Čarobnjak iz Lase

Matt Lester #1

by David Michie, Vladan Stojanović (Translator)

Kada Crvena armija izvrši invaziju na Tibet, mladom iskušeniku u budističkom manastiru Tenzinu Dordžeju poverena je misija koja će njegovom životu dati pravi smisao. U najmračnijem času njegove domovine, on mora da pređe strme vrhove Himalaja i odnese na sigurno dva drevna teksta neprocenjive vrednosti i nedokučivog značenja.

Pola veka kasnije, u paradoksu sličnih okolnosti, naučnik Met Lester nalazi se pred životnom prekretnicom: njegov revolucionarni nanotehnološki projekat je pod tajanstvenim okolnostima premešten u istraživački inkubator u Los Anđelesu, što Metove idealističke poglede na svet dovodi u sukob sa nemilosrdnim interesima investicionog oligarha.

Životi ova dva čoveka neobično su isprepletani u napetom spiritualnom trileru koji je osvojio čitaoce širom sveta.

Genres: Fiction, Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion, Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery

285 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2009

About the author

David Michie is the internationally best-selling author of The Magician of Lhasa series, The Dalai Lama's Cat series, and several non-fiction titles on meditation and Buddhism. His books are published in over 30 languages and 50 countries.

In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Michie/e...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidmichiea...
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dnmichie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmichieom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmichie...

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though ostensibly a thriller, The Magician of Lhasa is David Michie's way of introducing the basic concepts of Buddhism to a much broader audience than can be reached through specialized nonfiction. It was also the debut novel for Trapdoor Books, a Colorado-based press specializing in "geek fiction," their affectionate term for novels aimed at intelligent, well-educated audiences, which incorporate a particular well-researched topic - "anything from Assyrian history to plasma physics" - into their engaging storylines.

The Magician of Lhasa tells two parallel narratives: that of Matt Lester, a modern-day nanotechnologist, and Tenzin Dorje, a 16-year-old novice monk fleeing the Chinese Red Army's advance across Tibet in 1959. At first glance, they seem worlds and decades apart, but it soon becomes clear that events are overlapping and who you are today is but a single manifestation of a mindstream that stretches back through beginningless time.

According to quantum science, in which Lester is an expert, atoms are actually energy that briefly condense into particles before dissipating again. Thus: physical reality is an illusion. Lester's unexpected encounters with the monk Geshe-la and subsequent immersion in Buddhist philosophy only confirm what he already knew: that all seemingly substantial things are immaterial, with no innate qualities, existing only as possibilities. People, places, and events are neither good or bad; they are what you make of them and nothing else. The breakup of an engagement, a major career setback, a military invasion, death - all of these can be thought of as simply detours forcing the individual to strike a different path and begin anew.

Despite the partially didactic nature of The Magician of Lhasa, Michie successfully balances both the educational and fictional aspects of the story, altogether creating a fast-paced work that leaves the reader with new insights into the Buddhist faith. Like all good works of geek fiction, The Magician of Lhasa is not a book to be forgotten once finished. Instead I feel like I just had a quick crash course in the basic tenets of Buddhism, along with compelling scientific evidence proving their benefits to emotional and physical health. I have to confess that when I saw the word "thriller" I was skeptical as to how this book would turn out. I've always associated that label with cheap paperbacks purchased at the grocery store. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

Review Copy

Original Review

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in my top four of books, has been for sometime. It's one of those books, I class as slightly healing. It deals with death and the Buddhist/Hindu view of reincarnation of it, in the form of a story. It skirts about two parallel narratives, I know for some people they just don't do books with that. At first they seem some far apart, but they eventually overlap.
But David Michie introduces Buddhism in the form of a thriller, perhaps trying to tap into a wider audience?
The book is well written and grabs the readers attention well.
To be honest I bought the book as I had read David's other books, and I wasn't expecting to much from this, about a Novice Monk in Tibet and a scientist in LA, but I was pleasantly surprised. More so even, as this book has stuck with me, and been reread and recommended many times.
It also gave me some calm about death too.

[Chuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

About 50 pages into this book I was ready to just call it 1 star and move on, but I'm glad I stuck with it. There's a good story here, it's just badly written.

On the surface this is the converging stories of Tenzin and Matt, two very different people from very different worlds who we find in a shocking plot twist are not so different after all. But that's a very thin surface. The real point of this story is a gushing introduction to the theories of Tibetan Buddhism. This constant narrative feels crammed into the story and in many places breaks the flow of dialog altogether. For the first 100 pages every thought uttered by Tenzin is immediately followed by clarification, as if he is turning to the reader who is assumed to know nothing about Tibetan Buddhism and saying, "what I mean by that is..." It feels like an interruption every time and makes it impossible to immerse yourself in the story.

If you are curious about the mystical and magical new-agey interperetation of Buddhism and don't really consider yourself "a reader" then I'm sure you will love this book. For the rest of us, I think it's a little tedious.

[Tereza Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars are not enough.
Definitely the best book I have read in 2019!
My love for David Michie’s writing aside - brilliant book that you simply cannot put down. Amazing story, great thought behind it. Awesome!

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favourite book of all time. Filled with rich characters and subtle insight into Buddhism , I find myself going back to it often. Loved the two time frames, so well done.

[Vanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nedokážu se přimět k té knize něco napsat, tak alespoň stručně, než se mi vykouří z hlavy úplně. Koupila jsem si zajíce v pytli - knihu autora, o kterém jsem v životě neslyšela - a tentokrát to tedy nevyšlo. Za prvé, Michie neumí psát. Je skutečné utrpení tohle číst, časem člověk sice otupí a přestane si to tak brát, ale počátky jsou velice krušné. Někdo v komentářích psal, že je třeba vytrvat a že to konec člověku vynahradí. Bohužel opak je pravdou, ta kniha je čím dál tím méně povedená a příběh vás do křesla taky nepřikove: slibný britský yuppie před našimi zraky řeší lásku, profesní výzvy, stěhování, no má toho chudák moc. Číst o nanotechnologiích (o kterých skoro nic nevím) od člověka, který o nich skoro nic neví, zato je dokáže nepřesvědčivě promíchat s karmou a dharmou (o kterých ví možná mnohé, ale to podání to spolehlivě zabije), skutečně není dobrý nápad. No a aby nám to autor vynahradil, střídá současnou linii s Tibetem z dob počátků čínské okupace a píše o třech mniších, kteří pěšky prchají přes Himaláje. Jo, a nesou svitky. Tajné. Tak tajné, že nikdo ani netušil, že existují! No a jak to spolu všechno souvisí? Věřte mi, to nechcete vědět ;)

[Léa · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this book is amazing would be an understatement. Maybe it has come into my life at the best time it could have, or maybe it's exactly the type of book I appreciate, the result is the same: it has let me speeachless, with goosebumps and an intense serenity that I will carry within myself for the rest of my life, all thanks to it.

I urge you to read it. Seriously. Take your time, dive into it, cherish all its wiseness. Even if you are already familar with Dharma concepts, heck even if you are a master of it, it does not matter. Go read it. Now. :) I am joking of course, but not too much.

I would just like to thank the author for bringing this blessing into my life.

10 stars out of 5. In fact you know what, countless stars. There aren't enough.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, I absolutely adore David Michie's writing. This book kept me gripped from one scene to the next. I did not want to put it down. I loved the parallel stories, and the multiple cliffhangers. I had goose bumps come up so many times during the stories. I love the way everything comes together at the end. I won't give any spoilers. Yes, it was so sad in parts, but I relished the messages David brought across without sounding preachy. Although I'm not a Buddhist, I am deeply fascinated by the truths found in David's books. I hope that they will impact me and sink in and help me be a better person.

[Sujan Azad Parikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly impressed with this book. Story was nicely written. It teaches us to be human beings and do not impose the suffering on others and try to minimize it. It inspires us to follow the path of light and inspiration.

