Peaks on the Horizon: Two Journeys in Tibet

In this passionate account, part memoir and part travelogue, journalist Carroll (On the Edge) documents fulfilling a lifelong dream as he journeys to Tibet to experience its mysteries and wonders. He waxes poetic about its beauty and philosophical about its treatment and exploitation by the Chinese, delving into Tibet’s rich history and culture in order to shine a light on just how the country has suffered under decades of occupation and subjugation. His story is interwoven with that of Lobsang, a Tibetan national who fled with his family to Nepal when he was five years old. As Lobsang grows up, readers see the heartbreak and longing of Tibetan refugees and exiles, following Lobsang’s quest to understand his homeland, which eventually leads him to attempt returning the same way he left: illegally. Lobsang’s story dovetails with Carroll’s as they find a mutual love of their surroundings, and a shared outrage at what Tibet has become under Chinese influence. Carroll’s passion for the topic bleeds on to the pages, making this both a love letter to Tibet and a call to arms for Tibetan freedom. By adding Lobsang’s tale, Carroll further humanizes the effort. While on his journey, drinking yak-butter tea and conversing with a local, Carroll is reminded of something the Dalai Lama once said: “Go to Tibet and then tell the world about it.” In this engrossing and even enlightening book, Carroll meets that mandate. [em](Feb.) [/em]