Other Side of Paradise

Human being, by nature, regards his or her place of birth as paradise. Pemba, a Sherpa and the protagonist of Other Side of Paradise, too regards Nepal as his paradise. But when he moves to America after a lot of struggle achieved "American Dream". He becomes deeply aware of the inevitable cultural shock, hybridization of food, language and social circumstances.

Like Pemba, an entire generation of Nepali youths believes that America is the ‘other side of paradise’ want to migrate and live. Linda, from California, on the other hand, has strong conviction Nepal is other side of paradise, after her Mount Everest area trekking.

Pemba, working as a trekking help, falls in love with gorgeous, articulate, educated and unusually attractive Linda during the trekking. Pemba moves to America on a fiancée visa, gets married to Linda and enjoys a European honeymoon trip.

Almost immediately after the honeymoon, Pemba is shocked to receive a divorce paper from Linda. The revelation traumatizes and shatters Pemba. He falls into a spell of deep depression, and as per guardian angel vision, takes refuge in an Amish Community

The Western find it strange that Eastern marriages, arranged and executed between two unknown people without dates last lifelong, compared to the Western marriages with long dating culture’ and a divorce—a fact that pandemics American society reaching its divorce rate to near fifty percent.

People seek to move to higher levels of consciousness and look for celestial, spiritual peace in life. The book analyzes several international characters while simultaneously taking reader on a wild ride through the mountains of Nepal and across many continents. The author prose and sensitivity allow his character to come alive.

Author unexplored cultures: the virtually unknown Amish Community in America that has a perception and lifestyle like Buddhist, and the other Nepali Community that has deep connections and striking similarities with Greek and Hindu pantheon. This comprehensive expanse of the book and its philosophical engagements create deep sense of inquisition in the mind of the reader and keep them glued to the development of the subject. They will find the book written with passion, blending powerful language and lofty imagination.

-- Kenny Pandey