'Written with extraordinary delicate skill,' the VALLEY OF FLOWERS novella follows the trek journey of a 17-year-old Indian youth, Nicolas Kumar, who is made to go into the Indian Himalayas for some extreme golf in the wild - and to give his ego a death. Once there he discovers the fairway is made up of a fantastic flowered valley. Wishing to do no harm, he sits down and refuses to play. An uncommon dialogue follows between him and Arjuna, a past master of the game and teacher-guru type, in this story of humility and self-discovery.
The story takes place entirely in North India and is a powerful allegory on the dangers of ego, the importance of humility, and the need to keep a connection with the natural world. The highly imaginative prose paints a highly vivid picture of this famed valley's high garden splendor.
Eastern philosophy features prominently in this short novel, with special emphasis on the Bhagavad Gita.
"VALLEY OF FLOWERS" in its entirety is a literary achievement of subtle power and poignant irony that offers a deeply insightful, often darkly humorous portrait of a contemporary ego adrift in a landscape full of profound potential.
