Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Tibetian book..
Review: Alai's "Red Poppies", first of a projected trilogy, tells the story of the second son of a chieftain, who is thought to be stupid, but really isn't. Revenge, brutality, and love figure into the story in the book, but it feels a 100 pages too long, and you don't feel too much sympathy for the "old ways" when everyone acts brutal and chauvanistic to the extreme. an Ok book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Tibetian book..
Review: Alai's "Red Poppies", first of a projected trilogy, tells the story of the second son of a chieftain, who is thought to be stupid, but really isn't. Revenge, brutality, and love figure into the story in the book, but it feels a 100 pages too long, and you don't feel too much sympathy for the "old ways" when everyone acts brutal and chauvanistic to the extreme. an Ok book.
Rating:
Summary: Propoganda for the Communist take-over
Review: Although it's nearly subliminal, there is enough pro-Chinese Communist propoganda in this book to sully its otherwise rousing and unusual story. There are several asides, obviously put in by the author so that the Communist government will allow it to be published, that talk of how Tibet was "always" under the control of the Chinese, that it was never completely autonomous. I'm reading it to the end, but I won't read another book by this author because of this viewpoint.
Rating: 
Summary: Feudal Tibet
Review: Anyone who thinks of Tibet as a land of peaceful Buddhists will be in for a surprise on opening this book. The story is of a powerful clan in eastern Tibet on the eve of the Chinese revolution. Theirs is a life unchanged in hundreds of years, a life of autocratic rule supported by slaves and soldiers, enforced by torture and summary executions. Women are commodities with no control over their futures. Constant fights over territory and intrigue among the clans occupies the oldest son and heir to the chieftan. The only one who senses that life is changing is the "idiot" second son, who builds the clan's fortunes not on constant wars for territory but trade. The Chinese introduce the poppy to Tibet, and lured by promises of fantastic wealth all the clans plant nothing but poppies; when famine hits the canny "idiot" second son dominates all the other families by having been the only one who planted grain.
The book is written by a Chinese and has a lyrical, surreal quality not often found in Western literature. Timelines are murky, and a sense of impending doom slowly builds with stray references to a war in far-off China. The references to Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhism are interesting--a monk from the west arrives to spread the "new teachings" but leaves when his efforts are met with indifference. We are reminded that although Tibet was not part of China in a formal sense their historical relationship was much stronger than with other surrounding countries, such as India.
We know the sad end of the story--such a primitive society was powerless to resist the invading Chinese. That such a society could have existed a mere 60 or 70 years ago is incredible and fascinating.
Rating: 
Summary: Through the lens of Alai, life & savor in pre-occupatioTibet
Review: filter through his words & subtle tones....Beautiful work. I can't put it down once I begin reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Best find
Review: I can not express the level of enjoyment I got out of this story.
I miss the characters as if they were real and part of my life.
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing drama set in eastern Tibet
Review: I couldn't put this book down. Alai spins a tale of turn of the century Tibet, where chieftians rule the divided land prior to communist occupation. Narrarated by the "idiot" son of a powerful ruling chieftian & full of intriguing characters and page turning drama. The story is still smoldering in me long after I finished this book. For those who love historical fiction or just an excellent story, Don't miss this one!
Rating: 
Summary: Red Poppies
Review: I have not yet read the book but just going by the editorial reviews I got a strong feeling it is not a pro-Tibet book but rather written to destroy the view we in the West have about Tibet. The author may not be Chinese but he definitely must be forwarding their agenda. Readers beware not to let yourself be influenced by a piece of fiction no matter how well written it may be.
This being said, I shall now buy the book but read it with caution and a large grain of salt. As fiction and not having anything to do with the real Tibet.
Rating:
Summary: A Excellent Read
Review: I thought this is a wonderful book. The translated prose is exquisite, the characters, especially the protagonist/narrator, are intriguing and the story is a exciting epic adventure. One can't ask for more. I particularly enjoy the slightly detached tone of the narrator's voice, as if it is a inner wisdom speaking through the "idiot" boy. A previous reviewer hints that the author may have a pro-Chinese government agenda. I feel this is very unfair to the author. Granted, the Tibet he presents to us is sometimes at odds with the way the region has been eulogized in the West. But that's no reason to immediately question the authenticity of the author's voice. I didn't detect any pro-"Red Chinese" passages in the book.
I am sorry to go on a long tangent, but it would be a real shame if people get the wrong impression that this book is written with a unscrupulous political agenda. It's a beautiful work of art about humanity and should be enjoyed as such.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing book!
Review: I was completely carried away by this book. Wonderfully written and brilliantly translated. I didn't read it expecting to find a strong political theme, I was attracted to the magic and it really did transport me to another place and time. I loved all the characters and missed them when the book ended.
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