Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
91st out of 409 books
—
464 voters
Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape from Tibet
by
Jonathan Green (Goodreads Author)
On September 30, 2006 gunfire echoed through the thin air near Advance Base Camp on Cho Oyu Mountain. Frequented by thousands of climbers each year, Cho Oyu lies nineteen miles east of Mt. Everest on the border between Tibet and Nepal. To the elite mountaineering community, it offers a straightforward summit—a warm-up climb to her formidable sister. To Tibetans, Cho Oyu pr...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
June 1st 2010
by PublicAffairs
(first published May 11th 2010)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
559)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has much for many different readers. First, the glimpses into climbing culture were fascinating! In many ways, climbing is not what I thought it was and I think this aspect of "Murder in the High Himalaya" will most interesting to many of readers.
Reading about the Chinese domination of Tibet is disturbing. I was mindful as I was reading of the many regimes throughout the world that hold their people under tight control and what a nightmare that can be.
This was...more
Reading about the Chinese domination of Tibet is disturbing. I was mindful as I was reading of the many regimes throughout the world that hold their people under tight control and what a nightmare that can be.
This was...more
Terrific story about a group of Tibetans, many women and children, trying to escape from Tibet, only to be shot down by Chinese Authorities. The story is told by a journalist who interviews survivors who escaped and by foreign mountain climbers who witnessed the shootings and killings. Shocking is the way the climbers debate about whether to tell others or not about the shooting. The climbers fear Chinese authorities and fear even more strongly, their access to the mountains they want to climb i...more
When I finished this book I really kind of wished that I could give it six stars to distinguish it from the multitude of very good books that I have read and rated with five stars. This book is a lot of things at the same time: a great lesson on Chinese-Tibetan history, an inside look at the culture of commercial mountaineering, an interesting commentary on the microcosmic interface between between the East and West in the Himalayas, and a heart-wrenching narrative of a horrible atrocity (don't...more
"For three years, American journalist Green traveled to remote sections of Tibet to investigate the murder of a young nun who died at the hands of Chinese border officials. In clear, concise prose, the author deliberates over China's stranglehold on Tibet, its systematic dismantling of the indigenous culture and the terror tactics employed on families�.Green's steely, factually dense analysis of this unlawful conspiracy sheds light on a perennial human-rights crisis." � Kirkus Reviews
Listen to M...more
Listen to M...more
Apr 07, 2011
Priscilla Newcomb
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people interested in Tibet, human rights, and investigative journalism
Murder in the High Himalaya is an exquisitely crafted tale that depicts nearly indescribable horrors. It is actually three vivid stories, woven seamlessly together: the heroic attempts of impoverished Tibetans to survive economically, culturally and spiritually; the ethical dilemma of wealthy Westerners faced with choosing between dangerous self-indulgence and moral imperative; and the abuse and torture inflicted by the Chinese as they pursue genocide in their relentless drive for world dominanc...more
The book seems written to avoid sucking in the reader: it starts with a rather dry, reporterly sketch of two rural Tibetan girls, their families, daily lives and friendship. Then the narrative switches to a similarly dry description of a mountain-climbing guide's preparation for leading a climb. The story keeps switching back and forth between the two narratives with no explanation of what they have to do with each other. The dramatic events that led the author to investigate the lives of these...more
Murder in the High Himalaya is a factual recounting of the murder of a teenage nun in Tibet in 2008 by Chinese militia. It paints the Tibetans as a strong and spiritual people, brutally subjugated by the evil Chinese empire.
I suppose it's a testament to how jaded and cynical I am that I found the account plausible but not shocking. Tibetans are not treated with the same dignity as full-fledged Chinese citizens? Really? China engages in flagrant human rights abuses? Really? Next you're going to b...more
I suppose it's a testament to how jaded and cynical I am that I found the account plausible but not shocking. Tibetans are not treated with the same dignity as full-fledged Chinese citizens? Really? China engages in flagrant human rights abuses? Really? Next you're going to b...more
view all 5 comments
This book is disturbing on several levels. One is that it reveals some of the worst of the commercialism that has taken over climbing the highest mountain peaks. The other is that it tells the true story of Tibetans and the horrors of their lives under Chinese rule.
The story follows several groups of people as they prepare to cross the Nangpa La in the fall of 2006. Green tells the story of people in the village of Juchen which consists of 70 crudely constructed sandstone houses clinging to the...more
The story follows several groups of people as they prepare to cross the Nangpa La in the fall of 2006. Green tells the story of people in the village of Juchen which consists of 70 crudely constructed sandstone houses clinging to the...more
Tibet remains such a mysterious country, previously due to its closed borders to foreigners and in contemporary times due to Chinese colonisation and repression. So, writing a book about the murder of a 17 year old Tibetan refugee seeking to fulfill her dream of becoming a nun, meeting the Dalai Lama and discovering her Tibetan roots is no mean feat. Yet, Jonathan Green has done just that and more. True, it helps that the murder of Kelsang Namtso became an international story - no thanks to the...more
Audiobook: Narrator not the strong suit, but a riveting story. I am thoroughly disgusted with the climbers who witnessed this tragedy and did nothing at the time or later. Well-researched and timeless, this story will touch you, unless you're a mountain climber of the type in this book. Though Dolma can't return to Tibet, I admire perseverance and strength. I hope she gets over her survivor's guilt. Bonitez was not a likable person, even as he tried to make things right. He did seem too egocentr...more
I rated this book five stars for the concise but captivating rendition of the lives of modern-day Tibetans and for its description of the power of China to manipulate the facts. Like "Zeitoun," I think this book is a must-read for anyone interested in learning about events as they actually occurred, rather than how they have been presented to us. The author's website has the Romanian video of the shooting described in the book.
