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A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers“Phnom Penh city wakes early to take advantage of the cool morning breeze before the sun breaks through the haze and invades the country with sweltering heat. Already at 6 A.M. people in Phnom Penh are rushing and bumping into each other on dusty, narrow side streets. Waiters and waitresses in black-and-white uniforms swing open shop doors as the aroma of noodle soup greets waiting customers. Street vendors push food carts piled with steamed dumplings, smoked beef teriyaki sticks, and roasted peanuts along the sidewalks and begin to set up for another day of business.” - Loung Ung, in the opening sentences of First They Killed My Father
With these words, Loung Ung returns to her life as it existed before the Khmer Rouge takeover of Phnom Penh in April 1975. Readers accompany Ung and her family on a forced journey from Phnom Penh into the villages of rural Cambodia. In order to conceal their identities (Ung's father had been a high-ranking official in the Lon Nol government, a trait warranting instant death in the eyes of the Khmer Rouge), the family migrates from village to village and eventually separates. As a result of her resilient spirit and sharpness of mind, Ung survives and is ultimately reunited with surviving members of her family. First They Killed My Father was my first Khmer Rouge read, and having since read perhaps a dozen books describing the Cambodian revolution, Loung Ung's book remains a favorite. Written in the present tense, the book – with the efficiency of a time machine – transports you back to the author's childhood. That she is only five years old at the outset of her story is something that both amazed and puzzled me at first. How could a five-year-old recall such vivid details? I later learned that she relied upon an older brother for some of the details; still, one is unlikely to forget the things young Ung was forced to witness. Throughout the book, I found myself amazed at the wisdom and strength of a precocious child. That the events took place between her fifth and tenth birthdays amazed me more. Revolutionary Cambodia certainly did one thing for its children: it very efficiently turned them into adults. This book is often described as a "triumph of the spirit." Indeed it is. While the opening pages of the book are harrowing and sad, by its conclusion the story has become one of victory and hope. Despite descriptions of Khmer Rouge atrocities and occasional tears encountered along the way, most readers will leave Ung's story feeling better about the world. If one little girl can survive the Khmer Rouge, if her indomitable spirit can withstand such a massive onslaught of evil, certainly you and I can conquer the challenges we face. Inspiring, touching and gripping, First They Killed My Father is a must-read for adults and teens alike. Note: I recently learned that Ung has written a second memoir. Entitled Lucky Child, the book picks up where First They Killed My Father leaves off. Ultimately – some fifteen years after leaving Cambodia – Ung is reunited with her sister, Chou, one of three surviving siblings she left behind. Lucky Child is scheduled for release in April 2005. Copies can be pre-ordered from Amazon today. << Find this Book on Amazon.com >>
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