Diversity in All Forms! discussion

Countries/Territories: Cambodia

First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers by Loung Ung

Got the book! Will start soon.

I’m reading this book next. Halfway through my current book :)

I am totally floored that anyone in Loung Ung's family survived the Khmer Rouge. Omg, children!

The book does tell of Cambodian customs and holidays.

I have this on hold but it could take awhile, so will be joining the discussion late.

Started this today!

While there is a lot about Cambodian culture, and the author describes a very nice life of a family at first, it does get harrowing and sad, Mariah and Megan. Be prepared for later descriptions of the horrors of a war. The author was only five years old!

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "While there is a lot about Cambodian culture, and the author describes a very nice life of a family at first, it does get harrowing and sad, Mariah and Megan. Be prepared for later descriptions of ..."

I'm audiobooking this and I'm about an hour in and I'm so afraid its going to break my heart...

It will. :(

If you really want to torture yourself, watch the movie on Netflix :(

Nancy wrote: "If you really want to torture yourself, watch the movie on Netflix :("

There is a movie? Oh gosh... that sounds super painful to watch.

This book is heartbreaking!!! I'm about 60% through and I am struggling to finish because it is so hard... I can't even fathom what her family all the rest went through...

I thought it amazing she survived it.

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "I thought it amazing she survived it."

Agreed! I just finished this last night... Such a heartbreaking story! I really wished her siblings could have joined her in the USA. Her family will always be divided and that makes me so sad. They went through so much and are still going through a lot!

Harrowing is definitely the right word, April! This really brought home the gruesome realities of war. The more I read about history, the more shocked I am that we treat the Holocaust as an isolated horrific aberration, when genocide is chillingly prevalent in so many places and times. She was such a tough, resilient child, and I’m so glad most of her family survived with her. My book loan ended right as I was listening to the Epilogue, so it stopped playing and I can’t technically finish the book (9 more minutes!) because someone has it on hold. I’m sorry to hear the rest of her family is unable to join her in the US.

I've just ordered it. I knew the Khmer Rouge were nasty. But I've never read a first hand account. Some things must never be forgotten

Vivian wrote: "I've just ordered it. I knew the Khmer Rouge were nasty. But I've never read a first hand account. Some things must never be forgotten"

Agree.