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Reflections on a Year of Reading Nepalese Literature

Titles Read: The Royal Ghosts by Samrat Upadhyay, Little Princes by Connor Grennan, Sold by Patricia McCormick, Seasons of Flight by Manjushree Thapa 

Nepal was a country I had in mind to read and study their literature and culture. I have some family members that are Nepalese but I know nothing about their culture or the country in general. Through reading Nepalese literature, I learned that most people are buddhist and it plays a big part in their life. People will go to temples and pray or have a small shrine in their home to pray. In Nepal, there is common for the father/male figures to show hierarchy and dominance over females. It is expected that girls should clean around the house, do chores, go to school, and tend for the father. As the girls get older, it is expected that they find someone quickly to marry so they can be sent off. If the girls cannot find someone, their parents will most likely set up an arranged marriage. This was a big culture shock because here, people don’t rush to get married but instead they take things slow and fall in love. Something sad that I learned was very common in Nepal was when reading Sold is that human trafficking happens often in Nepal in small villages with young girls. Sometimes the girls will be taken to India which is a bordering country down south and put into prostiution homes to sell their body and they have to pay their debt off in order to leave. In general it was very shocking when I read about their culture and comparing it to American culture. 

The Royal Ghosts is a collection of short stories of Nepalese people going through everyday struggles in their life. One of my favorite short stories themes that I thought was universal was there were gender roles that women had to fit in. This is something that women around the world are always expected to do. In this particular short story the girl finally broke free of her father telling her what to do and she found her own happiness. This made a big impact on me because girls should be able to do what they desire and not what is planned out for them by their parents. 

Little Princes is about Grennan’s journey on opening an orphanage for kids in Nepal and helping parents find their lost children after the war. In this book, I learned that kids in Nepal are very grateful for what they have even if it is just something little. They are also very outgoing and love to meet new people and make them feel welcome. I was most excited to read this book and it was very heartwarming because it took a few years for Grennan to travel back and forth between the states and Nepal but the kids still remembered him and was thankful for him being able to provide a home with better conditions. 

Sold is a novel that will always stick with me in the back of my head. It was very shocking reading the first half of the book where she was tricked into working as a maid in a rich home to her body being used my men in a prostitution place. I never knew that this happened in Nepal until she arrived at the place and there were many other young girls like her there giving advice on how to handle men that use her body and how to stay safe without getting caught. 

Seasons of Flight starts off with the main character unable to identify who she is when someone asks “Where are you from?” even though she is from Nepal. I related to this book the most because growing up I was also asked this often and whenever I would say “I’m Vietnamese”, I would have to justify my answer by saying where it is located even though I shouldn't have to. The main character has also responded with a country like India because it borders Nepal and people know India more. She isn’t able to represent who she really is. 

Through reading 10 pages everyday and summarizing what I read throughout the week, I found myself forming a habit of doing most of my reading on Monday and Tuesday and scheduling my post for each day of the week so I wouldn’t forget to read one day and miss a quote. Depending on the book, I would either be really excited to read the book or dread reading the book. Most of the time I really enjoyed reading the book and it would make me want to continue and pick more important quotes. Other than that, I am very proud to have read 3 books this year since that is the largest amount I have read in awhile. 

Word Count: 785

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Week 20 Blog

Seasons of Flight 

Manjushree Thapa

Pages Read: 11-40

Word Count: 379

Summary

Prema who is an American woman and a school teacher is often asked where she is originally from when they see her. Prema often replies that she is from Nepal but adds things like ‘it’s near India’ or ‘where Mount Everest is’ in order to help the people get a general location of where Nepal is. Another possible answer that Prema says is that she is Indian even though she is from Pasadena in order for the conversations to continue. She noticed that many people asked her the same question but whenever she would answer with Nepal, they would associate the country with something else or Prema would lie about her real identity. Throughout the rest of the chapter, Prema describes her small village in Nepal and how she became an American woman. 

Critical Analysis

Prema faces a lot of questions about where she is from and this showcases a theme of identity comes from within. There were many instances where Prema lied about her Nepali background and where she grew up so she can tell other people without them questioning who she is. For example, Prema said,”Why did Americans ask this when they were so unprepared for the reply?

'Where are you from?' 'Nepal.” From Prema’s perspective, she thought that the people asking her were unaware of what her answer was going to be and just asked for the sake of it. The theme of identity comes from within also shows when the people question when Prema says she’s American because her appearance doesn’t match the ideal American that they had in mind. 

Summary 

I enjoyed the book because Prema is going through something that I relate to for the longest time in my life. When Prema has different answers for where she is from and has to explain where her country is near is something that I felt because growing up I had to do the same and go through the same questions. It was heartfelt when Prema describes her village where she grew up and that was what she meant when she told people she is from Nepal. Most of her memories of the country was when she was a little girl enjoying the flowers in her backyard and enjoying nature. 

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'I didn't know you wanted to go abroad,' he said.  'I don't,' she said. 'Everyone wants go go abroad,' he said. 'I don't,' she said.

Manjushree Thapa, Seasons of Flight, Page 36

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Bijaya had come into this world, motherless....Perhaps she felt that her birth had destroyed her family. She had not passed out of high school despite her father's exhortations.

Manjushree Thapa, Seasons of Flight, Page 21

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'Where are you from?' Why did Americans ask this when they were so unprepared for the reply? 'Where are you from?' 'Nepal.'

