stamps of the lunar landing, and stamps with Gandhi, American astronauts, Princess Diana, dragons, flowers, Buddhas, yaks and birds.

[Nilesh Rana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 'Married to Bhutan' is an account of Universal Happiness which lies within one's own self, and thus resides the real God in you! Married to Bhutan, quite a simple, lucid, amazing and original biographical - soulful account, which unfolds a 'journey' and unearths eternal bliss, to be reckoned for times to come.

Generations of today, who are laden with and wrapped in present global hyper-space-time, illusions and urban paraphernalia, their wants for superficial pleasure and when getting deflected, with the dormant quest turning even acute, stronger and bigger, for them and for all, the MTB is one subtle truth and happiness, where the real pleasure can be had and be measured, when the MTB quietly guides and is potential enough to bring a change in you.

This is what the Mother Earth craving, for us to act, and be blessed in her lap. MTB is obviously much more than a reading. It's all about Humanity and the Bliss re-discovered, and, life after a gentle push from 49% to reach 51%, it's in majority now! This is what the MTB does, a gentle push, making the life complete and content, to be reckoned and preserved...

Those who are already blessed, people living in such space-time across the world, in Bhutan or in India and who have lived in such space, would evenly agree in silence, Linda Leaming and the 'Married to Bhutan', are all god sent, once again! And here, reading it again, let alone the Bhutan would bless me one fine day, after having missed it in 1999! Well, it's now merry anywhere and everywhere, almost anytime!

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me quite a bit of Erica Johnson Debeljak's Forbidden Bread : both authors are Americans who traveled a great distance to settle permanently in a country much different from their own (in Debeljak's case, Slovenia), and married natives of that country. But while Debeljak's book is mainly focused on her relationship with her husband -- whom she met in America and followed to his home country -- Leaming's book is a love letter not just to her Bhutanese artist husband but to Bhutan itself.

Bhutan, from what she says, has a lot to love and I find myself longing more than ever to visit. The serenity that permeates the place would probably do wonders for my jittery, anxious temperament. Leaming is a keen observer and describes in detail the countryside, the government, the way people live and think, the language, etc. (And there are the usual immigrant stories of linguistic incompetence and amusing butchery of grammar and vocabulary.)

If you want to know about Bhutan, I cannot recommend this book enough. The only thing I wish was different is that I think Leaming should have explained certain things, such as how she was able to legally emigrate to a country that traditionally shies away from foreigners and foreign influence, and how she was able to support herself while working in an unpaid position as an English teacher. That is all.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a very interesting memoir. I had never even heard of Bhutan before reading this book--now I'd love to go there. The author has a way of giving you a glimpse of life in Bhutan, and I found the people who live there to be charming. There's a lot to be said for a place where things are measured by happiness as opposed to money. A simple way of living that gives you a window into what life must have been like for American's living pre-1900. Somehow, no windows, no running water or scarce electricity don't seem so bad. Imagine living in a home with pillows on the floor substituting for chairs and couches, rugs and blankets are your bed. My favorite was when the author goes out to buy a few pieces of stationery, envelopes and postage. She ends up having to go to three different stores and ends up at one watching them "make" the paper in front of her in an old-fashioned paper press (the kind where you put in pieces of pulp, leaves, etc., add water and then press by hand for one sheet of paper.) Read this and you may come to realize that American's are drowning in their acquisition of "things" but no closer to happiness.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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)

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to confess that I bought this book because I have a six-degree separation from Linda Leaming, and I felt like it would be the nice thing to do. My so-called good deed turned into a learning experience, a spiritual journey, and a book that I just couldn't put down.

Leaming writes:

We get our death simulated, or pumped with embalming fluid, dressed up, and laid out for viewing. It's on television or YouTube. As a result, we're not on very good terms with death. This is understandable--it's about our fear of the unknown--but the experience of death is exactly the opposite in Bhutan. It is embraced as a natural function, a positive step, a way to move on to the next life, a chance to spin the big karmic wheel. (p. 187)

The magic that Leaming sees in every moment in Bhutan, whether in death or in daily events is contagious. I'm not so sure I want to go to Bhutan (mostly because of their lack of creature comforts), but I want to share in that magic.

Read this book!

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get around to reading it. Ms. Leaming made me feel I was walking beside her as she discovered the country and man of her dreams. And yet it wasn't a hopeless romantic book, more that by following her intuition she just happened to be in the right place and time for everything to fall into place, the husband just part of that. I love learning about the philosophies/religion of this country as well as about the geography and language. I really could see the countryside and its people through the author's eyes.

I hope this novel is a best seller but that most people will find the idea of traveling to Bhutan as impossible so as to keep its quiet status. Thank you for this lovely book. I hope to read it again so I can revisit this paradise.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about a woman's life in Bhutan. She first went there when she about thirty-eight (I believe) which she doesn't mention until the end of the book, but should have mentioned at the beginning.

It's interesting to learn about this country. Prior to reading this book, the only thing I knew about Bhutan is that once I watched a documentary in which westerners who are professional cross-country unicyclers (!!!!) ride their unicycles in the rugged Bhutan countryside. I learned a lot about unicycling, but it didn't teach me much about Bhutanese people or culture.

However, even though I did really like this book, I found it annoying the way she often compares Bhutan with America. I don't think anybody expects the U.S. and Bhutan to be similar at all. She should have just talked about Bhutan and left us to draw our own conclusions.

[Marija · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's about country I always wanted to visit. I wish the author gave more details on the way her seemingly mysterious intercultural marriage worked. Maybe she left that out to honor her husband, but I surely would love to hear about daily or even annual routines. The fact that neither speak the other's language fluently alone makes me want more from her.

That said, this is a fascinating account in a fascinating country. The author did a terrific job of describing historical, religious, and cultural aspects of the country. After reading this book, I feel like I'd be well equipped to get the most out of a visit to the country. Though perhaps I'd take a pass on those precarious mountain roads.

The author is fearlessly living life on her own terms, and it's clear she simply loves her adopted home.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! My whole office staff loved it. Highs, lows, laughs and grins, it is pure joy and happiness to read this book and I wish it went on and on and on! Married to Bhutan makes me want to love life to its fullest and to cherish the little things of everyday. I felt as though i were right there with Linda, feeling her feellings and sharing her thoughts but at the end it made me feel richer for my own triumphs and laughable moments. It made me happy to be me and to have had experiences that I have had which seemed all the richer for sharing Linda's in the book. Read it and pass it on! Lovely read!

[Larelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing insight to a country quite cut off from the world. Linda provides such wonderful imagery in a way that doesn't make the read taxing. I can see why she's in love with the place, and that love comes across on every page. If you have ever been intrigued about the country of Bhutan and wanted to learn more about it (short of going there and visiting the country yourself), I recommend this book. A great read.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent a couple of weeks in magical Bhutan I instantly ordered this book through Kindle and gobbled it up in a weekend of joyful reading. My India Book Club friends agreed to make Married to Bhutan one of our monthly selections because (We aren't rigid!) Bhutan borders India. Now there are eight of us awaiting the sequel to this classy, beautifully-written memoir.