This is a very interesting book about the terrible human rights situation in Tibet and a the murder of a Tibetan refugee by Chinese soldiers that was witnessed by western climbers attempting to summit Cho Oyu in 2006. I really enjoy books about mountain climbing and this was certainly a different twist on that subject. At its heart, this book is really more about the oppression of the people in Tibet by the Chinese than it is about mountain climbing. I didn't know much about Tibet before reading...more
Murder in the High Himalayas chronicles the disturbing journey of Tibetan refugess seeking religious and cultural freedom in neighboring regions. China firmly controls Tibet, and closely monitors the paths refugees take to get to freedom--which run along some of the highest and dangerous peaks in the entire world. Sadly, this book chronicles the mistreatment--and ultimately a murder--that occurs on this path to freedom, whose snow-capped ridges are not uncommonly dotted with the blood of loyal T...more
Jun 25, 2011
Dianne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
first-reads-books-i-ve-won
What can I say about this powerful accounting of a complex, multifaceted tragedy? I'll start by saying that the duality in its message profoundly affected me...heroism vs. cowardice, humility vs. egocentricity,desperate fear vs. unbounded courage, altruism by doing good for good's own sake vs. doing good to look good to others, calamitous deceit vs. faithful blind trust, utter helplessness vs. unwavering hope...
Mr. Green's command of timing, tone and descriptive settings had me hooked and I fou...more
Mr. Green's command of timing, tone and descriptive settings had me hooked and I fou...more
3 likes · like · see review
The author was a pretty good story teller but he is not a great writer. The book felt like a pretty good manuscript that needed another couple of revisions with a really good editor. Green would provide insights or explanations in a chapter and then give them again a couple of chapters later as though it was being given for the first time.
With all that being said, I would still recommend this book. It is short enough that the negatives in the writing can be looked tolerated. Most importantly, t...more
With all that being said, I would still recommend this book. It is short enough that the negatives in the writing can be looked tolerated. Most importantly, t...more
A very important book for anybody interested in Tibet, modern China, human rights, and climbing.
It deals with an incident which became known as Nangpa La shooting/murder. In this incident, a 17 year old nun was attempting to cross the border to Nepal when she was shot at from behind and killed. The incident, in itself not so rare, was for the first time captured on camera and therefore documented, and subsequently made headlines and brought awareness to the plight of Tibet around the world.
Ther...more
It deals with an incident which became known as Nangpa La shooting/murder. In this incident, a 17 year old nun was attempting to cross the border to Nepal when she was shot at from behind and killed. The incident, in itself not so rare, was for the first time captured on camera and therefore documented, and subsequently made headlines and brought awareness to the plight of Tibet around the world.
Ther...more
4 likes · like · see review
This book is filled with a lot of fascinating facts and stories of high altitude mountain climbing, and about Tibet, its people, and their struggle against Chinese repression. The chapters alternate between the true story of two girls who eventually try to flee Tibet through the Himalayas with a group of refugees, and the mountaineers who witnessed the fatal, brutal attack by Chinese soldiers on this group. If I had been reading this book instead of listening to it, I probably would have finishe...more
I initially didn’t think I was going to like this book because of the slow start and the myriad of foreign names and locations. The author had to integrate the history of the Tibet/China hostilities into the parallel stories of the Tibetan refugees and the mountaineering expedition of Luis Benitez on Cho Oyu. By the time all the introductions were made and the tension began, I was hooked. I had developed strong sympathy for the two teenage refugees, Kelsang and Dolma, who were seeking a better l...more
This is a thought provoking book that certainly boosted my awareness of Tibet and the conditions that Tibetans are living under.
As a book it doesn't seem to hold much promise at first as I found that the tibetan characters are never very well drawn out, a situation which didn't really improve for me as the narrative developed.
However, the story does get increasingly interesting as two sets of people from vastly different backgrounds slowly get drawn together.
The exploration of the morals and be...more
As a book it doesn't seem to hold much promise at first as I found that the tibetan characters are never very well drawn out, a situation which didn't really improve for me as the narrative developed.
However, the story does get increasingly interesting as two sets of people from vastly different backgrounds slowly get drawn together.
The exploration of the morals and be...more
For anyone who calls himself or herself a humanitarian, this book should be on your list to read. It is the harrowing story of a young Tibetan nun trying to make it across the border into India along with her best friend and a large group of Tibetans, to gain freedom, religious and otherwise, from a stifling Chinese rule.
