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A Glimpse of Eternal Snows

A Journey of Love and Loss in the Himalayas (Bradt Travel Guides )

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A Glimpse of Eternal Snows

By: Jane Wilson-Howarth
Narrated by: Jane Wilson-Howarth
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About this listen

In pulsating polluted Kathmandu, and an idyllic village at the foot of the Himalayas, "Doctor Jane" and her engineer husband, Simon, hope to make a difference: Jane to fulfill her vision to heal and advocate for the poor, Simon to avert floods that threaten to devastate the country every monsoon. As they acclimatize and begin to absorb something of an accepting Nepali view of life, they find sanity, compassion, and joy with baby David, who in England was little more than an interesting medical case.

This is a tale of Himalayan highs and lows, of cultural complexities, unexpected wildlife, and rugged terrain, of vivid color, superstition, and spicy smells. A moving candid story of courage, love, and a family's determination to give their children the best life possible.

"The proverbial life-changing book." (The Daily Telegraph)

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2012 Bradt Travel Guides (P)2020 Jane Wilson-Howarth Travel Writing & Commentary Inspiring
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I love this book. It’s an open and honest account of Jane’s care for her disabled son, Jane and Simon making life-changing decisions, and stresses and fears about whether they had made the right ones. What comes across is Jane’s love for her son, her family, nature, humanity, languages and cultures. It’s a wonderful balance of living in a very different culture and landscape, Jane’s husband’s difficult work there, health, family life, travel, and wildlife. She gives evocative descriptions of the bugs, sounds, colours, people and unbelievable landscapes of Nepal. Jane’s voice is easy to listen to, her gentle humour, her utter sadness and joy of life. Amazing.

Amazing

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This book gives the reader an insight into the lives of the local people in a remote, hostile and primitive area of Nepal through the lives of a British family.
The text is wonderfully flowing and descriptive displaying the writer’s understanding and love of nature; painting vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
The author details issues such as the social class system, cultural traditions as well as the poverty and harshness in contrast with the non urgent pace of life. What is captured perfectly is her passion for wanting to help and improve the lives of the local people
The writer sympathetically, warmly and honestly details the great joys but yet sorrows of her son David’s life.
This audio book we feel is greatly enhanced by Jane ,the author, reading the story so compellingly herself which gives the book a greater significance to the reader.

An enjoyable and vivid journey

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A beautifully written true story, skilfully read by the author which made it all the more poignant. It’s an amazing heart-breaking account of a baby born with major health issues. Yet David was able to enjoy remote Nepali life and the people around him, the sounds of nature and his loving family members. Jane—the tale is from her point of view—is a super-woman coping with a never-ending string of challenges from her baby’s health care in the UK and living abroad. Even trekking for days at a time with her entire family high in the Nepali mountains where oxygen levels were low.

The tale is rich with description of the vegetation, wildlife and locals’ everyday life—as well as Jane’s—with plenty of fascinating anecdotes. Her older son provides much entertainment with his observations and questions. The book is scattered with humour from either Jane or Alex throughout. Her husband’s job as a water engineer and Jane’s attempts at introducing health education give insight to the patriarchal mindset and complex cultural differences of a people resistant to change. I cannot recommend the book highly enough. It was so gripping it only took me three days to listen to it—all 15 hours.

Utterly transfixing story

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There are many relatable aspects of the author's experience of parenting - especially as a fellow parent of a child with medical needs. Questioning one's own judgement, wondering if one is doing enough for your child, resisting medicalisation.

But the book also brings an astoundingly beautiful and entertaining account of an adventurous lifestyle and completely different culture.

The author's account of her child's short life and her views on death in children (from a deeply personal and also a professional perspective) - particularly children who suffer in life - brought me joy, sorrow, and relief in hearing and pondering.

Relatable and astounding at the same time

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Very engaging and touching, with perceptive and vivid observations of Nepal. Beautifully written and well read. I enjoyed every minute.

Highly recommended

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