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HomeBooksMipam: The First Tibetan Novel |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 4 customer reviews )
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7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Mipam - Searching Book Apr 26, 2000
By Colleen Dunn
This book is the story of a Tibetan named Mipam and his journey to find his place in life. Mipam is designated as a lama as an infant, and he allows fate to take him from one destination in life to the next. It is the story of a searcher who follows the omens which guide him from one point in his life to the next. The text itself is translated into English, but the language remains very Tibetan. Although this is a book of fiction, I do feel as though I learned about Tibet, its people, and its beliefs. Mipam is an enjoyable story. Sometimes it gets a little heavy. It is one of those books which can be followed for either the plot or the moral of the story.
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Alexandra David Neel in Disguise Jan 19, 2001
By Bruce Conforth, Ph.D.
Although credited to her adopted Tibetan son - Lama Yongden, this book was cearly written by Alexndra David Neel, the amazing explorer of Tibet and practitioner of Tantric Tibetan Buddhism. A thoroughly enjoyable read, this is the story of a young Tibetan named Mipam who is alleged, at birth, to be a reincarnated being. In the course of his adventures (the book covers approximately 18 years of his life) he encounters romance, mystery, magic, and al manner of intrigue. The ending is a wonderful twist in the plot.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A voice from the past Sep 03, 2004
By Desi
"skydancer"
This is an unusual account, a story written by someone clearly with one foot inside and another outside of Tibetan culture of his time, so as to have an insider's information at the same time as enough distance to give a wholehearted description of Tibet at the time.
The main character torn between worldly pleasure, well, love actually - and a monastic life, at the same time a hopeless romantic (!), one can't help thinking the author might have known this kind of conflict from the inside, as well...
This is a story told like in the olden days, you're being sat down by the fireplace and told a tale.
One thing I found appaling about this book, though, is the foreword by the otherwise so well-known and respected Buddhist author Norma Levine. I find it filled with fake feminist views, that this man could by no means have written the book - PLEASE! A great fan of Alexandra David-Neel and her work myself, I believe she should get all the credit in the world for that - but how come it doesn't occur to Norma Levine that these two who lived together for a great deal of their lifetimes, might have gently cooperatered and supported each other in their work?
And how come that such a renowned Buddhist seems to be absolutely unable to find an ounce of compassion in her heart for this man/monk who seems to have ended his otherwise adventurous life in great misery? - Could there be a reason or two, maybe in the sorrowful events in Tibet, during the later years of his life?
Shame on the publisher for printing something so biased and uncompassionate as this foreword!
Tibet, Lamaism Jul 06, 2010
By C. P. Hendrix
I first read this book many years ago, but lost my copy. (Never loan a book!) A wonderful, well-written novel based on Tibeten culture. If you have any interest in Tibet, or the religion there, you'll enjoy this book.
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