Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji As Told to His Daughter

Rating:
Summary: What a funny, but saddly false book!
Review: As a real Bhutanese who has read this book, I have to say that grand liberties taken by Ashi Dorji Wangmo are truly funny. So what if she writes well? She had a ghost writter anyway. She has totally invented her family's tree to give legitimacy to some claim to royal origins even though she is already married to the His Majesty the King. Big mistake on her part because the people she claims to be related to are still living. I wonder why she would do this when everyone in Bhutan is laughing at her fantasy behind her back? Could it be that the truth is relative and if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth? Of course most people would never in a million years say anything publicly. Maybe her father the notorious land stealer (because he is the king's infuriating father in-law) told her this and she really believes it. HM is really a good guy, but his in-laws do as they wish and the local people who only have a plot of land to grow rice really don't like it when she comes on official visits to the Dzongkhags. The people respect HM and love him and would do anything for him and the country are weary of self aggrandizing ashies at the people's expense.

It's too bad that I have to use a pseudonym, for fear of my own business being ruined by the newly royals monopolies .

Rating:
Summary: Read this book instead!
Review: I enjoyed this book as it gave me a deep satisfaction and insight into the history of the kingdom of Bhutan. I was fascinated to read about the life story of the Queen's father and the class shifts from merchant to elite- that were made with the coming of modernization. Reading this book made me even more interested in the political situation, and the monarchy of Bhutan. I would definately like to read some more on their monarchy especially their present King with his policy of Gross National Happiness instead of Gross National Product that we have in the Western world as a measure of a country's success. Now that is thought provoking!

Rating:
Summary: Rainbows and Lies - Book of Lies
Review: I guess if what ever you do to improve this life's existance doesn't help you in the next, then this story book is a book of fiction that will not add to the authors' advancement in subsequent incarnations. If what you do harms the life of others in this life and impeads the ability of others to avoid suffering and causes hatred of oneself due to selfishness and greed, then this book is a self indictment by the lies told in it.

Rating:
Summary: Read this book instead!
Review: My recommendation:

Buy any other book about Bhutan, and remove any pleasure you gained from reading this book of lies.

READ THIS ONE!
"So Close to Heaven : The Vanishing Buddhist Kingdoms of the Himalayas"
by Barbara Crossette

Rating:
Summary: life in Bhutan from a native perspective
Review: The book is very interesting for someone who is fascinated with the history and culture of bhutan but the first few chapters are very complicated to read. The author goes into too much detail and there are many whord written in bhutantese. Nonetheless there are beuatiful pictures of the king and the countryside. The pictures are worth the whole book.