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The Goddess of Kathmandu
Nepal. A country of mountains and monasteries, gurus and goddesses.
Kathmandu. The ancient capital, where the fabric separating truth from legend is so thin it sometimes tears.
Lara Gordon is a corporate high-flyer whose carefully constructed world falls apart when she finds herself fifty, unemployed, and unexpectedly single. Deciding to take a three month break to 'relaunch herself into a fabulous middle-age', Lara travels to Kathmandu where she enrols in a Nepali language course, attends a meditation retreat at a Buddhist Monastery, and treks in the Himalayan mountains. Will Lara be able to put past disappointments behind her and build a meaningful future?
The Kumari is a young Nepali girl, separated from her family to live a cloistered life in a temple in Kathmandu's Durbar Square. At the age of eleven her world is turned upside down when she is stripped of her goddess status and returns to live with a family she barely knows.
Who is the mysterious Goddess of Kathmandu, and what can she teach Lara about coming to terms with getting older? Because here in Nepal, everything is true but not everything happened...
Kathmandu. The ancient capital, where the fabric separating truth from legend is so thin it sometimes tears.
Lara Gordon is a corporate high-flyer whose carefully constructed world falls apart when she finds herself fifty, unemployed, and unexpectedly single. Deciding to take a three month break to 'relaunch herself into a fabulous middle-age', Lara travels to Kathmandu where she enrols in a Nepali language course, attends a meditation retreat at a Buddhist Monastery, and treks in the Himalayan mountains. Will Lara be able to put past disappointments behind her and build a meaningful future?
The Kumari is a young Nepali girl, separated from her family to live a cloistered life in a temple in Kathmandu's Durbar Square. At the age of eleven her world is turned upside down when she is stripped of her goddess status and returns to live with a family she barely knows.
Who is the mysterious Goddess of Kathmandu, and what can she teach Lara about coming to terms with getting older? Because here in Nepal, everything is true but not everything happened...
318 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 2, 2021
An inspirational debut from Australian author Sandra Groom. The story follows middle-aged Lara after an unexpected change in her personal circumstances leads her on an unplanned journey to Nepal. The Goddess of Kathmandu is also a story about regret, love & loss, and the bittersweet sadness of deep heartbreak that yields to triumphant hope and reinvention. A fascinating, insightful and relatable read.
April 22, 2021
When life throws you lemons, sometimes wonderful things come from it. This book (and the journey it describes) is one such case. This is a wonderfully written tale of a personal evolution, plus it's combined with loads of insights into Nepalese culture which I really loved. I don't normally read fiction but I loved the combination of personal story and learning something along the way. Well done Sandra.
January 27, 2022
Sandra Groom's debut novel takes the reader on an immersive 'trek' through Nepal, from the bustling city of Kathmandu to the foothills of the Himalayas. But the story starts in Sydney, Australia, where we meet high achiever Lara Gordon. When Lara's world falls apart big time, she makes the brave decision to travel to Nepal where she has enrolled in a Nepali language course.
When she arrives at the humble homestay, Lara discovers that all is not what it seems; her life is about to change in profound ways.
Groom brings her deep knowledge of Nepal to the fore through her evocative descriptions of people and places.
Running in parallel to Lara's journey of self discovery is that of the mysterious Goddess of Kathmandu.
When she arrives at the humble homestay, Lara discovers that all is not what it seems; her life is about to change in profound ways.
Groom brings her deep knowledge of Nepal to the fore through her evocative descriptions of people and places.
Running in parallel to Lara's journey of self discovery is that of the mysterious Goddess of Kathmandu.
February 5, 2021
A thought provoking novel about failed relationships, midlife crisis at aged fifty, and finding answers in Nepal. Sandra Groom an Australian based New Zealander in her first novel portraits a deep affinity for the people of Nepal their culture, customs, beliefs and Buddhism. A must read from a highly talented writer.
February 11, 2021
It is a captivating story of Lara's self-discovery when she went back to Nepal, her courageous trek of the Himalayas and the fascinating story of the Goddess of Kathmandu. It was a good travel read and learning of the Nepali culture.
January 26, 2021
The story is set for the most part in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and charts Australian Lara Gordon’s journey of self discovery.
Lara travels to Nepal for a three-month sojourn after her work and romantic life falls apart in Sydney. In Kathmandu, she stays with a Nepalese family and enrols in a Nepali language course where she meets a group of fascinating people all seeking answers to questions about their own lives.
But this story is not just about Lara. It also examines the life of a young Nepali girl who is destined to become the Kumari, a young female goddess viewed as the embodiment of the devine female energy.
Sandra didn’t pull the concept for her novel out of thin air. She’s visited Kathmandu on numerous occasions, and continues to learn Nepali, the native language of Nepal.
Sandra writes with empathy and compassion about the Nepalese and evocatively of the incredibly beautiful yet dangerous Himalayan mountains.
If you’ve never been to Nepal and dream about going there (and it is a dream during the lockdowns imposed since the advent of COVID-19) or you’ve been there, done that! and hope to return one day, this book is a lovely introduction or refresher.
Lara travels to Nepal for a three-month sojourn after her work and romantic life falls apart in Sydney. In Kathmandu, she stays with a Nepalese family and enrols in a Nepali language course where she meets a group of fascinating people all seeking answers to questions about their own lives.
But this story is not just about Lara. It also examines the life of a young Nepali girl who is destined to become the Kumari, a young female goddess viewed as the embodiment of the devine female energy.
Sandra didn’t pull the concept for her novel out of thin air. She’s visited Kathmandu on numerous occasions, and continues to learn Nepali, the native language of Nepal.
Sandra writes with empathy and compassion about the Nepalese and evocatively of the incredibly beautiful yet dangerous Himalayan mountains.
If you’ve never been to Nepal and dream about going there (and it is a dream during the lockdowns imposed since the advent of COVID-19) or you’ve been there, done that! and hope to return one day, this book is a lovely introduction or refresher.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews