Welcome to Asia Bookroom

New books are arriving all the time. Here are a just few of the latest.

With the Kama Sutra Under My Arm. An Indian Journey.
BERNARD, TRISHA.
AU$24.95
262pp, paperback. Having been left for another, Trisha decides that the best way to nurse her broken heart is to escape to India, armed with a copy of the Kama Sutra with its promise to teach her how to seduce a new lover, train a hawk (to carry love letters, of course!), furnish a house seductively, and seduce other women?s husbands (well, maybe not that one). At the last minute, Trisha is joined by her long lost backpacking companion, Sally. Unbeknown to Trisha, in the intervening years, Sally has become a bag lady and a shopaholic. Now Trisha finds herself sharing her Indian adventure with her eccentric friend and her monster suitcase with its untidy collection of clothes, maps, pamphlets, plastic bags and secret Sally stuff. Navigating the chaotic streets of India in death-defying rickshaws, and traversing the country on overcrowded trains, and buses driven by speed freaks, Trisha and Sally find themselves almost marooned in the Thar Desert after an unfortunate dog incident, almost camel-napped in Rajasthan, pursued by a charging bull at Jaisalmer, attacked in no uncertain terms by an amorous monkey in Delhi, and stranded in a flooded hotel room in sodden underwear in the middle of the night at Mount Abu? and those were the good days! With her passion for architecture and history in her heart, and with the Kama Sutra under her arm, Trish Bernard takes us on a hilarious romp through India. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126816) ... more
Stock ID: 126816

Holder of the White Lotus. The Lives of the Dalai Lama.
NORMAN, ALEXANDER.
AU$65.00
Black and white photographic plates, xv + 446pp, notes, bibliography, index, dustjacket. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is renowned the world over for an unswerving dedication to non-violence in his efforts to achieve justice for Tibet. In the twenty years he has known and worked with him, Alexander Norman has seen at first hand this extraordinary man's courage, compassion and honesty. But the current Dalai Lama is fourteenth in a lineage whose history is every bit as bloody and intrigue-laden as that of the Papacy. The 'first' Dalai Lama was in fact the third; the second described himself as 'a mad beggar monk'; the fourth was not Tibetan at all but a direct descendant of Genghis Khan. The sixth was a notorious womaniser, while four successive Dalai Lamas were almost certainly murdered. The present Dalai Lama has himself been the target of attacks that resulted in the brutal murder of a close colleague. He readily admits that Tibet never was Shangri La. HOLDER OF THE WHITE LOTUS gives a fast-paced and absorbing insight into the real story of Tibetan culture, politics and spirituality (When referring to this item please quote stockid 123416) ... more
Stock ID: 123416

China. A Wolf in the World.
WALDEN, GEORGE.
AU$29.95
304pp, notes, index, dustjacket. For years the West has mythologised China as sphinx, utopia or demon. Now that we face the fact of Chinese power, we cannot afford to get China wrong and need to understand what really drives her. Covering Chinese life from economics and politics to sex and the arts, Walden writes controversially and colourfully about a country he knows and admires - though now is a time for realism. No major country in history has emerged into the international arena without asserting itself forcefully. China will not easily forget her past humiliations at the hands of the West. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126505) ... more
Stock ID: 126505

Kyrgyz Republic. Krgyzstan: Heart of Central Asia.
STEWART, ROWAN, AND SUSIE WELDON.
AU$39.95
Maps, colour photographic illustrations, glossary, bibliography, index, paperback. Stunningly illustrated with a clear overview of historical, cultural and social aspects, this third edition of Odyssey's popular guide to Kyrgyzstan provides fresh information on both southwestern Issyk Kul and northeast Naryn provinces as well as expanded Jalalabad province, Osh and Talas sections (including trekking by foot or horseback in the Chatkal valley to Sary Chelek). Whether exploring grass-roots accommodation of local nomadic families or mountainous adventures in the mighty Tien Shan range, this guide offers unparalleled insight into Kyrgyzstan's tremendous scenic beauty and diversity.It covers: historical and contemporary aspects of this fascinating, little-known land; new areas for trekking and mountaineering; and, sights and activities in each area to appeal to all interests. It includes: a practical Kyrgyz- and Russian-language guide with Cyrillic alphabet; essential tips for accommodation; useful websites; and, outstanding colour photography. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126508) ... more
Stock ID: 126508

The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cell Phone. India: the Emerging 21st-Century Power.
THAROOR, SHASHI.
AU$32.99
xii + 498pp, index, paperback. With lucid prose, Tharoor discusses the strengths and weaknesses of his rapidly changing homeland in five areas - politics, economics, culture, society, and sports. Artfully combining hard facts and statistics with opinion and observation, he takes a fresh look at the world's second most populous country. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126504) ... more
Stock ID: 126504