Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Asia
Reload this Page >

Recommended novel for those visiting (or who have visited ) Cambodia

Recommended novel for those visiting (or who have visited ) Cambodia

Old Dec 10th, 2016, 07:10 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Recommended novel for those visiting (or who have visited ) Cambodia

We just finished this and want to suggest it to others. This novel is based on the experiences of the author and her family during the reign of the Khmer Rouge.

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner. (After all of these years I still don't know how to italicize a book title in the Fodor's format.)
julies is offline  
Old Dec 10th, 2016, 07:59 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 9,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I shall look out for that title before our next trip . To get italics just use the usual HTML - type before and after the phrase
crellston is offline  
Old Dec 10th, 2016, 08:02 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 9,330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Clearly doesn't work if you type it on its own!!! type < and I for italics or B for bold and then > with no spaces before and after the text
crellston is offline  
Old Dec 10th, 2016, 08:28 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the reading recommendation Julies.
Kathie is offline  
Old Dec 10th, 2016, 01:42 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Read this and concur. Another excellent book that takes place in Cambodia is The Rent Collector by Camron Wright.
dgunbug is offline  
Old Dec 10th, 2016, 09:11 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just read the review, and it looks to be fascinating reading. I'm going to put it on my Kindle. Have you read, "First They Killed My Father" by Loung Ung? It has a similar premise. Pol Pot went after the educated, wealthy families because they were his biggest threat.

It's lovely to see you posting here again, julie. Thank you for the suggestion.
CaliforniaLady is offline  
Old Dec 11th, 2016, 05:22 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I loved that novel, Julie! She has a new novel called "Music of the Ghosts" coming out in April 2017: I am headed to Siem Reap for the first time in January, and I recently picked up an advanced copy of her new novel and I like it a lot so far.
inspiredexplorer is offline  
Old Dec 11th, 2016, 11:07 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,767
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Btw Julie - we've all missed you!
dgunbug is offline  
Old Dec 11th, 2016, 12:53 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
In slightly lighter vein, the Colin Cotterill Dr Siri mysteries are a good read and have a very strong sense of place:

https://www.amazon.com/Colin-Cotteri...ne_cont_book_1
annhig is offline  
Old Dec 11th, 2016, 02:51 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've just finished The Kings Last Song by Geoff Ryman, a novel set in the time of Javayaman and the present day. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
sartoric is offline  
Old Dec 12th, 2016, 11:57 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,949
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
I would read anything you can find about Pol Pot and the atrocities he committed.
Our guide said he knew nothing about it as it isn't taught in the schools. He found books and self educated himself about the Killing Fields.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Dec 12th, 2016, 01:39 PM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Forgot to mention that this author uses a lot of metaphors and other figurative language, so if this isn't your thing it might not call to you.

HappyTrvlr--

It is interesting that this is what your guide told you. We didn't have one set guide for our trip but interacted with many different people we used as drivers or guides or just ran into. Nearly every one of them had personal stories about their families and the Pol Pot regime (and/or later with the landmines).
julies is offline  
Old Dec 12th, 2016, 07:20 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had my tuk tuk driver, Bun, take me to the Heritage House just outside of Battambang. The lovely owner told me in French that her husband and all four of her four children were killed by the Khmer Rouge. Next, Bun took me to the Killing Caves, and we saw skulls from the victims that the Khmer Rouge threw over the cliff. Sometimes I wonder what's in our DNA that could create such horrible murderers.

Thank you again, Julie, for starting an interesting discussion.
CaliforniaLady is offline  
Old Dec 12th, 2016, 09:30 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the recommendations. I read "First They Killed My Father" before our trip some years ago but I'm interested in reading fiction set in Cambodia too...
welltraveledbrit is offline  
Old Dec 13th, 2016, 02:10 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"When Broken Glass Floats" is another one for Cambodia.
jules39 is offline  
Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 05:17 AM
  #16  
KWP
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just finished "First They Killed My Father". Excellent & emotional book. We learned last week in Battambang that Angelina Jolie was there last January directing a movie based on the book. She and the author are good friends. My understanding is that it will come out on Netflix in the fall. The actors are all Cambodian.
KWP is offline  
Old Jan 22nd, 2017, 05:26 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bookmarking this..thanks!
cchamp is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2017, 04:30 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A Woman of Angkor by John Burgess is a wonderful novel. He writes both fiction and non-fiction, former reporter for the Washington Post.
FromDC is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
3TravelBug
Asia
0
Dec 25th, 2017 03:31 AM
aussiedreamer
Asia
7
Nov 16th, 2011 09:29 AM
nycjk
Asia
5
Apr 11th, 2009 01:58 PM
Abrie
Asia
12
Feb 10th, 2009 01:27 AM
Sarvowinner
Asia
9
Aug 21st, 2007 05:43 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:52 PM.