For someone who teaches mathematics, poetry comes easy. There are so many aspects about myself that are unknown even to me. Poetry is way to explore myself. Where it will lead me, I don't know. I don't want to know. I thrive on the unknown.
For any author who would like his/her book to be reviewed, contact me. Poetry books too are solicited for reviewing. However, there are some genres I tend to avoid. Feel free to ask me.
gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com
I must mention here that I read at my own pace and depending on my mood. Don't ask me to hurry.
Title: The Snow Leopard Author: Peter Matthiessen ISBN: 0330261614 Publisher: Picodor/1978 Pages: 291 Genre: Nature Writing/non-fiction Rating: 5/5
My youngest brother received this book as a prize for getting the highest marks in English in Std X in his school way back in 1982. I had read that then, I don't think I had understood it much. When I re-read it again, I did not remember anything of it.
In September of 1973, Matthiessen went on an expedition to the Himalayas with field biologistGeorge Schaller. George invited Peter to accompany on this expedition to northwest Nepal, near the frontier of Tibet, to study the Himalayan blue sheep and who knows they might even see Himalayan snow leopard. Peter could hardly refuse that and embarked on a journey, which is filled with interesting, meticulous details about trail, the montains, porters, sherpas and any human being seen on the way. They start their journey in the rainy season and are delayed by many reasons, the weather, by moody porters, Sherpas etc etc.
I started it by thinking of it as a travelogue by Matthiessen but soon changed my mind. Along with all his observations, he writes about the mystism of the place he is visiting. What he truly encounters is not the snow leopard but a spirituality beyond description. His mind undergoes changes at every step of the travel.
There are fascinating glimpses of Tibetan culture. It is filled with Zen philosophy at every step. Matthiessen reflects over those at each moment. What he truly finds is just as intangible as the snow leopard. Here he finds what he is truly seeking. Maybe difficult to understand but is it not what we seek too? Only in nature, surrounded by snow, in an isolated monastery, he understands the truth of his being.
It is one of the best books I have come across in a long time. Although I read it again, I understood it only now. This is book that will continue to fascinate all those who choose to read it, with its stunning imagery and insight. And as with me, repeat readings can only enhance it. If not, read it for its descriptions of nature, wild life, people and the human touch in all this.
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