[.ca] House of the Turquoise Roof (ISBN 1559390352)

House of the Turquoise Roof: A Bird's Eye View:
"House of the Turquoise Roof" is a fascinating look into Old Tibet. Customs and religious rituals are described and explained in a detail that provides a clear picture of life as it was for the Tibetan upper class families. The author is a keen observer, and in spite of the difficulties that were encountered in the book's creation, has still given a story well worth reading. Even the author's perspective, clearly influenced by the customs and manners she describes, serves to reinforce the picture that she paints. While the casual reader may find the lengthy and often similar Tibetan names to be confusing, the story in itself somehow transcends this minor difficulty. The reviewer only regrets that Mrs. Yuthok's associations were primarily limited to the Tibetan upper class and family servants; there is relatively little exploration of Tibetan peasant life, and in spite of Mrs. Yuthok's high family connections in government, little discussion of the political developments of the day. Still, for overall interest, this book is more than just "good," and the reviewer recommends that you sit down with a bag of popcorn and enjoy yourself.