I love this review and the points you address. So much more than what people see from the surface level. And to some point, as a reader… there’s no way to expect more if you can’t relate to some point of the main character’s historical/cultural background. The research was good and I felt like the timeline and plot was well thought out. Love the plot twists! I thought the romance was enough and even sad. Commander Gore’s quirk is so funny and loveable.
what you mention does make me wonder though.. does the author always have to spell our the history or the timeless of a place or a people if the reader doesn’t know history? Is it the author’s job or should the reader just google and learn about it if they are lost? I guess i say this recognizing that some readers missed the Khmer Rouge references and impact of genocide on Khmer diaspora.
and I too loved the quirkiness and funniness of Commander Gore!
Gosh, I must be in the minority, as I give this book a 3.5-3.75. I agree that it is a breath of fresh air about the Khmer diaspora experience. It was like, "Finally, we can have fun all the while discussing our past through acknowledgment." I've been thinking about this for a long time and have been timid about publishing work that pushes those boundaries. I believe Anthony So is another author who does this well through his writing and book!
Some parts of the book felt disjointed or rushed to me (why I wanted so badly for it to be a 4 or 5). Maybe this was because the character developed from someone serious to someone who felt insecure or unsure, revealing their softer/goofy/fun side. I do enjoy the banter between her and Gore.
I picked up the book at my library and saw it was labeled "Romance." I honestly thought this book was mis-genre (? I don't know if such a word exists) because, based on the synopsis, I thought it would be a fiction/sci-fi read. I was shocked that I enjoyed the romance part while envisioning the scenario in my head as if it were a movie. The twist at the end was like, wow! I didn't see that happening and thought I would re-read some passages that could give me clues about it.
I use Storygraph, an app for tracking and rating books. I, too, should stop reading reviews because I think some people missed the point and didn't understand the references the way we probably do (or probably don't know much about the Khmer Rouge), which annoyed me in some ways. I love championing new Khmer authors and wish there were more exposure to the plethora of books that now exist! Maybe after writing out my thoughts to someone who read the book, I can give it a 4 because I did enjoy it.
Hi Phirany, first of all, thanks so much for your reply and I am so excited to have this dialogue with you. I totally agree. Half way through the book, I honestly felt like it was slow moving and I started to get restless. But with each small detail of getting to know both main characters, and then also grasping the "Ministry" and what it stands for, I started to analyze and see the book in a different way, and with more appreciation.
I totally get what you mean though about the genre... it feels like it has many genres ,a little for everyone, and in some ways that's awesome, in some ways if the reader has a preference for one over the other, we may feel it lacks. And yes, the end! I also didnt see it coming and I had to reread it multiple times to grasp it.
Yes, Anthony So was another brilliant Khmer author and I enjoyed his writing as well. I will review his second book soon.
I love this review and the points you address. So much more than what people see from the surface level. And to some point, as a reader… there’s no way to expect more if you can’t relate to some point of the main character’s historical/cultural background. The research was good and I felt like the timeline and plot was well thought out. Love the plot twists! I thought the romance was enough and even sad. Commander Gore’s quirk is so funny and loveable.
yes, totally agree!
what you mention does make me wonder though.. does the author always have to spell our the history or the timeless of a place or a people if the reader doesn’t know history? Is it the author’s job or should the reader just google and learn about it if they are lost? I guess i say this recognizing that some readers missed the Khmer Rouge references and impact of genocide on Khmer diaspora.
and I too loved the quirkiness and funniness of Commander Gore!
Gosh, I must be in the minority, as I give this book a 3.5-3.75. I agree that it is a breath of fresh air about the Khmer diaspora experience. It was like, "Finally, we can have fun all the while discussing our past through acknowledgment." I've been thinking about this for a long time and have been timid about publishing work that pushes those boundaries. I believe Anthony So is another author who does this well through his writing and book!
Some parts of the book felt disjointed or rushed to me (why I wanted so badly for it to be a 4 or 5). Maybe this was because the character developed from someone serious to someone who felt insecure or unsure, revealing their softer/goofy/fun side. I do enjoy the banter between her and Gore.
I picked up the book at my library and saw it was labeled "Romance." I honestly thought this book was mis-genre (? I don't know if such a word exists) because, based on the synopsis, I thought it would be a fiction/sci-fi read. I was shocked that I enjoyed the romance part while envisioning the scenario in my head as if it were a movie. The twist at the end was like, wow! I didn't see that happening and thought I would re-read some passages that could give me clues about it.
I use Storygraph, an app for tracking and rating books. I, too, should stop reading reviews because I think some people missed the point and didn't understand the references the way we probably do (or probably don't know much about the Khmer Rouge), which annoyed me in some ways. I love championing new Khmer authors and wish there were more exposure to the plethora of books that now exist! Maybe after writing out my thoughts to someone who read the book, I can give it a 4 because I did enjoy it.
Hi Phirany, first of all, thanks so much for your reply and I am so excited to have this dialogue with you. I totally agree. Half way through the book, I honestly felt like it was slow moving and I started to get restless. But with each small detail of getting to know both main characters, and then also grasping the "Ministry" and what it stands for, I started to analyze and see the book in a different way, and with more appreciation.
I totally get what you mean though about the genre... it feels like it has many genres ,a little for everyone, and in some ways that's awesome, in some ways if the reader has a preference for one over the other, we may feel it lacks. And yes, the end! I also didnt see it coming and I had to reread it multiple times to grasp it.
Yes, Anthony So was another brilliant Khmer author and I enjoyed his writing as well. I will review his second book soon.
What are other Khmer authored books you enjoy?