Great novel, very realistic, the protagonists come across so real, as if I could meet them here in the streets of Kathmandu any time. It's about development aid (and what goes wrong there), about village life, about corruption, about patriarchy - and about people's lives, dreams, hopes. Lots of background information about contemporary Nepal.
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Blurb:
"All of Us in Our Own Lives is the story of an encounter between strangers who shape each others' lives in fateful ways.
Ava Berriden, a Canadian lawyer, quits her corporate law firm in Toronto, leaves her passionless marriage and moves to Nepal, from where she was adopted as a baby. In Kathmandu, she struggles to launch a new career in international ai and to forge a connection with the country of her birth.
Ava's work brings her into contact with Indira Sharma, a leading gender expert in Kathmandu. It also takes her to a small village where bright young Sapana Karki dreams of progress for herself, her community and her country. Sapana's world-weary half-brother Gyanu, who works in Dubai, is back to settle his sister's future after their father's death.
Each person is on a journey of his or her own. These journeys intersect with a chance meeting between Ava and Gyanu. In the aftermath, her decisions alter the lives of the others.
The novel delves into the cynical, monied world of international aid, and reflects on recent events in Nepal, including the devastating earthquake of 2015 and the subsequent drafting of a new constitution. It is ultimately a story about human interconnectedness and the unexpected ways in which strangers come to relate to one another."
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p. 12:
"... she felt that the actions of one person shape the lives of others, and ... don't all of us in our own lives shape the lives of others? They do ..."

Released at the Convention's Book Swap game.
Happy reading - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

I played me cards well and ended up with this book. Thank you very much!

I have, unfortunately, never been to Nepal, but one of my best friends at Uni is from Kathmandu, thus, I have heard lots about the country. In addition, I have worked as a volunteer for three years in West-Africa, thus, I have first-hand experience with aid work.
Thus I read the book with this background.
Whether I enjoyed the book or not, is debatable - however, I did find it interesting. The feeling of not getting anywhere when it comes to aid work, of not really understanding the country you are in, or the people you meet, how easily you end up offending people unintentionally.
The book also confused me a bit, as it jumps between the protagonists, and I didn't always follow the drift. All in all, an interesting book, which I enjoyed.

A couple of people were interested in this book, I'll contact them and hopefully the book will turn into a ring.

teachie - UK
penelopewanders - Switzerland
Arvores - Portugal
Krissa33 -France
sedna5213 Germany
azuki - USA
Lunacia - Norway
CathrineB - Norway

Back home to me

Let the ring begin. I hope you all enjoy the book.

Thanks Haugtussa arrived today. Thanks for starting this ring, I shall enjoy reading the book and seeing what other people think of it as well.

I took this book to Spain with me and my husband very kindly (!) returned it to the library on the complex. I have therefore now got another copy of the book which will be on its way to penelopewanders on Monday.
I lived in Africa for 6 years so I was interested to see how the NGO's were regarded in Nepal. The author doesn't seem to have a high regard for aid workers, but the red tape and corruption sounded very familiar.

This has arrived safely in Switzerland - I'll try to get to it soon. Thanks so much for sending and sharing.

This could almost be labelled as non-fiction, as it seems a fairly accurate portrayal of the intricacies and red tape and culture clashes and shenanigans involved in the international aid/humanitarian world. The overall feel was quite optimistic - not sure how realistic that is, but in a way it was nice that Thapa did not go for the sensationalist option of the fate the sister in India could have had... although for me that door remains ajar. It was a moving story, and knowing how devastated the country has been by the most recent earthquake, it could be more moving still. Yes, progress, but still a distance to go before Nepalese women can hope for full equality. Then again, this is the case in many other countries too! An interesting read, here as a bookcrossing ring.
I have the next address and will try to find time to parcel and send it soon.

This took a bit longer to make its way out the door than I had hoped. It now leaves the Swiss Alps for Portugal. Thanks so much for making this book available, and for sending.

Arrived today on the Golden Island, straight from the Swiss Alps. It brought along a bookmark and a nice card with info about "Ecole d´Humanité", which sounds like a very nice concept.

Thank you so much. It will be read ASAP.

Although this is not a masterpiece, I enjoyed reading this book, much more than I first thought.
"All of us in our own lives" is a good title, because it makes you wonder about the lives of people around you, near and far. Are you really aware of their reality?
I especially liked the character Indira Sharma and her drivers, their spirit and the way they were always genuinely concerned about other people's lives, trying to help them.
This book is also a good portrait of gender issues, especially when power arises. And the world of volunteering, its ilusions and deceptions.

Thank you so much for sharing.
The book has been sent to Krissa33 today, although she has told me she will only be back home at the end of the month.

I don't know where this book has been all the time since november, but finaly it arrived, just the day before I left again for 4 months. I only hope that it's next travel will be less.
Thank you for sending

On its way to the next reader, sorry to be late
Thank you for sharing

"Lire, c'est boire et manger. L'esprit qui ne lit pas maigrit comme le corps qui ne mange pas."
Victor Hugo

"Une lecture amusante est aussi utile à la santé que l’exercice du corps."
Emmanuel Kant

"When I get a little money I buy books. If any is left, then I buy food and clothes."
Erasmus

The book arrived safely in Berlin and will be read soon. Thanks a lot for sharing and sending it on!

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An interesting read for sure. It's a shame how so much ressources are spend on often pointless admin, but that goes for nearly all parts of life...
I have visited Nepal many years ago and also did the Langtang trek. So sad that most places there were destroyed by the earthquake.

The book is now on its way to Azuki. Enjoy!

Book just arrived in Florida. It's fun to read the journal and see all the familiar names, many I've met at the conventions. (A big wave to all!!)

Thanks so much for contacting me and including me in the ring. I am in the middle of a book now, will start on this hopefully in a week or two. Perfect timing as my husband will be going to Hong Kong in Sept, and he can post it surface mail for me at a much better rate than the U.S.

Just want to update that I've started on the book, but now I will be traveling for a week. I don't want to take the book along with me in case I lose or damage it, so I will have to take a break and continue when I return. Just so you know and won't start worrying about it.

A big *wave* to all the dear friends I've met in Bordeaux. : D

Sorry for holding the book for so long, it's slow reading for me for some reason. The NGO world is unfamiliar to me, so all the terms throw around in the book sound so alien to me. I know corporations like to use fancy words for simple concepts but seems like NGOs take it to another level. It kinds of make me feel glad that I am not involved in this work, I don't think I can last 5 minutes in the meeting without falling asleep. On the other hand, it also feels sad that if one wants to get involved in aiding others one has to wade through all this murky ground.

I didn't really like the characters to begin with, but they eventually grow on me, and as others say, realistically portrayed. I love the parts about Sapana the best.

Finishing this just in time for my husband to take it on the airplane in a few hours. : P It'll be mailed via Hong Kong to Lunacia by surface mail.

Found this in my mailbox today. I had totally forgotten abou it!

I have quite a few books I need to read before I can get to this, but I think CathrineB will be fine by that... ;)