First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung

In her memoir 'First They Killed My Father: A daughter of Cambodia remembers' she tells of the Cambodia genocide from the eyes of a child.

Loung Ung lived through the genocide and has carried on her life by teaching others about what happened, helping them to survive the atrocities that seems to keep happening around the world. How do people make peace with that? How do they move on? Knowing that every year the rains would bring up more remains. Walking through the grounds and stepping on peoples' bones and clothing remnants that were making their way up through the dirt. Seeing children's skulls display evidence of so much violence with the cracks, dents and bullet holes broke my heart.

I walked up to, around and even in the commemorative stupa that had been built to honor the murdered and to hold their remains. Later I went to Choeng Ek, the most (in)famous of the killing fields. In one section of the former prison, I walked into a hastily made brick cell and felt so instantly claustrophobic I had to run out into the open air.The pictures, informational plaques and even the conversation, held via hand gestures, with a former prisoner couldn't help me grasp the genocide that occurred not that long ago.

I spent a hot afternoon walking through the Tuel Sleng Genocide Museum, having my breath taken away as I walked from room to room, each worse than the last. At every turn I also saw the remnants of a painful past. On a recent trip to Cambodia I got to witness it's rich culture, lush landscapes and delicious, delicious food. I finished it just as the sun started to rise and spent those first beautiful rays in complete thanksgiving: how lucky are we, who have lived so well, to be able to learn from those who have not had that chance. Of course we know she does survive, how else would the book be written, but I read on as if her life depended on reading the very last word. I found that as the hours passed after I began the book, I could not go to sleep without finishing the story, without making sure this child would make it out alright. I could never imagine walking in her shoes at her age. I've read many other survivor accounts from other historical periods, but this one disturbed me to no end such a young child, such horrible atrocities being committed, witnessed, remembered. While I am usually a sucker for auto/biographical works for the above reason, I have never been held so captive by a book in all my life. And then, you can dive into personal accounts of history how humanity struggles to survive during some of its darkest hours. You can actually witness the places and things that history has left behind. You can read about the Cambodian genocide from many other sources that will explain the facts and statistics in the traditional sterile style that historic texts usually take. There are some things left unlearned from history books.

First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung