Nature Literature discussion

Please enter your comments about The Snow Leopard here.

I have read this twice before. It will be a pleasure to read it again.

I am reading the Penguin Classics edition. On the first page, just inside the cover is a brief note about Matthiessen - he received the National Book Award in both fiction and nonfiction. The Snow Leopard was a National Book Award winner.

The introduction by Pico Iyer goes deep into his motivations and the beauty of the book. The recent death of his wife, Deborah Love is highly significant.

The entry for September 28 finds them finally embarked ontheir walking trip. "In one day's walk, we are a century away." Note the contrast of village life to the cioties.

The hustle and bustle of Veranasi and even Kathmandu described in the prologue is in marked contrast to the rest of the book. The Land Rover trip to Pokhara still leaves them in the midst of civilization which both the author and his companion, GS are eager to escape. Death images abound in the description of Pokhara as bodies a burned and the remains swept into the holy river. Feral dogs and carrion birds haunt the place. Leaving Pokhara, is the author fleeing death?

In the entry for September 28 they are finally embarked on their walking trip. 'In one day's walk we are a Century Away."

Progressing through the first section, I find more death and destruction. Nepal has the world's worst erosion problem - which I am sure is true. They hike along the Kali Gandaki River, named for Kali, goddess of the earthquake, tsunami, and typhoon, and all other destructive forces of nature. The letter from his son, with its unique signature, is a positive counterpoint, as is the strength and endurance of the Sherpas and porters. As he points out, Sherpa is an ethnicity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherpa_...

October 9 entry has interesting discussion of science and metaphysics.

I am new to the group from Belgium. I'll start reading this book today. I am not going to be of a great help in the discussion because my English is too limited, but I will follow the discussion. I am already grateful for the tip because I did not know the book.
Bye

I had to re-read chapter 9, but very interesting indeed. I will re-read it another time later.
Luckily I was in India a couple of years ago on a nature-trip and therefore know most of the animals mentioned and do not need to search for translation.
I like the book very much but I feel like a dark cloud is hanging over the trip (or the author). Up till now, early the chapter northward, the atmosphere is not a very happy one.

There is indeed a cloud over the expedition and the author. This book is a book about Satori, not achieved without struggle. Further in, the mood lightens a bit with bright moments of discovery, both natural and spiritual.

Taxonomy has changed since. The Pseudois have split: Greater Blue Sheep - Pseudois nayaur, and the Dwarf Blue Sheep - Pseudois schaeferi which is smaller and lives in SC China. Population consists of about 200 individuals only, so Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
No concern for the Greater Blue Sheep with population of approx 40.000 over several areas.

My library has FINALLY freed up a downloadable version for me, so I'm hoping I can get started on this today/tomorrow!

This book gets better and better. I read it now and I am going to miss it. At least until I start the next one, probably this evening :-) Thank you for choosing it as book of the month

I really enjoyed this when I read it a couple of years ago, was a borderline 4 star review. It was kind of a shame that they didn't quite see their quarry though. My review is here

Paul wrote: "I really enjoyed this when I read it a couple of years ago, was a borderline 4 star review. It was kind of a shame that they didn't quite see their quarry though. My review is here"

I will look at your review after I finish re reading the book - would not want it to prejudice me. I did not post a review since I had read it some years before joining Goodreads.

I find his comments on how Tibetan Buddhism absorbed the B'on religion interesting.
His discussion of class structure among the porters and Sherpas are interesting, though somewhat condescending toward the subjects.

After reading his comments about Deborah Love's book, I want to read it. My review of The Snow Leopard appears here.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Hello, I'm new to this group. Looks like one I will enjoy!
I read The Snow Leopard years ago and it still lingers in my mind. I found it a beautifully written and impactful book. The blend of nature, spirituality, and loss--as in the death of Matthiessen's wife--created an unforgettable story. I think I'll pull my copy out and read it again. Thanks for the reminder of this great book.