Shopping for Buddhas

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Waist-high snow, a flying lama and the first escalator in Kathmandu are among the many attractions Greenwald experienced during his stays in Nepal. His often flip tone belies a serious purpose, and his account of shopping for just the right statue of Buddha illuminates various aspects of Nepalese culture. He discusses some of the gods and beliefs of Hinduism and proposes his own list of possible bodhisattvas, whom he describes as people who ``recognize . . . their peculiar function'' in life (including Mother Teresa and John Lennon). He learns of the Nepalese concept of perfect art, seeks the advice of a guru who wears Ray-Bans and faces the maneuverings of shopkeepers who cater to foreign buyers. Nor does Greenwald overlook the darker side of this country, now undergoing political upheavals. Nepal has been the site of documented human rights abuses, its royal family exploits the country's resources and may be central to promoting drug trafficking there, foreign aid to this impoverished country is distributed among a small number of people, and valuable works of art from temples are being smuggled out of the country. Greenwald is a contributing editor to SF Magazine. Author tour. (Aug.)

Library Journal

An on-and-off traveler to Nepal since 1979, Greenwald here shares his insights into this exotic land. The book's central device is the author's compulsion to buy the most perfect religious statue of Buddha in Nepal. With that as a backdrop, Greenwald introduces us to the people, landscapes, and religion of the country. At the same time, he alerts us to the darker side of Asia's Shangri-la: the devastating poverty, heroin addiction, government corruption, and human rights' violations. Greenwald's material is fascinating, but his style is annoying, 20 years too late. He takes us on a drug-induced, out-of-body experience reminiscent of Ken Kesey or Timothy Leary. His cavalier attitude toward drug use, in fact, is disturbing. For those who can get through the rather self-indulgent style, the material on Nepal is new and exciting.-- Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svces., Wondervu, Col.

School Library Journal

YA-- While sounding like a shopping guide for Nepal at the beginning, this book leads readers into some strange, appalling, and extremely uplifting experiences. This true account of Greenwald's various Nepal trips--the last in 1989--shows an outstanding way with words, as the author keeps readers entertained and aghast at a Tibetan flying through the air, Nepalese having a first escalator ascent, the back alleys of Kathmandu, an electrified crow, and the looting of Nepalese treasures. For those wanting a good adventure and a little religion and philosophy, it is an enlightening account. For those needing more multicultural materials, it's a godsend.