Customer Reviews

Of Rainbows & Clouds

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

If you are interested in Bhutanese history, you should read Michael Aris' "The Raven Crown" (1994) first. Unfortunately Aris covers only the period up to about 1960. Despite his intimate knowledge of the royal family (he was tutor to the royal children around 1970) he does not mention the Queens at all and their family only in passing.
"Rainbows and Clouds" offers some interesting glimpses at 20th century Bhutan and at somebody who lived through the huge changes this country has undergone, maybe even helped to shape it. Also there are some interesting pictures. But naturally this is a very personal book without any claim to objectivity and there are some big holes. Especially the issue of Ugyen Dorji's oldest brother "Chogley" Jigme Tenzin is rather perplexing, since Aris does not mention him at all. However, both books basically agree on the death of the Shabdrung in 1931, although as a historian Aris is naturally more careful.
I got the strong impression that this book is in part meant to establish a defined and clean record of the maternal ancestry of the future king and it should therefore be read very critically.

The book is very interesting for someone who is fascinated with the history and culture of bhutan but the first few chapters are very complicated to read. The author goes into too much detail and there are many whord written in bhutantese. Nonetheless there are beuatiful pictures of the king and the countryside. The pictures are worth the whole book.

I could barely make it through. The beginning is filled with endless Bhutanese names of places and events that eventually are very oblique and confusing. Her story telling ability is very limited and misses any real immediacy since it is a life told to her by her father and then told to the reader. I do not know anything about the history of Bhutan but I had a sense that this was a story only somewhat related to any fact. Her father told her this story and she remembered all of the details to eventually write down? She has a far better memory than most if that is the case! The photos were adequte, but the country is beautiful and the photos could have been so much better. The photos at best illuminated the simple nature of the country and showed the modest situation of the royalty totally devoid of the opulence of a European crown. I would not buy this book.

I read many books about bhutan, Mostly, They are seems fictions.

But this book provide me more real informations and photoes.

Her Majesty other book. A portrait of Bhutan also nice.

But The books about Bhutan words and Study of Bhutan are rarely find.

I wish Her Majesty the Queen will find more time to write more books for our understanding.


Many people are discussing about is it real informations?
I do not know but .. We have to research and study more..

There is very little written in English on the modern history of Bhutan. This book is a valuable addition to the historical literature of the Himalayan region. In particular, this book reveals facts and circumstances surrounding an assasination, which had been whispered but not recorded.

I am compelled to add that I felt saddened by the several anonymous reviews accusing that this book is a fabricated fiction and was written by a ghost writer. The book's publisher would know that neither of these accusations are true. As a matter of rule, I have always thrown away anonymous hate mails -- which is the category these reviews belong to. I have always learned a great deal from those who offer constructive criticisms and comments honestly. Such people never hide their identity.

I enjoyed this book as it gave me a deep satisfaction and insight into the history of the kingdom of Bhutan. I was fascinated to read about the life story of the Queen's father and the class shifts from merchant to elite- that were made with the coming of modernization. Reading this book made me even more interested in the political situation, and the monarchy of Bhutan. I would definately like to read some more on their monarchy especially their present King with his policy of Gross National Happiness instead of Gross National Product that we have in the Western world as a measure of a country's success. Now that is thought provoking!

As a real Bhutanese who has read this book, I have to say that grand liberties taken by Ashi Dorji Wangmo are truly funny. So what if she writes well? She had a ghost writter anyway. She has totally invented her family's tree to give legitimacy to some claim to royal origins even though she is already married to the His Majesty the King. Big mistake on her part because the people she claims to be related to are still living. I wonder why she would do this when everyone in Bhutan is laughing at her fantasy behind her back? Could it be that the truth is relative and if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth? Of course most people would never in a million years say anything publicly. Maybe her father the notorious land stealer (because he is the king's infuriating father in-law) told her this and she really believes it. HM is really a good guy, but his in-laws do as they wish and the local people who only have a plot of land to grow rice really don't like it when she comes on official visits to the Dzongkhags. The people respect HM and love him and would do anything for him and the country are weary of self aggrandizing ashies at the people's expense.

It's too bad that I have to use a pseudonym, for fear of my own business being ruined by the newly royals monopolies .

My recommendation:

Buy any other book about Bhutan, and remove any pleasure you gained from reading this book of lies.

READ THIS ONE!
"So Close to Heaven : The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas"
by Barbara Crossette

I guess if what ever you do to improve this life's existance doesn't help you in the next, then this story book is a book of fiction that will not add to the authors' advancement in subsequent incarnations. If what you do harms the life of others in this life and impeads the ability of others to avoid suffering and causes hatred of oneself due to selfishness and greed, then this book is a self indictment by the lies told in it.