What do you think?
Mountains to Manhattan
What if you were born without a country? What if you were branded a refugee as you took your first step? All this and more happened to young, charming, smart Tenzin Lhamo. Her crime: she was a Tibetan born in India. Ever since she became aware of her uncertain status, she would ask herself, how long will I be a refugee with restrictions and no right to a passport? Why can't I have a country of my own and a citizenship? To fulfill her own aspirations and that of her family, Tenzin undertakes a perilous journey halfway across the world in search of a country that would own her, give her respect and freedom as its citizen and let her earn enough to support her family. Was she given the dignity, she yearned for? Tagged Chinese, an identity all Tibetans shun, she wondered if it was worth the cost of a citizenship. Will she be able to contribute as an individual to the Tibetan cause? Or would she have been more fruitful in her community in India? Will her husband ever reach her or wait for her? Even if she gained an identity and a country, would she lose the chance to have her own family?
- GenresFiction
364 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2017
About the author
Pinakie Kansabanik
3 books5 followersHailing from the small-but-ever growing north Bengal town of Siliguri, the exposure to characters, situations and human reactions have been a part of Pinakie’s life from the very beginning. And as life progressed from the foothills to the Himalayan heights, from being a young educator in Sikkim to giving physical shape to marketing dreams in Delhi-NCR, his experiences only kept getting filled up.
Cliched as it may sound of being a corporate-to-creativity crossover, Pinakie doesn’t claim to be a habitual writer – rather he’s happy being an author of experiences and emotions. Debuting with Mountains to Manhattan, a fiction on the refugee crisis of the Tibetans in diaspora, Pinakie finds it challenging and rather satisfying as a writer, to put himself in the shoes of his women characters. His second book, A Basket of Sunflowers takes this journey forward, navigating through the lives of seven women and their stories.
Pinakie’s passion is to write about people, culture, ethos and philosophy. Exploring issues of identity, family relations, history excites him. His stories are not exactly about his experiences, rather his interpretation of what the characters around him go through.
Cliched as it may sound of being a corporate-to-creativity crossover, Pinakie doesn’t claim to be a habitual writer – rather he’s happy being an author of experiences and emotions. Debuting with Mountains to Manhattan, a fiction on the refugee crisis of the Tibetans in diaspora, Pinakie finds it challenging and rather satisfying as a writer, to put himself in the shoes of his women characters. His second book, A Basket of Sunflowers takes this journey forward, navigating through the lives of seven women and their stories.
Pinakie’s passion is to write about people, culture, ethos and philosophy. Exploring issues of identity, family relations, history excites him. His stories are not exactly about his experiences, rather his interpretation of what the characters around him go through.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 14, 2017
While the detailed review is available [ http://thinkerviews.com/books/english... ] , here is the summarized one.
We see a large number of books published almost every month. Of course, not all of them are worth the time and money to spend after. Mountains To Manhattan, in that terms, is a really nice book. It explores the story with a substance. Of course, the story explored in the book is fantasy tale, but it revolves around the harsh realities and it makes the book worth reading.
Usually books written in such zone often turns out to be a boring documentary kind of stuff. This book is interesting, inspirational and quite appealing.
What I like the most in the book is the initial segment, where the village life of Tibet, people's migration from there to India, their lives in India; etc. are explored. All these things are explored so realistic, that it reminds me the good old days, when real families, and real India used to be presented on Television, Movies and Books. If I had to rate the book only based in Initial segment, I would have easily given it 5/5 stars.
It requires a lot of courage to choose a challenging topic. Pinakie (the author) himself is an advocate of "Free Tibet" movement and he considered this tale must be told. And he then didn't take a step back.
The book is really nice in terms of literary aspects. Here are some of the lines form the book to prove that.
Dreams and thoughts soothe one but life wasn’t a dream.
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Come on! Dreams don’t die. Let’s try. I don’t say we will make it but what is the harm in trying.
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
In addition, in the book, various cultures and landscapes (including Tibet, India, Austria, USA,..) explored quite convincingly. I got very curious that whether the author himself actually got a chance live there! In an interview to Pinakie, I have asked the same, and came to know that, he actually has done remarkable R&D (mainly through Internet) for the same.
I personally feel that the book could have been ended in more positive manner, and readers would have liked it more.
Overall, a book with more positive aspects then the areas which lets it down; definitely worth reading...
