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A Boy Named Rindy: Based On A True Story Of Survival And Redemption
Based on a gripping and inspirational true story of a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide, who finds redemption.
Cambodia, 1968.
Rindy is a young boy of the jungle, but he is hunted. Due to his parent’s divorce in a time of political upheaval, he falls between the cracks as rejection sinks its claws into him. Shuffled around and forgotten, he finds himself at the ruthless mercy of Buddhist monks. Safety and belonging are ever exceeding his grasp. He must learn to grapple with questions of good and evil.
When the shadowy organization known as the Khmer Rouge emerge as the “saviors” of Cambodia, he is thrust into a radical political takeover, which ravages his country. As hopelessness pulls him under, Rindy’s desire to live and his remarkable ability to survive, wavers. In the wreckage, he hears of a God who is rumored to be alive and of a Savior who wants to take his pain instead of inflicting it. If he finds this Savior, will he cease to be prey? Will he be too broken to truly live?
Cambodia, 1968.
Rindy is a young boy of the jungle, but he is hunted. Due to his parent’s divorce in a time of political upheaval, he falls between the cracks as rejection sinks its claws into him. Shuffled around and forgotten, he finds himself at the ruthless mercy of Buddhist monks. Safety and belonging are ever exceeding his grasp. He must learn to grapple with questions of good and evil.
When the shadowy organization known as the Khmer Rouge emerge as the “saviors” of Cambodia, he is thrust into a radical political takeover, which ravages his country. As hopelessness pulls him under, Rindy’s desire to live and his remarkable ability to survive, wavers. In the wreckage, he hears of a God who is rumored to be alive and of a Savior who wants to take his pain instead of inflicting it. If he finds this Savior, will he cease to be prey? Will he be too broken to truly live?
452 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2024
9 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Talbott
4 books18 followersOlivia Talbott is a word-addicted author who has a BA in Creative Writing and English. Her debut novel will release in September of 2023, being historical fiction based on the true story of a survivor of the Cambodian genocide, who finds redemption. Her passion is telling stories that the world needs to hear: stories based on actual events where Jesus intersects the narrative. Outside of reading and writing she enjoys gardening, farm life, homeschooling and co-running a tee-shirt printing company. Her life is wrapped around her three children and an incredibly supportive husband named Steven, all who reside on a small farm in central Kentucky. Scribbled between the lines of her life is the constant love of God, which breathes beauty and purpose into the otherwise mundane. If you’re interested in learning more, her website can be accessed here: oliviatalbott.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 5, 2025
4.5⭐️
This book is based on the true story of Rindy Nong, a story filled with history, heartbreak, love, loss, and redemption. This is a beautiful, deep, and difficult book to read. Rindy was born into a life of rejection and faced abuse and cruelty… but came out as a Genocide Cambodia survivor with an amazing faith in Christ.
Olivia took her first-hand experience in Cambodia and her opportunity to talk and listen to Rindy’s story to bring to light a piece of less-known history that isn’t as commonly talked about or discussed. Before this book, I didn’t know all that the people of Cambodia endured, and it really opened my eyes to a greater understanding of this piece of history, as well as Buddhism and Karma. Olivia includes historical notes that correlate to different chapters in the book, which I found helpful and a great add-on while reading this book. She did a beautiful job presenting the history and Rindy’s life, presenting difficult details with respect and care.
This story beautifully highlights the light among the darkness and God’s redemption and restoration. Although hard to read, this book has threads of faith and hope that will leave you inspired and shows that those who endured the unthinkable can still find newness in Jesus.
I loved this story, and I believe it’s one that needed to be told and will touch you deeply. If you love stories that are heartfelt, and touching, that include history and threads of faith, I highly recommend this book.
Content to consider: Child neglect and abuse, Starvation, Violence, Murder, Mention of rape (not described), death, mention of seeing dead bodies, injury, suffocation, Mild language (1-2 D*mned, H*ll), Message me for more details!
This book is based on the true story of Rindy Nong, a story filled with history, heartbreak, love, loss, and redemption. This is a beautiful, deep, and difficult book to read. Rindy was born into a life of rejection and faced abuse and cruelty… but came out as a Genocide Cambodia survivor with an amazing faith in Christ.
