Love and Honor in the Himalayas: Coming To Know Another Culture (Contemporary Ethnography)

I bought this book prior to my first Nepal trip in 2007. My dilemna was that I was going to spend three months tecahing nursing in a rural area, but since it was in a part of Nepal away from Kathmandu or Everest, there seemed to be very little written about the people of "my" area of Nepal. I was in Tansen, Palpa district, whcih is considered to be the heart of Magar/Gurung country. Most written material from Nepal seems to focus on Tibetans or else Sherpas. Now, these are fascinating groups in their own right, but my point is, there's a lot about them and not much about the other groups. Enter Ernestine McHugh. This book fits the bill, and describes cultural practices and daily life in a way that illuminates things for a westerner. Evidently, she now teaches anthropology on the college level, and has sort of "field-tested" her best stories by telling them in a college class, so she knows the kinds of questions an intelligent reader would be curious about. I thought it was very engaging at the time, and then I re read it after I returned, only to fully realize then what a gem it was. This book informed a lot of my appreciation for Magars and made my travels richer. The passage where Ms. McHugh and her cousin both get typhoid, and the sequelae, was haunting and beautifully written. I have worked in hospitals for thirty years and have an adult view of the fleeting nature of life, but this section was heartbreaking and wonderfully descriptive, worth the price of the book alone.

A fine piece of writing. After finishing this book, I looked all over Amazon.com and the Internet hoping to find another book by her on anything, anything at all, just to enjoy more of her superb prose and great insights (unfortunately, I came up with nothing). This excellent read offers great, first-hand views on a fascinating traditional culture at the interface between Tibetan Buddhism from the north and Hindu influences from the south in the heart of Nepal. I loved this book.

I'm not for sure about this book. I got it for my daughter for her college classes that she sent me a list of books she needs for the up coming semester in the Summer for her Winter classes. I'm guessing she likes it. She getting good grades in the class and hasn't said anything to me about any problems with the book.

If you have spent time in rural parts of the Himalayas then many aspects of McHugh's descriptions will ring true. A lovely piece of recollection and a ground level view of life in a mountain village.

Had to read it for an anthropology class but I still loved the story.

I felt that I was the author herself who was experiencing those sad, amazing, and harmonious things when I read it.

Predictable

I received this book back in 2007 from my grandparents and have FINALLY gotten to the point in my life where I actually want to read it (I'm 26 now). This book is a great and easy read. The way the author writes is just amazing and she helps the reader follow her stories. A recent conversation with my grandparents revealed that they are long-time friends of the author. I highly recommend this book for anyone, not just a student. You will be amazed at how easily you get wrapped up in Ernestine McHugh's story. I would give it ten stars if I could.