Nima
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- $27.99
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- $27.99
Publisher Description
Nima is a young Sherpa woman living in the foothills of the Himalayas, a range so immense and a place so isolated it is impossible to imagine anything existing beyond it. Nima and her sister are both betrothed to Norbu, a local Sherpa, but when Norbu stuns both families by only wanting to marry Nima, Nima flees her father’s wrath and the destiny that had been arranged for all of them.
Disguised as a man, Nima seeks work, and is hired by an American journalist to guide their small group up to Everest Base Camp. The journey is treacherous, and Nima challenges every restriction her culture places on her gender while balancing the duties of her new role as guide. Popescu brings to life the many contradictions of the region through the eyes of Nima: trails strewn with litter overlook majestic views, Buddhist clarity is marred by sexual oppression, and a tourism industry that fuels the local economy also threatening to destroy it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A young Sherpa woman grapples with her narrow social roles in Popescu's emotional debut. Seventeen-year-old Nima, the eldest in a family of six daughters, lives a precious existence in the drought-affected village in the shadows of the Himalayas in Nepal. The family's livelihood has become increasingly precarious in the three years since her father was injured in an avalanche, leaving him unable to serve as a guide to the crowds of foreigners climbing the mountains. He sees the marriage of his daughters as the only route to regain wealth, and so offers Nima and her sister as polygamous wives to the well-to-do Norbu. Nima balks at the marriage, even after compassionate, forward-looking Norbu agrees to marry just her, and flees after her father beats her. With the help of Val, an American journalist making her first trek on Everest, Nima disguises herself as a male guide. Val and her companions offer an unheard of sum for her services, which Nima hopes will allow her to move to Kathmandu and pursue a more fulfilling life. However, the suspicions of the more experienced guides and challenging encounters on the trail soon threaten her plan. This striking depiction of Sherpa life, particularly the difficulties faced by Sherpa women, is bolstered by Nima's strong narrative voice, making this a perfect fit for book clubs.
