God Wife: A New Book Worth Reading
Dhruva Thapa
August 04, 2009
"God Wife?" exclaimed a participant. "I have never heard of such a person!"
"She is a very special person," responded one of the book´s readers, "and this is a very special book."
God Wife, written in English, is an autobiographical novel based on the real life of the educator and writer Mani Nepali. Born and orphaned in a remote village in Nepal, he is befriended by Zizibisha, a goddess (or an illusion of one). When his uncles refuse to allow him to go to school, he runs away at the age of six, determined to become educated. Using his intelligence and talent and with the help of sponsors, he climbs to the pinnacle of success as an educator. Along the way, he makes the acquaintance of the legendary leader of Nepal´s democratic movement, B.P. Koirala, is imprisoned by the King´s police and harassed by communist rebels, encounters Yaksha giants in the spirit world, is converted to Christianity in a Sikh temple, and marries beneath his caste the woman he loves. At the center of his life is magical Zizibisha, who inspires and sustains him and literally transports him into the wondrous realities of Nepal´s history, culture, and geography.
The authors successfully address major cultural, political, economic, and social issues through focusing in incredibly vivid detail on Mani Nepali´s personal story. Readers who are familiar with Nepal, the land of Mt. Everest, may be surprised by the variety of actual life styles, family ties, and cultural bonds in Nepal. For them, this book reveals the hardships of those Nepalese who suffer misfortune and depend on charities and orphanages to fulfill their aspirations. God Wife is about the power of hope and positive thinking to enable people not only to survive but also to manifest their essential identity and make their own name and fame in society.
The novel balances reality with imagination and seriousness with humor to make it pleasing to read. It contains fascinating stories rooted in Eastern traditions, myths, and superstitions, but what engages the reader and keeps him reading is the unfolding of events and the revelations about character from Mani Nepali´s childhood through his teenage years and young adulthood.
For a Western reader, the uniqueness of Mani Nepali´s character, life style, and cultural background make the story original. That reader is introduced to unusual notions that may make him think twice before moving on. Here is one example:
When he left to find work but did not return, I asked where
my father was.
"He has fallen," said Kanchha Ba, my youngest uncle.
But where had he fallen, I wondered, not knowing then that
fallen meant that he had died.
I became scared that I might fall, too.
Another example comes later in the book:
Zizibisha turned to me. "Manavendra Ojaswi, we . . ."
"Manavendra Ojaswi?" I exclaimed. "That´s what the Yaksha
King called me. I´m not the King of mortal men."
Positive aspects of the book stand out: it is easy to read, entertaining, and inventive. Criticisms are harder to find. One is that, in spite of obstacles, life for Mani Nepali goes fairly smoothly. This is not possible for everyone, especially for the many destitute orphans but also for talented children who do not have access to the opportunities that allow for a rewarding life. The book, because it is autobiographical, centers on Mani Nepali, and the reader does not witness the hardships and less satisfying lives of other orphans.
Certainly, however, readers will forgive the authors any shortcomings in their book because Mani Nepali and Jim Hughes manage to arouse the enthusiasm and interest of readers, both Western and Eastern, for Nepal´s art, culture, history, geography, and, of course, beautiful people. They do this by blending dreams and realities and employing a narrative style with authentic dialogue.
The book was released this summer of 2009 and within a month received lots of positive feedback from different types of readers. Some of their comments are included below.
READERS´ FEEDBACK
"The story is fascinating and engrossing. I was captivated and could not stop reading. It all seems so plausible. The flow and prose are flawless, weaving the imaginative and the real. The humor crept up on me, balancing the serious to set just the right tone." – Robert Waterman, Ph.D. in Political Science, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington
"Entering the world of Nepal through the life of Mani Nepali is a unique literary experience. The blend of realities and fantasies enhances our understanding of a proud patriot and his rich culture. Through the use of an innovative style, Jim Hughes and Mani Nepali create an autobiographical novel of hardship and success that touches the heart. It is a work of great substance. This book is not to be missed. It is a jewel of a read!" – Rita Hughes, M.A. in English Literature, Chapman University, Orange, California
"God Wife is a newly published book written by Mani Nepali and Jim Hughes. It is based on the real life of Mr. Mani Nepali Paneru, the founding President of the Nepal Association for Global Cooperation. We come to know how Mani went through many obstacles in life and climbed to the pinnacle of success. The book is appealing and fascinating. It is well written with a beautiful narrative and a natural flow. The book inspires readers to fight through obstacles and reminds us of the saying, "When there is a will, there is a way." I recommend all to buy this book and read it." – Anil Pandey, Featured writer, American Chronicles
"The book is wonderful. I feel so sad for the little boy who turned up at Propakar Orphanage so many years ago and can picture him now. Somewhere along the way, he had picked up confidence. He was such a talented child, always singing, painting, and writing poems and songs and performing for the others. They all looked up to him. It's beautifully written." – Margaret Williams, Evsham, UK (Maggie Didi, the VSO volunteer who helped Mani Nepali in the Propakar Orphanage)
"I enjoyed reading God Wife very much, which inspired me greatly. After reading this book, I came to know that no matter how poor and humble you are, you can achieve tremendous success. We need to continue and should not lose our hope." – Neha Dahal, middle school student, Cupertino, California
BOOK FACTS
Name of the Book: God Wife. Authors: Mani Nepali and Jim Hughes.
Publisher: Nepal Association for Global Cooperation (NAGC).
ISBN Number: 978-9937-2-1306-6.
Price: $10.00 (A significant portion of the profit will go to charities organized by NAGC.)
Copyright: All rights reserved by Mani Nepali and Jim Hughes.
To buy the book, give feedback, or ask for information, please contact the authors directly by emailing them.
Jim Hughes email: jimlin@sbcglobal.net
Mani Nepali email: maninepali@yahoo.com
Print
Email
