Beyond the Summit: An Everest adventure and Romance

by Linda LeBlanc

An American journalist in Nepal meets a young Sherpa porter and discovers beauty, love, danger, and tragedy in a cross cultural, mountain climbing drama. Beth and Dorje's worlds come together in a tender love story and high adventure as he follows his dream to reach the summit of Everest. The novel has something for Sherpa culture, Buddhist rituals, mountaineering,avalanches and storms, conflict between generations and among friends as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition, the Chinese takeover of Tibet, an Everest expedition from the porter's point of view.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Ebooks, Adventure, Contemporary

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2006

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sherpa”s viewpoint about the climbing and being porters to the wealthy tourists was something we all should think about as well as the garbage left behind. The climbers should carry their junk out.

[Julie Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't care for romance novels.

[Caroline Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned so much about the Sherpa culture. On the edge of my seat.

[Dannie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Beyond the Summit: An Everest Adventure and Romance by Linda LeBlanc a great tale about a place and people I’ve always wanted to know more about. Ms. LeBlanc is well qualified to give an accurate view of life and conditions in Nepal, having been there many times and a guide to the Everest basecamp. She spins this knowledge into a wonderful story of adventure and romance.

The adventure and romance takes place in Nepal where the mightiest mountains in the world encompass the sky. This is a story of the Sherpas and their way of life in an environment few people understand or even read about. This is also the story of the main character, Dorje, and his dreams of a better life, finding love and fulfilling a dream of climbing Mount Everest.

As you read you’ll go through Dorje’s life and that of his father, Mingma- who clings to an old way of life and distances himself from the western climbers who are polluting the Nepalese people.

Dorje and a western woman, Beth, fall in love and that love is tested over and over by living conditions, beliefs and others interfering.

I enjoyed Beyond the Summit for all the elements Linda LeBlanc brings to this gripping tale. Come and see what it must be like to live with the people of Nepal and climb Mount Everest.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad story and definitely an interesting read about life in Nepal. I did not mind the peppering of words from the local language, as the meaning can be deduced from the context of the sentence or in some cases, stated clearly in the sentence itself. And authors do this all the time anyway in books set in non-English speaking countries. Sometimes it adds a little local colour to the book, sometimes it doesn't, but it doesn't bother me.

The love story between Beth and Dorje is sweet and beautiful for the most part so it does seem a little surreal. There was a little tension and insecurity while the couple spent time apart, but the rest of it seemed really idealistic, as I'm sure it would be a huge test for Dorje to live in Beth's world. However, I guess it was kind of a "love conquers all" thing for them, and I suppose Dorje truly believed if he conquered Everest, he would be able to stand proudly beside Beth in her country without feeling like some pretty boy she brought back as a "souvenir".

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sat on my shelf for months before I could get myself to read it beyond page #5. Once I read past the initial few pages, I was hooked on to the book, the characters are nicely developed, the story is quite compelling and moves at a fast pace to keep the reader engaged till the end. The story gives a beautiful and vivid picture of the lives of Sherpas, the cultural and economic influences on their lives, the hazards they go through to be a part of a climbing expedition. The book beautifully brings out the author's knowledge about the Sherpa community, their customs, traditions, the local flora and fauna. The love story between the author and Dorje is beautifully done (wonder if it is real) and keeps the novel engaging till the end. There are some aspects about the love story that seem a bit tooo artificial (perhaps unreal/ far fetched) that prevent me from giving this book the 5 starts. It is definitely a great read.

[Ngdecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a number of books about climbing Everest and truly enjoyed this novel. I am always fascinated by the subject, and enjoyed a fictional account. The author showed many sides of each character - none were all bad or all good, and that made it more interesting. She also helped us understand the impact that foreigners have had on the villages and people that live in that area - both bad and good. I thought the book ended the only way it could have - but I will be thinking about it for quite a while.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! This was a freebie from Amazon, a love story set against the backdrop of Everest in the late 1960's (it was the Everest aspect that got my attention) Its a cross cultural love story with frostbite and avalanches and touches on some of the spiritual beliefs and cultural differences of the day. I wasn't sure what to expect when i started reading but the author brings the characters and the Himalayas to life - you can almost 'feel' the cold. One of my favourites this year!!

[Linda Koepsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I loved the detail regarding life in Nepal in the late 60s, the culture of the west clashing with the culture of the east. The ending was a shock, and I felt like the book was unfinished, but other than that, it was a great read.

[Sarah Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story moves at a good pace and the descriptions of the geographical areas are wonderful, but the story is predictable. A good read for the times when you need a book that can be easily put down and picked up again later.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the references to Nepali culture that course through this book. A good read for anyone prior to going to EBC or to read whilst trekking the route as I did. The love story plays second fiddle to the background.

[Misfit]

1/23/12. Kindle freebie today.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting cultural information told in a love story. Sad but raises some questions about the Western invasion of third world cultures and its implications for native people groups.

[Alison]

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