I was looking forward to reading this book - about Tibetans who have had had to flee Tibet. Their stories of escape, survival and adjustments while making other countries their home around the world are compelling. The book does a good job of shining a light on the ongoing issues in Tibet and China’s continued repression of Tibetans in their homeland. Unfortunately, the writing didn’t match these compelling stories. It was mediocre and underwhelming, and oftentimes overly simplistic, which was surprising. Compounding this was the ARC I read - missing words, letters, dates, numbers, percentages, and more. It definitely made for a challenging read. Hopefully, all omissions have been fixed in the published version. I got through the book for no other reason than wanting to know more about the Tibetan diaspora and how they have had to adjust and survive. They have suffered much while holding on to their beliefs, culture, yet continue to dream for a brighter future for their homeland. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really wanted to like this book but had issues with writing style and formatting, which I feel reflect more on editor than writer.

I enjoyed reading about Tibet and the lives of Tibetans. There was much I could relate to after visiting Dharamsala, seeing where the Dalai Lama lived and worked, and experiencing the lives of the Tibetan refugees. A proud and self-sacrificing people, Tibetans just want to live their lives in a free Tibet.

Amy Yee, a journalist and author, gets personal with Tibetans as they move around to different countries. This book is a powerful and meaningful look into what they have had to endure under Chinese rule and how their lives as refugees take their toll.

Amy Yee's "Far From the Rooftop of the World" is an exciting and welcome (for me) look at Tibetan culture and Tibetan citizens. So many of us know so little about Tibet and its people that this book is so important. We also learn about Tibet's relationship to China, and as she writes in the book, "Context about China is important."

Yee's writing is highly engaging and informative, so that it doesn't have the lugubrious feel that permeates some travel/educational writing. I liked how she explains Tibetan texts and practices as well as how she provides vivid descriptions of every day life (passengers spilling out of trains like lava was one of my fave images). Yee makes you want to keep reading and learning about the Tibetan people, and that's all I ask for.

If you’re looking for a different kind of travel writing or to understand more about Tibetans or refugees, this is a great source. I really enjoyed the glimpse of the daily lives of Tibetan refugees around the world that this book provided. It was a very human view of their challenges, successes and perseverance. The author empathetically shares the refugees’ stories, and the breadth of the people she interviewed was impressive. The author traveled to multiple continents to interview Tibetans and obviously established a close connection with them. It was fascinating to follow some of the people over a decade or more. She tells of their quest to maintain their culture while adapting to new environments and challenges. I learned a lot, and enjoyed the journey.

I want to be a bit upfront and say that this ARC honestly made for a bit of a challenge. Numerous words were missing their parts, making for an oft-interrupted reading flow. Those issues aside, I appreciated the work that Amy Lee has done here. Although I feel like I've read a decent amount about Tibet and the many challenges its people face, it was only until now did I realize I haven't had an opportunity to learn about the diaspora in any real depth, with the exception of some paragraphs here and there about the community in Dharamshala. So it was an educational treat to finally have the opportunity to see how at least some of Tibet's scattered peoples live, while also getting the chance to learn a little more about the history and culture as a much-appreciated bonus.