We see a large number of books published almost every month. Of course, not all of them are worth the time and money to spend after. Mountains To Manhattan, in that terms, is a really nice book. It explores the story with a substance. Of course, the story explored in the book is fantasy tale, but it revolves around the harsh realities and it makes the book worth reading.
Usually books written in such zone often turns out to be a boring documentary kind of stuff. This book is interesting, inspirational and quite appealing.
What I like the most in the book is the initial segment, where the village life of Tibet, people's migration from there to India, their lives in India; etc. are explored. All these things are explored so realistic, that it reminds me the good old days, when real families, and real India used to be presented on Television, Movies and Books. If I had to rate the book only based in Initial segment, I would have easily given it 5/5 stars.
It requires a lot of courage to choose a challenging topic. Pinakie (the author) himself is an advocate of "Free Tibet" movement and he considered this tale must be told. And he then didn't take a step back.
The book is really nice in terms of literary aspects. Here are some of the lines form the book to prove that.
Dreams and thoughts soothe one but life wasn’t a dream.
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Come on! Dreams don’t die. Let’s try. I don’t say we will make it but what is the harm in trying.
-- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
In addition, in the book, various cultures and landscapes (including Tibet, India, Austria, USA,..) explored quite convincingly. I got very curious that whether the author himself actually got a chance live there! In an interview to Pinakie, I have asked the same, and came to know that, he actually has done remarkable R&D (mainly through Internet) for the same.
I personally feel that the book could have been ended in more positive manner, and readers would have liked it more.
Overall, a book with more positive aspects then the areas which lets it down; definitely worth reading...
October 30, 2017
I have given 5 star for this book mainly because of two reasons,
1. This is author's first published book and a job well done - indeed.
2. He has taken an opposite gender to narrate the story which is the toughest part - not easy.
I thoroughly loved reading through it. I don’t know how many pages this book as I have read the Kindle version. I used to cover 15-20% in each sitting but post 48% I finished at a stretch. With every package there are pros and cons. Let me tell you, one needs to read this to be able to enjoy. This book is thoroughly enjoyable book.
Pros
1. I liked the subject a lot and I believe it is closed to author's heart as well. We can't do much unfortunately. No country gets independence without blood. Sad but true.
2. Author has carefully avoided a romantic encounter between Lhamo and Karma. Otherwise there could have been a chapter describing about every details - this makes books more recommendable to others esspecially among elders in the family.
Cons
1. The ways Lhamo did get the Austrian visa and later passport is totally unethical. This could have been handled differently.
2. I felt sorry for Karma. A little more respect I was expecting for him. He can be treated as a tragic hero and a learning to many unpragmatic lovers that money can't buy love all the time.
3. I feel it ended differently - may be like a short story and we were expecting something else. A lot of things were untold. This also makes the Novel interesting and opens up a space to discuss with the author.
1. This is author's first published book and a job well done - indeed.
2. He has taken an opposite gender to narrate the story which is the toughest part - not easy.
I thoroughly loved reading through it. I don’t know how many pages this book as I have read the Kindle version. I used to cover 15-20% in each sitting but post 48% I finished at a stretch. With every package there are pros and cons. Let me tell you, one needs to read this to be able to enjoy. This book is thoroughly enjoyable book.
Pros
1. I liked the subject a lot and I believe it is closed to author's heart as well. We can't do much unfortunately. No country gets independence without blood. Sad but true.
2. Author has carefully avoided a romantic encounter between Lhamo and Karma. Otherwise there could have been a chapter describing about every details - this makes books more recommendable to others esspecially among elders in the family.
Cons
1. The ways Lhamo did get the Austrian visa and later passport is totally unethical. This could have been handled differently.
2. I felt sorry for Karma. A little more respect I was expecting for him. He can be treated as a tragic hero and a learning to many unpragmatic lovers that money can't buy love all the time.
3. I feel it ended differently - may be like a short story and we were expecting something else. A lot of things were untold. This also makes the Novel interesting and opens up a space to discuss with the author.
July 3, 2022
The stories that explore harsh realities always fascinate me. Mountains to Manhattan is a book about Tibetan immigrants to India after the invasion of Red Army. What more fascinated me about this book is that the author has narrated the whole story by opting the opposite gender.
The plot revolves around a young, and smart Tenzin Lhamo who was labeled as a refugee before she was born. After the invasion of Red Army her mother, aunt and grandmother had to leave Tibet and settled in India. But did the Indian government did not grant them citizenships and there was a fake hope in their hearts that one day they will be able to go back. With restrictions and no passport, Lhamo undergoes a journey across the world in search of a country that will grant her citizenship. In search of this identity, she fears she might lose her family.