[Kasturi Dadhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What started out as a regular fiction novel developed as an interesting read. The storyline may have been conventional but the philosophical nuggets the book offered during reading makes a serious reader smile knowingly. A reaffirmation of principles for one searching answers.

[Jill M Atchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story

I was overwhelmed by the story. Very easy read and easy to follow. Love the twists and turns. Had a feeling of contentment while reading.

[Preethi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in two long sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I like Mitchie’s style of writing - how he introduces a serious or heavy subject in a light tone making it readable and absorbable by anyone. That style continues into this book too.
As the story alternates between Tenzin and Matt, I noticed subtle differences in narration - a more humble one for the novice monk and a grander one for Matt, the scientist. That was well done to show how different both of them are. I liked how Matt gets humbled eventually as the plot progresses and how the other loose ends get tied up with Geshe-la, Mrs.Min and the Lama.

Personally, this book reminded me of how astray I’ve gone from Dharma after having had the privilege of being introduced to it and for that, am very thankful.

This book is a must read if you’ve been interested in Tibet, Tibetan customs and the Buddhist philosophy - all these heavy subjects are scratched a bit in this book to serve as a refresher/starter.

[Martha Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, especially as this book has been recommended to me by many friends. The book is evenly divided into two stories, one about three Buddhist monks escaping Tibet in 1959, and the other about a British scientist transplanted by a career change to California, where he meets a Buddhist monk living next door.

The monks’ story of harrowing escape was very good, gripping. The scientist’s, not so much. And his interactions with the monk next door were the worst parts of the book, as the monk ends up being a flat, stereotypical character, relegated to “mouthpiece” for Buddhist teachings. Such a letdown.

[Kalpanee Jayatilake · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had the recipe for a thriller with suspense and unexpected turns. It also reveals insights into the Tibetan branch of Buddhism and attempts to justify some of the concepts through science, (though I don't think this is the primary intent of the book). It's simply the spiritual journey (and this may be literal as well as metaphorical) of a sixteen year old novice monk, to become the magician of Lhaza!

[Diane Yomtov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. I have recently become intrigued with Buddhism, have become good friends with a Buddhist chaplain. I learned so much about this religion and its principles from this book. A great story, as well.

[Barbara Cauchon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book...had read Michie's 'Dali Lama's Cat' trilogy and enjoyed it so wanted to try this one. I like the way he weaves in the teachings of Buddhism into an interesting plot. Would definitely read another by this same author.

[Rebecca Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

I feel like I just learned a lot about Tibetan Buddhism as I read a captivating novel. This is a good read during the pandemic- a reminder that we choose how we respond to stressful events.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and suspenseful story. Really enjoyed the character development and overall weaving in of the Buddhist mindset. The story definitely has some surprises that were unexpected. Well written.

[Rev Gary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a hard time reading about reincarnation.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the principles of Buddhism discussed in this book.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to appreciate this book, but several plot twists surprised me. I wish I was more well-versed in Buddhism, but I did get a slightly better understanding from reading this book.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was less a thriller and more an explanation of Dharma told through a parallel tale in two eras.... One of monk fleeing the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese and the other a tech innovator in the new millennia. Unexpectedly, these stories end up dovetailing very elegantly. I particularly enjoyed the explanations of karma, a concept I have wrestled with.

[VIVIAN E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book

I loved this book. It made me interested in Buddhism and learning more about it. The thing I did t like is there is a sequel. It’s like all these mini series, you have to watch the next episode. I usually don’t purchase books that you have to buy the next book to get the whole story. It seems this has become very popular, but not really my cup of tea. I’m always afraid I’ll be disappointed in follow up.

[Sunhawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating . . . but in the end (of this book) unsatisfying. This and the next, Secret Mantra should have been a single book. I'm going to review them as if they were.
Maybe I was especially open to the Buddhist messaging of these two books, or maybe the teaching material was, as I thought, especially accessible and useful. Karma in particular came to make more sense to me as I read along. This messaging, the underlying theme, seemed to me to be more important to the author than the actual plot -- and that was fine by me. The characters were thinly developed, and the girlfriend who was such a major element at the beginning simply vanished in the second volume. Looking at the author's oeuvre, the exposition of the Buddhist material is clearly central. Taken together, my experience of the two books was a welcome example of the notion that pedagogical material needs to have its utile bits generously wrapped in dulce, and the author got it just right. I might even be brave enough to tackle one of his more explicitly teaching books.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading books with a strong spiritual theme and inspirational message, like The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari and The alchemist. So The Magician of Lhasa appealed to me on that basis as I knew that it would give me an opportunity to learn more about Buddhism and make me think about my own life and higher purpose.

It's an easy to read book and most definitely inspired me and on the whole, I did enjoy it. I like how the two stories intertwine but I enjoyed the story of the three monks fleeing to India more than I enjoyed the modern story of Matt in America, purely because I empathised more with the monks. Matt was a one dimensional character with little to empathise with and as such, I really didn't care about his plight. Consequently, I was immersed in the story to a certain point (not wanting to give spoilers), but then it became too cliched in my opinion. Hence why I rated it only a 3 star.

Overall, if you like an inspirational story, I would recommend it.

[Mrs Heather M Robb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that are a good story but hold depth with plenty of spiritual philosophy thrown in. This book does that for me.
This is a great plot intertwining the past and present. Both stories provide good parallels before they come together. As our Tibetan boy comes to understand Dharma through the wisdom of his teacher, our modern protagonist is learning to live it and I found that a beautiful way to incorporate Buddhist philosophy with our modern lives.
I found the ending of the book a bit sudden. While leaving some things to our imagination can be a good thing, in this case I hope another book will follow to finish so much left unsaid and I would very much like to follow his path I to a deeper Understanding of Buddhism in book two!
On spooky note, I have part of Buddha’s missing finger, and it has been validated. I found it became ‘alive’ so to speak as I read this book. Good validation for me as well!

[Patricia Panahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An avid fan of stories that include spirituality in one form or another, I really savored this book.

The Magician of Llasa includes two story lines - one about three monks fleeing Tibet during the 1959 Chinese invasion, and the second a modern-day scientist whose life and relationship begins to fall apart when he moves from London to California. Eventually the two stories converge in interesting and unexpected ways.

Following the stories of the monks and the scientist, the reader also learns about basic Buddhist premises and practice, a way to live in the world in a more balanced, peaceful state.

The relationship of the scientist with his hot Italian girlfriend was a bit overdone for me, making those parts seem more like a romance novel than an understanding of Buddhist practice and it is only for this reason that I give it 4 stars.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually loved this book and even considered starting it over after I finished. I'm not sure what about it grabbed me (although I've had an interest in Buddhism for over 40 years - off & on).

The book tells of a novice Tibetan monk who gets caught up in the massive evacuation of Tibetan monasteries ahead of the destruction by the Red Chinese army in 1959. The monks are striving to save ancient documents.

It is also the story of a London researcher who was recruited to a large Los Angeles corporation in order to share expertise on his research project. He and his girlfriend move to LA and life begins to fall apart for them.

The way the two plots tie together as well as the scientific and Buddhist teachings fascinated me. I may yet read it again.

[Kamila McCann Lufferova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Dalai Lama's cat series follower, I went backwards on this one, especially since I've read almost all David Michie's books. I was constantly immersed in the book, could not stop reading and so finished it in a couple of days (given my reading routine due to busy lifestyle, that's fast). What I like most about Michie's books is his approachable style, the way he treats you as his equal and never tries to lecture you. This is more obvious in his non-fiction, nonetheless, in this book it's also present when explaining basic Buddhist concepts. An excellent read

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect initially, it was the title that intrigued me, however, I was hooked from page 1. This book is almost like a modern day fable which helps explain the concept of karma and the importance of the dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. And it works. The characters are well drawn and the message comes through clearly and gently, with no preaching. My only gripe, and it’s a big one which loses the book a star, is the sudden ending. It was too sudden and left too many threads hanging - maybe there’s a sequel on the way? I will read more from David Michael, I like his style.