Bishop, Isabella Bird. Among the Tibetans.New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1894.
Holding this egg fragile book is amazing. I know there is a 2003 edition out there, but this 113 year old edition is certainly more tantalizing, magical even. What is it about an old book, with it’s tired binding nearly gone, its cover frayed and faded, its thin pages brittle and yellowed? Even the illustrations in Among the Tibetans are glorious in their ancient detail. I know I’ve said it before, but a book that is a pleasure to hold is even more enjoyable to read.
From the very beginning, I loved the narrative of Tibetans. Bird seemed like someone I would have loved chatting with over tea. With statements like, “…of whom the less that is said the better…” (p.9) and, “…was prepared to ‘wink’ at a moderate amount of dishonesty, so long as it affected only myself.” (p. 23) I formed an instant opinion that I would liked her. The fact that she carried a pistol at all times only bolsters my opinion.
As for the work of Among the Tibetans, I was drawn to images of the culture, the landscape – everything that painted a portrait of Tibet; for I imagine it to be much the same in the 21st century. I want to believe travels to Tibet in 1894 would have been similar to such a journey today and I read Bird’s narrative with that in mind. The only thing I could wrap my narrow mind around was the descriptions of polygamy. A woman marries the eldest son, always, and his younger brothers are all sub-husbands to her. While I think it’s practical to keep the land, traditions and heritage all in the same family I don’t think I could handle more than one husband. One is my limit!
BookLust Twist: Pearl appropriately calls Bird, “one of the more dashing and irresistible travelers” (Book Lust, p143). I couldn’t agree more.
PS~ Among the Tibetans is cataloged as being written by Isabella Bird. I took the author’s name from the title page where she is described as, “Isabella Bird Bishop, Hon. Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Etc. Author of “Unbeaten Tracks in Japan,” Etc., Etc.”
I picked up a few Cyndi Lee books to ward off falling off the practice yoga wagon. It all started when I went to a yoga instructor’s non-holiday party and ended up sharing stories of insecurity with another guest. We talked about being so out of practice, so out of shape that we were too intimidated, too insecure to go to class. How did one woman describe it? “You don’t go to class because you aren’t in shape. You don’t get in shape because you don’t go to class…and on and on.” It’s that job/experience dilemma. I decided I wanted to do something outside of class that will help me in class. Enter Cyndi Lee and her easy-easy books. I bought three.
This could easily be my favorite Steinback story. Maybe because it’s a true one. Maybe because it hasn’t left me wanting to slit my wrist by the last page. Maybe because Steinbeck writes about something I am interested in: traveling the country. His humor and DownToEarth voice make reading easy. I was thrilled when, by the 26th page, Steinbeck had already mentioned Deerfield, MA and my father’s school (the Eaglebrook School). His own son had attended there, hence the shout out.
Saunders, Marshall. Beautiful Joe: A Dog’s Own Story. Storytellers Ink, 1990.
~*LunaSea*~ 