The storyline reflects a good amount of realities that is inflicted upon people who are tagged as refugees irrespective of which country they reside in. The detailing the author provides to support its characters from the start is good and did spike an interest in me as a reader to continue to read this book. It indeed requires a healthy amount of imagination and time to follow up with the research to convey it to a reader in form of a tale such as this challenging topic.
The writing style is good, sometimes energetic and sometimes a bit literary, both help in the amusement for a reader like me. Though I did find some dragging elements in the story. Another point I'd like to make is that the unethical way of Lhamo reaching her goal is a bit disappointing for me. I did not expect this and I think she got too lucky there.
Apart from that, I think this a good book if you are looking for a blend of fiction with some realism induced in it.
3 out of 5
The plot revolves around a young, and smart Tenzin Lhamo who was labeled as a refugee before she was born. After the invasion of Red Army her mother, aunt and grandmother had to leave Tibet and settled in India. But did the Indian government did not grant them citizenships and there was a fake hope in their hearts that one day they will be able to go back. With restrictions and no passport, Lhamo undergoes a journey across the world in search of a country that will grant her citizenship. In search of this identity, she fears she might lose her family.
The storyline reflects a good amount of realities that is inflicted upon people who are tagged as refugees irrespective of which country they reside in. The detailing the author provides to support its characters from the start is good and did spike an interest in me as a reader to continue to read this book. It indeed requires a healthy amount of imagination and time to follow up with the research to convey it to a reader in form of a tale such as this challenging topic.
The writing style is good, sometimes energetic and sometimes a bit literary, both help in the amusement for a reader like me. Though I did find some dragging elements in the story. Another point I'd like to make is that the unethical way of Lhamo reaching her goal is a bit disappointing for me. I did not expect this and I think she got too lucky there.
Apart from that, I think this a good book if you are looking for a blend of fiction with some realism induced in it.
3 out of 5
February 22, 2018
The stories that explore harsh realities always fascinate me. Mountains to Manhattan is a book about Tibetan immigrants to India after the invasion of Red Army. What more fascinated me about this book is that the author has narrated the whole story by opting the opposite gender.
The plot revolves around a young, and smart Tenzin Lhamo who was labeled as a refugee before she was born. After the invasion of Red Army her mother, aunt and grandmother had to leave Tibet and settled in India. But did the Indian government did not grant them citizenships and there was a fake hope in their hearts that one day they will be able to go back. With restrictions and no passport, Lhamo undergoes a journey across the world in search of a country that will grant her citizenship. In search of this identity, she fears she might lose her family.
The storyline reflects a good amount of realities that is inflicted upon people who are tagged as refugees irrespective of which country they reside in. The detailing the author provides to support its characters from the start is good and did spike an interest in me as a reader to continue to read this book. It indeed requires a healthy amount of imagination and time to follow up with the research to convey it to a reader in form of a tale such as this challenging topic.
The writing style is good, sometimes energetic and sometimes a bit literary, both help in the amusement for a reader like me. Though I did find some dragging elements in the story. Another point I'd like to make is that the unethical way of Lhamo reaching her goal is a bit disappointing for me. I did not expect this and I think she got too lucky there.
Apart from that, I think this a good book if you are looking for a blend of fiction with some realism induced in it.
3 out of 5
The plot revolves around a young, and smart Tenzin Lhamo who was labeled as a refugee before she was born. After the invasion of Red Army her mother, aunt and grandmother had to leave Tibet and settled in India. But did the Indian government did not grant them citizenships and there was a fake hope in their hearts that one day they will be able to go back. With restrictions and no passport, Lhamo undergoes a journey across the world in search of a country that will grant her citizenship. In search of this identity, she fears she might lose her family.
The storyline reflects a good amount of realities that is inflicted upon people who are tagged as refugees irrespective of which country they reside in. The detailing the author provides to support its characters from the start is good and did spike an interest in me as a reader to continue to read this book. It indeed requires a healthy amount of imagination and time to follow up with the research to convey it to a reader in form of a tale such as this challenging topic.
The writing style is good, sometimes energetic and sometimes a bit literary, both help in the amusement for a reader like me. Though I did find some dragging elements in the story. Another point I'd like to make is that the unethical way of Lhamo reaching her goal is a bit disappointing for me. I did not expect this and I think she got too lucky there.
Apart from that, I think this a good book if you are looking for a blend of fiction with some realism induced in it.
3 out of 5
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews