Beyond the Summit
by Linda LeBlanc
List Price: $16.95
Pages: 280
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780978535308
Publisher: Pilgrims Books
Beyond the Summit is unique in being the first work to dramatize the lives of the Sherpa tribe of Mount Everest in fiction. Set in the Everest region in 1968 four years after Sir Edmund Hillary built a landing strip at Lukla, the story shows the impact of tourism on a culture still living in the Middle Ages. Young Dorje wants what the foreigners bring while his father resents their intrusion in the realm of the gods. Details of Sherpa culture and Buddhist religion are interwoven in a Himalayan romance and high adventure. The story has something for everyone: a love affair between an American journalist and Sherpa guide, an expedition from the porter’s point of view, Tibetan refugees, conflict between generations as the modern world challenges centuries of tradition.
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1. Dorje stirs something within Beth that is missing in her relationship with Eric. What needs from her childhood does she seek to fulfill with him?
2. What sets Dorje apart from other Sherpas? How did his first experience with tourists determine his course?
3. Why does he want to summit Everest when other Sherpas work only for money?
4. Discuss how Beth represents a world Dorje yearns for.
5. What cultural obstacles must they overcome?
6. What universal family relationships exist in the book?
7. The plot is conflict driven. Discuss the various conflicts and resolutions
8. The relationship between Dorje and his father Mingma is quite complex. What creates the chasm between them and how does it change?
9. What is Mingma’s secret and how does it shape his life?
10. What elements of Sherpa culture and religion were new to you?
11. Is the Everest region the way you imagined it?
12. What role does religion play in the Sherpa culture? Buddhism, shamanism, animism.
13. The landing strip at Lukla opened the flood gates of tourism. What role have tourism and expeditions played in the lives of the Sherpas? What are the positive and negative outcomes? What is the greatest challenge they face today?
14. What is the basis for hostility between old trading partners—Mingma and Pemba?
15. How does Beth's attitude toward porters change as the story progresses? What does she learn and what does she want for them?
16. How well do western medicine and shamans coexist and what can they learn from each other?
17. What do the Norwegian tourists represent and how does Dorje's relationship with them change?
18. What drives Marty’s determination to reach the summit?
19. What are the major perils in climbing?
20. What role do the Sherpas play?
21. In chapter one, a woman tells Beth, that Buddha says until we can accept life as it is and exist in the present moment, we will never be satisfied. We must accept whatever comes along as part of a divine and perfect universe. Do Dorje, Beth, and Mingma adhere to this philosophy?
22. Will Beth go back to Eric?
23. Discuss Dorje’s relationship with his brother Nima. How do their world views differ?
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Beyond the Summit, is the rare gem that shows us the triumphs and challenges of a major climb from the porter’s point of view. The love of two people from diverse cultures is the fiery centerpiece of a novel that leads its readers through harshly beautiful and highly dangerous territory to the roof of the world."
— Malcolm Campbell, book reviewer
"A rich adventure into the heart of the Himalayan Kingdom. Fantastic story-telling from one who has been there."
— USABookNews.com
"A hard-hitting blend of adventure and romance which deserves a spot in any serious fiction collection."
— Midwest Book Review
"Conflict and dialog keep this gripping story of destiny, romance and adventure moving from the first page to the last paragraph. LeBlanc has a genius for bonding her readers and her characters. I found I was empathizing in turn with each character as they faced their own personal crisis or trauma."
— Richard Blake for Readers Views
"A gripping, gut-twisting expedition through the eyes of a porter reveals the heart and soul of Sherpas living in the shadows of Everest."
— EverestNews.com
"LeBlanc is equally adept at describing complex, elusive emotions and the beautiful, terrifying aspect of the Himalayan Mountains."
— Boulder Daily Camera
"LeBlanc's vivid description of the Himalayas and the climbing culture makes this a powerful read."
— Rocky Mt News Pick of the Week
"This is the book to read before you embark on your pilgrimage to Nepal. The author knows and loves the people and the country, and makes you feel the cold thin air, the hard rocks of the mountains, the tough life of the Sherpa guides, and you learn to love them too. This is a highly literate, but also very readable book. Highly recommended."
— John (college professor) review on Barnes & Noble
"This superbly-crafted novel will land you in a world of unimaginable beauty, adventure, and romance. The love story will keep you awake at night with its vibrant tension and deep rich longing."
— Wick Downing, author of nine novels