Manjushree Thapa, Seasons of Flight, Page 14

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Week 19 Blog

Sold 

Patricia McCormick

Pages Read: 240-263

Word Count: 444

Summary 

A few days have passed since Lakshimi gets the card from the American and she sees a new group of girls enter the house. Lakshmi gets a new American as her customer and he asks the same questions as the last guy. He asks her what her name is and how old she is but Lakshimi does not respond. He asks her if she would like her picture taken and shows her the other pictures that he has of other girls in shelters. He tells Lakshimi that what Mumtaz does is wrong and that he will come back for her. Lakshmi starts to doubt that he will come after not seeing him for 3 days and she even packs her bag for when he comes back. When it is sunrise, the American guy comes by the house and tells Mumtaz that he is looking for a girl but Lakshimi is hiding but she has the courage to walk out of the closet and show herself to the American and say that her name is Lakshimi. 

Critical Analysis 

Patricia McCormick mentions the theme that trust can not easily be given. Every time an American comes in as her customer, she is always thinking about what the other girls had said to her about Americans and how they leave girls naked on the street. For example Lakshimi says, “How stupid I was to believe in him and his digital magic. How stupid am I to keep believing.” This shows that Lakshi has been through this many times and even though she wants to believe and trust the American, she cannot because it has been so long. When the American does come, she contemplates whether she should leave with him or stay with the girls at the house but she makes the decision of leaving to go with the American. 

Personal Response

I had high expectations for this section of the reading because this is where the book ends. My favorite part was the ending where Lakshimi was finally able to say her name, age, and where she is from. Throughout the book, there were many instances where the men would ask for her name but she would just stay silent and when she finally was able to say those things, it felt like she was able to accomplish something and make a change for herself to leave the Happiness House. There were times where the girls in the house were telling Lakshimi not to trust the American guy and I was glad that she did trust them or else she would’ve had to stay at the Happiness House for longer until her debt is paid off. 

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"My name is Lakshmi," I say.  "I am from Nepal. I am fourteen years old."

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 263

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Five days have passed, and still there is no sign of the American. Only a fool would keep waiting after five days.

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 255

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"Pictures. Of the shelter. Other girls." There is a tiny image of a Nepali girl smiling back at me.

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 247

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Week 18 Blog

Sold

Patricia McCormick

Pages Read: 200-240

Word Count: 325

Summary

While in the house, Lakshmi comes across a man that she finds stange and he turns out to be an American, he asks her basic questions like how old she is and what her name is. He then starts asking her if she is here against her will and if she wants to leave. Lakshmi stays quiet and shakes her head because in the Happiness House, she is told that Americans are bad people. Later, some police from the government come into the Happiness House to do a checkup but all of the girls run and hide so they do not get caught. It is explained that this happens because Mumtaz doesn’t pay the government money for them to check sometimes. 

Critical Analysis 

Patricia McCormick mentions pieces of corruption in this section. For example, when the American guy tells Lakshimi “I can take you to a good place...and you will not have to be with men.” This shows corruption because someone from outside of the Happiness House sees what is wrong and how all the girls in the house are trapped and in a lot of debt but the girls are oblivious of what is happening to them. It is also corrupted because it is an outsider trying to help instead of someone from the government checking the Happiness House and seeing what is wrong. 

Personal Response 

This section of the book made me realize that the government only checks places like the Happiness House just to get the job done instead of actually thoroughly looking and finding what is wrong with the place. It made me mad because a place like the Happiness House should not exist for the girls that are in there. It also surprised me that Lakshimi didn’t say anything to the American about leaving the Happiness House because she was scared that she would be left out on the street because that is what she heard about Americans.

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"And why do you give me tea without asking for anything in return?"  "We are both alone in this city he says. "Isn't that reason enough?"

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 235

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She pretends to be adding and subtracting.  "Yes." she says. "It's as I thought. You have at least five more years here with me."

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 226

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The last thing I hear is one of them saying that we'll never know the truth.

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 217

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"You don't want to leave here?" I just stare at him.  "I can take you to a good place where you will get new clothes," he says. "And good food. And you will not have to be with men."

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 205

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"There's something you could do" Mumtaz says.  Pushpa looks up expectantly. "Sell her to me." She points to little Jeana, asleep in her bedroll. "In a few years when she is old enough, I can make a lot of money with her."

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 195

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I have been starved and cheated, tricked and disgraced. How odd is it that I am undone by the simple kindness of a small boy with a yellow pencil.

Patricia McCormick, Sold, Page 182-183

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Week 16 Blog

Sold

Patricia McCormick 

Pages Read: 150-180

Word Count: 341

Summary 

Lakshimi waits for a boy everyday who she calls “David Beckham”. She observes him every time he comes into the Happiness House. She likes to play a game where whenever the David Beckham boy shows up, she steals his story book and looks at the pictures in it even though she does not understand a word. One day the boy catches her with his book and he teaches her a couple of words in the book and phrases in Hindi and English. Lakshmi keeps a notebook of words that she learned but she has to hide it or else Mumtaz will think she is planning for an escape. 

Critical Analysis

McCormick shows the theme of curiosity in this section. Lakshmi was interested in the David Beckham boy named Hash so out of curiosity she stole something from him. Through that she explored the pages of the book even though it was in a different language. Because the book was in a different language,, she asked Hash to teach her some words in the book and some phrases in Hindi because she only spoke Nepalese. By the end of the first lesson, Lakshmi learned how to say “Hi my name is Lakshimi. I am from Nepal. I am thirteen.” Curiosity led Lakshimi to learn a lot about the things she was told when she first came to the Happiness House and how they were false. 

Personal Response

I enjoyed how Lakshimi was able to make a new friend and have someone to talk to while not being verbally abused by Mumtaz. Meeting Hash gave her something to look forward to every week which made my heart warm. Reading about Lakshimi getting excited over her notebook of words made me wonder if she misses going to school back home. My favorite part in this section was when she would wait for Hash to come and it would be the only thing that would make her day and keep her mind off of the men coming in and paying to use Lakshimi’s body.