This is a non-fiction book but it reads so smoothly, without the endless citing of statistics or names that can make some books of that genre seem stilted. The chapters alternat...more
This is a non-fiction book but it reads so smoothly, without the endless citing of statistics or names that can make some books of that genre seem stilted. The chapters alternat...more
The incredible sotry of two teenage girls, best friends, from rural Tibet who decided to risk everything for a dream they nursed since childhood to meet the Dalai Lama. To do so they would have to cross three countries in a highly perilous journey that would take them over the passes of the mighty and brutal High Himalaya, all in defiance of China's military machine. It's the story of those who give everything for freedom and those still, who sacrifice everything to tell the truth.
Paperback, Ma...more
Paperback, Ma...more
In attempting to write a review of Mr. Green’s heart-wrenching book, I feel like there is so much that needs to be said. There is not enough room on this blog to post it all, but I have some thoughts I would like to share.
First, there is the author’s writing style. More than an account of a tragic event, he puts his heart into this story. It is far more than a fact-based report. As I told him, when I read his descriptions of the land, I can see his love for that part of the world. The mountains...more
First, there is the author’s writing style. More than an account of a tragic event, he puts his heart into this story. It is far more than a fact-based report. As I told him, when I read his descriptions of the land, I can see his love for that part of the world. The mountains...more
Since I feel strongly about the issue of Tibetan independence, books on this topic cause me to indulge myself in long rants in my handwritten book journal. I will attempt not to waste space on GR with a rant.
What I learned from this book is that for Tibetans surviving a journey from Tibet to see the Dalai Lama in India, depends on the whether they have offered a good sized bribe to Chinese security forces. The Chinese occupation of Tibet has become a matter of business, just like the Himalayan...more
What I learned from this book is that for Tibetans surviving a journey from Tibet to see the Dalai Lama in India, depends on the whether they have offered a good sized bribe to Chinese security forces. The Chinese occupation of Tibet has become a matter of business, just like the Himalayan...more
My mind is still spinning after reading Jonathan Green's Murder in the High Himalaya: Loyalty, Tragedy and Escape from Tibet. Green's gripping account of the escape attempt & murder of a Tibetan nun, is spellbinding. In the shadow of the highest peaks in the world, over 40 individuals from Tibet seek to find refuge in India, and under the thumb of the Chinese government. This nonfiction account reads like a fast-paced thriller, told from the perspective of two young Tibetan girls planning th...more
This is a story that could practically tell itself, and it's one that should have been gripping every step of the way. Instead, the author seems to have gone out of his way to make it dry and disjointed and hard to follow. Not bad, but could have been better.
It's sort of a crossbred look at the climbing community (not pretty) and the brutal Chinese treatment of Tibetans who want to escape to Nepal (also not pretty).
It's sort of a crossbred look at the climbing community (not pretty) and the brutal Chinese treatment of Tibetans who want to escape to Nepal (also not pretty).
4 likes · like · see review
Murder in the High Himalaya is a well written book that does a very good job of connecting two stories, the first of the Tibetan refugees attempting to escape the oppresive Chinese rule and the second being the western climbers who witnessed the murder of one of the nuns in the party attempting to escape.
I am taking at face value that the stories presented in the book are factual - and China's openly anti-religious, anti-Dali Lama seniment along with the crackdown of protests in Tienamen Square...more
I am taking at face value that the stories presented in the book are factual - and China's openly anti-religious, anti-Dali Lama seniment along with the crackdown of protests in Tienamen Square...more
Jul 28, 2011
Hella Comat
added it
Account of the 2006 murder of a 17 year old Tibetan nun by Chinese border guards as she undertakes a pilgrimage to see the Dalai Lama in India. Scary insight into the Chinese occupation of Tibet and their brutal attempt to oppress and obliterate the Tibetan culture. Highly recommended.
Brought the reality home of what life continues to be like for Tibetans under Chinese rule,coupled with a close look at the personalities involved in world of mountain climbing. Arouses some latent emotions about the injustices occurring in Tibet. Well-written and researched.
I just received the First Reads copy of this book yesterday and got started reading.
Update: I am really enjoying this book. So many interesting details about the culture and history of Tibet! This is a book I am inclined to carry around in my purse so I can sneak in a page here and there.
Update: I am really enjoying this book. So many interesting details about the culture and history of Tibet! This is a book I am inclined to carry around in my purse so I can sneak in a page here and there.
We are woefully unaware of the tragedy and oppression that populates the lives of many of our fellow citizens on this planet. This book tells the tales, both tragic and triumphant of what humans will endure in the efforts to obtain freedom. The fact that the journey described took place in 2006 does not diminish the immediacy of the story. For those that have heard of but not necessarily explored the "Free Tibet" movement, this book can give you some insights on the suffering of the Tibetan peop...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Review | 2 | 13 | Jun 30, 2011 05:47pm |
Jonathan Green is an award-winning journalist and author of Murder in the High Himalaya. He has reported from Sudan on jihadist militias, the guerilla-controlled jungles of Colombia on the cocaine trade, corruption in oil-rich Kazakhstan, the destruction of the rainforest in Borneo and human rights abuses connected to gold mining in West Africa. He has been the recipient of the Amnesty Internation...more
More about Jonathan Green...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
