A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants Review
Great book from a truly talented writer. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a little more insight into what was going through Jaed's mind as he made his way through the journey. To be honest I am still not sure even why he joined the monastery and when he spoke of American Buddhism, I questioned his qualifications to speak for such. By his own writing, it remained unclear if and if so, to what extent, he was involved with Buddhism in this country.
For that matter, from start to finish, I am unsure of the degree of understanding the author possesses in regards to Buddhism. Reading his work, it would be easy for someone to get the impression that Buddhism is an uniquely Thai religion which is far from the truth. In the end, I was left wondering if this experience was indeed special or just one more adventure to be propped up along side other junkets to such places as Alaska and Madrid.
Nevertheless, the author speaks with and to a very American mindset with which I could readily relate even though I am a 100% Amewrican mutt of European background. The prose is beautifully written and, as a Buddhist myself, the glimpses of Thai culture are especially captivating.
A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants Overview
A simple story of a rain season in Thailand and a young man at the intersection of two cultures. Six years ago at the age of twenty-one, Jaed Muncharoen Coffin, a half-Thai American man, left New England's privileged Middlebury College to be ordained as a Buddhist monk in his mother's native village of Panomsarakram--thus fulfilling a familial obligation. While addressing the notions of displacement, ethnic identity, and cultural belonging, A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants chronicles his time at the temple that rain season--receiving alms in the streets in saffron robes; bathing in the canals; learning to meditate in a mountaintop hut; and falling in love with Lek, a beautiful Thai woman who comes to represent the life he can have if he stays. Part armchair travel, part coming-of-age story, this debut work transcends the memoir genre and ushers in a brave new voice in American nonfiction.
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Customer Reviews
Such a disappointment - JGrace - California
A Chant to Soothe Wild Elephants - Jaed Coffin
1 star
Such a great title and such a disappointment. This is a memoir by a Thai-American college student who takes a semester off to return to his mother's village in Thailand to become a Buddhist monk. It seemed that this might be a story of a young person taking a bold step to find peace with his mixed heritage. I found I was not impressed with this quest or with the author's stilted writing style. I became very annoyed with his self-absorbed ramblings while he accepted alms from superstitious poor people. I kept thinking about how frustrated this kid's mother must be. Here's a single mom who left her native country to give her children a good education and a better life and her son throws it all away to go begging. And the conclusion? After 2 months spent begging, wandering and meditating (or not because his thoughts keep wandering) the boy goes back to his privileged American life and finishes school. I cannot fathom how he managed to get this book published. The whole book reminds me of a high school writing assignment. Paragraphs are written as if he had a rubric that required: one sentence telling what you see, one that tells what you hear, one to tell what you feel and the last to tell what you imagine. I really liked the title so I can give it one star.
Leaves a lasting impression - J. Day - coastal Maine
This book was transporting, offering an adventure to a foreign land and an inside peek into a special exclusive tradition, Thai Buddhism. It was thought-provoking, bringing to light many of the things we all secretly feel and think, regardless of specific life situation, with valuable insights and daring honesty. I was right there beside the author in his journey. He allowed me access with great writing- evoking scene powerfully and creating vivid characters- and the willingness to share the truths bubbling up in him. I'm thankful for the rippling effect within me from reading this book.
Pyromaniacs seek elsewhere - NCP - Ann Arbor, MI
The honesty with which he recounts his time in Thailand is why we should care about this book. That he reveals to the reader his experience as self-serving yet non-transcendent demonstrates his commitment to seeing life as a slow, deliberate journey towards discovering peace, and his very clear understanding of Buddhist themes. It is a humble snippet of a life, delivered in a time when we expect stories of self-discovery to be accompanied continuously by soundtracks, tears, and explosions of light.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 12, 2010 08:17:04
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