Olivia took her first-hand experience in Cambodia and her opportunity to talk and listen to Rindy’s story to bring to light a piece of less-known history that isn’t as commonly talked about or discussed. Before this book, I didn’t know all that the people of Cambodia endured, and it really opened my eyes to a greater understanding of this piece of history, as well as Buddhism and Karma. Olivia includes historical notes that correlate to different chapters in the book, which I found helpful and a great add-on while reading this book. She did a beautiful job presenting the history and Rindy’s life, presenting difficult details with respect and care.
This story beautifully highlights the light among the darkness and God’s redemption and restoration. Although hard to read, this book has threads of faith and hope that will leave you inspired and shows that those who endured the unthinkable can still find newness in Jesus.
I loved this story, and I believe it’s one that needed to be told and will touch you deeply. If you love stories that are heartfelt, and touching, that include history and threads of faith, I highly recommend this book.
Content to consider: Child neglect and abuse, Starvation, Violence, Murder, Mention of rape (not described), death, mention of seeing dead bodies, injury, suffocation, Mild language (1-2 D*mned, H*ll), Message me for more details!
August 17, 2024
This is a beautiful story. Based on the life of Rindy Nong, A Boy Named Rindy is gripping and so important. Oftentimes stories like the Cambodian genocide are forgotten, or at least not spoken about. I would love to see this book in schools, read alongside books like Elie Wiesel's Night.
I loved getting to see the author's notes detailing her conversations with Rindy Nong, as well as the historical footnotes, which reminded me that this isn't simply fiction. This is someone's story. Someone who really lived this and saw these things. Who fought. Who survived.
Olivia Talbott does a beautiful job at telling Rindy's story. Her descriptions are immersive and I found myself rooted in the story. Her weaving in faith was incredibly well done, and watching the little seeds planted throughout Rindy's life was refreshing. I loved seeing Vichet's growth, and although he was a side character, he has stuck with me months later.
The hard things in the book were handled with grace and compassion. Rindy faces a lot of hardships - not only from watching his youngest sibling starve and seeing other Cambodians hurt/die, but he himself faces starvation and infection. These are difficult topics, but I never had to step back from the book. I'm the first to admit that I am sensitive, especially to the death of children, but Talbott's compassion shines through as she gives enough detail for the reader to know what's happening, without allowing the scenes to become gruesome.
I highly recommend this book. Although the subject is hard, God's love shines through. Rindy's story is one to be told . . . and read.
I loved getting to see the author's notes detailing her conversations with Rindy Nong, as well as the historical footnotes, which reminded me that this isn't simply fiction. This is someone's story. Someone who really lived this and saw these things. Who fought. Who survived.
Olivia Talbott does a beautiful job at telling Rindy's story. Her descriptions are immersive and I found myself rooted in the story. Her weaving in faith was incredibly well done, and watching the little seeds planted throughout Rindy's life was refreshing. I loved seeing Vichet's growth, and although he was a side character, he has stuck with me months later.
The hard things in the book were handled with grace and compassion. Rindy faces a lot of hardships - not only from watching his youngest sibling starve and seeing other Cambodians hurt/die, but he himself faces starvation and infection. These are difficult topics, but I never had to step back from the book. I'm the first to admit that I am sensitive, especially to the death of children, but Talbott's compassion shines through as she gives enough detail for the reader to know what's happening, without allowing the scenes to become gruesome.
I highly recommend this book. Although the subject is hard, God's love shines through. Rindy's story is one to be told . . . and read.
September 24, 2024
Absolutely amazing story! Definitely a must-read for anyone wanting hope in the darkness. I loved Rindy's story. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to you! Read it, read it, read it! You won't be sorry you picked this one up. It will give you hope for a fallen world. ♥
Trigger warning:
Descriptions of physical abuse, rape, neglect, death, and starvation.
Trigger warning:
Descriptions of physical abuse, rape, neglect, death, and starvation.
September 24, 2024
Thank you to the author for this #gifted book!*
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: A Boy Named Rindy
Author: Olivia Talbott
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “Rindy’s story shouts into the fray the unmatched and unmistakable love of God and how he wants to redeem all which is broken.” As a young boy growing in up in Cambodia, Rindy is faced with living through the Khmer Rouge regime. He shares his experience of growing up in poverty, living in a Buddhist temple, working in rice fields, being trapped as part of the conflict in Cambodia, and ultimately finding hope in the aftermath. In this book, Rindy tells his story of suffering, loss, trauma, and ultimately redemption found in Jesus Christ alone.
