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Of Rainbows and Clouds: The Life of Yab Ugyen Dorji As Told to His Daughter | 
 enlarge | Authors: Yab Ugyen Dorji, Queen Of Bhutan Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck
Publisher: Serindia Publications
Category: Book
Buy New: $35.00
New (2) Used (2) from $35.00
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 1255972
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0906026490
Dewey Decimal Number: 954.98
EAN: 9780906026496
ASIN: 0906026490
Publication Date: October 2000
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Yab Ugyen's memoirs reveal the story of a remarkably close and loving family, brought to life through historical photographs of five generations of its members as well as contemporary photographs of those temples, houses and palaces associated with the family. The book includes a description and the only extant photographs of the royal wedding in 1988 of His Majesty the King of Bhutan with four of Yab Ugyen's daughters. The latter part of the book chronicles Yab Ugyen's struggles as he grows from a fledgling shopkeeper to a successful merchant. Through the dramatic and gripping vicissitudes of his life and fortunes, beautifully narrated by his daughter, Yab Ugyen reveals a simple and inspiring philosophy of life that has enabled him to tide him over hard times and deepened his spiritual faith and belief in the invisible forces of karma. This biography provides a fascinating and vivid insight of Bhutan. There are intimate and revealing glimpses of traditional life in monastic retreats, remote villages, forts and palaces.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 I can't believe people think this is well written January 12, 2007
I could barely make it through. The beginning is filled with endless Bhutanese names of places and events that eventually are very oblique and confusing. Her story telling ability is very limited and misses any real immediacy since it is a life told to her by her father and then told to the reader. I do not know anything about the history of Bhutan but I had a sense that this was a story only somewhat related to any fact. Her father told her this story and she remembered all of the details to eventually write down? She has a far better memory than most if that is the case! The photos were adequte, but the country is beautiful and the photos could have been so much better. The photos at best illuminated the simple nature of the country and showed the modest situation of the royalty totally devoid of the opulence of a European crown. I would not buy this book.
 Great writing and Photoes. July 31, 2006
I read many books about bhutan, Mostly, They are seems fictions.
But this book provide me more real informations and photoes.
Her Majesty other book. A portrait of Bhutan also nice.
But The books about Bhutan words and Study of Bhutan are rarely find.
I wish Her Majesty the Queen will find more time to write more books for our understanding.
Many people are discussing about is it real informations?
I do not know but .. We have to research and study more..
 Additional reading January 7, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
If you are interested in Bhutanese history, you should read Michael Aris' "The Raven Crown" (1994) first. Unfortunately Aris covers only the period up to about 1960. Despite his intimate knowledge of the royal family (he was tutor to the royal children around 1970) he does not mention the Queens at all and their family only in passing.
"Rainbows and Clouds" offers some interesting glimpses at 20th century Bhutan and at somebody who lived through the huge changes this country has undergone, maybe even helped to shape it. Also there are some interesting pictures. But naturally this is a very personal book without any claim to objectivity and there are some big holes. Especially the issue of Ugyen Dorji's oldest brother "Chogley" Jigme Tenzin is rather perplexing, since Aris does not mention him at all. However, both books basically agree on the death of the Shabdrung in 1931, although as a historian Aris is naturally more careful.
I got the strong impression that this book is in part meant to establish a defined and clean record of the maternal ancestry of the future king and it should therefore be read very critically.
Historians, take note ... October 22, 2005
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
There is very little written in English on the modern history of Bhutan. This book is a valuable addition to the historical literature of the Himalayan region. In particular, this book reveals facts and circumstances surrounding an assasination, which had been whispered but not recorded.
I am compelled to add that I felt saddened by the several anonymous reviews accusing that this book is a fabricated fiction and was written by a ghost writer. The book's publisher would know that neither of these accusations are true. As a matter of rule, I have always thrown away anonymous hate mails -- which is the category these reviews belong to. I have always learned a great deal from those who offer constructive criticisms and comments honestly. Such people never hide their identity.
What a funny, but saddly false book! July 10, 2004
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
As a real Bhutanese who has read this book, I have to say that grand liberties taken by Ashi Dorji Wangmo are truly funny. So what if she writes well? She had a ghost writter anyway. She has totally invented her family's tree to give legitimacy to some claim to royal origins even though she is already married to the His Majesty the King. Big mistake on her part because the people she claims to be related to are still living. I wonder why she would do this when everyone in Bhutan is laughing at her fantasy behind her back? Could it be that the truth is relative and if you tell a lie long enough it becomes the truth? Of course most people would never in a million years say anything publicly. Maybe her father the notorious land stealer (because he is the king's infuriating father in-law) told her this and she really believes it. HM is really a good guy, but his in-laws do as they wish and the local people who only have a plot of land to grow rice really don't like it when she comes on official visits to the Dzongkhags. The people respect HM and love him and would do anything for him and the country are weary of self aggrandizing ashies at the people's expense. It's too bad that I have to use a pseudonym, for fear of my own business being ruined by the newly royals monopolies .
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