Caught in the everyday reality of household life, fifteen-year-old Tsomo is suddenly called upon to travel when her mother dies. She makes her first journey to a faraway village to light the ritual butter lamps in her mother's memory. Beginning here, her travels take her to distant places, across Bhutan and into India. As she faces the world, Tsomo embarks upon what becomes a life journey to find herself and to grow as a person and a woman.

The first novel by a woman to come out of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, The Circle of Karma, written in English, is rich in detailed descriptions of ritual life.

Note: send to hendertuckian when done

I finished this today and added it to a package for hendertuckian, which I''ll send within the next day or two. I''m counting it as my Bhutan author for the Olympic Challenge.

Although occasionally there was an awkward wording, overall, I really enjoyed this book. It felt like it gave a lot of cultural insights describing the foods, dress, prejudices between peoples of different backgrounds, superstitions about ghosts, roles of men and women in society, religious issues, and more. But more importantly, the story was compelling. The protagonist felt very realistic. She changed and grew through her life, faced challenges and setbacks, and experienced many things.

When I read a book like this, I am greatfull for being a woman at this time in this place. The idea of limits placed upon me because of me sex is unthinkable but at the same time I allow limitations!?! I understand the burning hatred and the desire for "a piece of her nose" and the comfort seeing old friends and family members who have even harmed her in the past. Is this human nature, maturity?
I would not read this book again because I rarely read a book twice but if I found another book by Kunzang Choden then I would place it near the top of TBR.
This book is going to passed on per hobbit's instructions.

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