Analysis: This review has taken me quite some time to write because this book has taken me quite some time to process. Olivia Talbott was introduced to Rindy and given the privilege of telling his story. With her first hand experience in Cambodia and the second hand hearing of his stories, you’ll find a beautiful story of loss, love, and redemption in these pages. This was a hard book to say that I loved because the story is just so sad. My words fail to really capture the emotions I felt while reading this book. But Olivia does a beautiful job of gathering and sharing a fictionalized account of the true events that Rindy experienced. I think for many the Cambodian genocide is a little known event. While this book is difficult to read because of the topic alone, it’s a story that needs to be told and read. Yes, you’ll find it challenging, but the story of redemption is the story of hope in Jesus that the world desperately needs.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Title: A Boy Named Rindy
Author: Olivia Talbott
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: “Rindy’s story shouts into the fray the unmatched and unmistakable love of God and how he wants to redeem all which is broken.” As a young boy growing in up in Cambodia, Rindy is faced with living through the Khmer Rouge regime. He shares his experience of growing up in poverty, living in a Buddhist temple, working in rice fields, being trapped as part of the conflict in Cambodia, and ultimately finding hope in the aftermath. In this book, Rindy tells his story of suffering, loss, trauma, and ultimately redemption found in Jesus Christ alone.
Analysis: This review has taken me quite some time to write because this book has taken me quite some time to process. Olivia Talbott was introduced to Rindy and given the privilege of telling his story. With her first hand experience in Cambodia and the second hand hearing of his stories, you’ll find a beautiful story of loss, love, and redemption in these pages. This was a hard book to say that I loved because the story is just so sad. My words fail to really capture the emotions I felt while reading this book. But Olivia does a beautiful job of gathering and sharing a fictionalized account of the true events that Rindy experienced. I think for many the Cambodian genocide is a little known event. While this book is difficult to read because of the topic alone, it’s a story that needs to be told and read. Yes, you’ll find it challenging, but the story of redemption is the story of hope in Jesus that the world desperately needs.
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 17, 2024
This shocking true story of a young boy coming of age during the Cambodian genocide is gripping and heartbreaking. Only his relationship with Christ changes him and gives him hope in the chaos of that historical time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
I received an advanced readers copy of this novel. It’s based on a true story of a young Cambodian boy, Rindy. Rindy finds himself unwanted and unloved most of his life. When he is deserted by his parents, he and his younger brother are sent to live with his devoutly Buddhist grandmother. Even though she isn’t nice to the boys they grow to love her. Just as Rindy is feeling at home, his grandmother sends him and his younger brother to live at the Buddhist temple. There they are beaten and abused by the monks. After being there for a few years, they return home but life gets even worse with an abusive stepfather and political unrest. Rindy finds himself surrounded by war, starvation, more abuse, and death. Almost miraculously, he is eventually reunited with his family members who have also faced these horrors. He then spends four years in a refugee camp. There he learns English and becomes a Christian. I will stop here in order not to spoil the ending of the story.
I found the book very emotional and difficult to read at times. It reminded me of heartbreaking stories I’ve read about the concentration camps during WWII. If you’re a history buff like I am, you should enjoy this story. I was only a teenager when these atrocities happened, but I do not remember this making the nightly news. It’s obvious that the author has done hours and hours of research and has poured herself into writing this novel. Although I consider myself an avid reader, books that exceed 400 pages rarely hold my attention.
I found the book very emotional and difficult to read at times. It reminded me of heartbreaking stories I’ve read about the concentration camps during WWII. If you’re a history buff like I am, you should enjoy this story. I was only a teenager when these atrocities happened, but I do not remember this making the nightly news. It’s obvious that the author has done hours and hours of research and has poured herself into writing this novel. Although I consider myself an avid reader, books that exceed 400 pages rarely hold my attention.
August 28, 2024
A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott
This novel, based on the true story of Rindy Nong, is a deep and meaningful look into the life of a boy who lived through the unthinkable. Born into a life of rejection, handed off to those cruel and ruthless, and a survivor of the gennoacide that tore Cambodia apart.
Olivia Talbot set the scene beautifully, immersing the reader into this heavy but touching story. While this is a story of grief, pain, and suffering, the greater themes of hope and redemption shine through. This story beautifully highlighted Gods redemption and restoration. Showing how those who have endured the unthinkable can still find hope and newness in Jesus.
I loved this story, it’s one that needed to be told, needs to be heard, and will touch you deeply.
This novel, based on the true story of Rindy Nong, is a deep and meaningful look into the life of a boy who lived through the unthinkable. Born into a life of rejection, handed off to those cruel and ruthless, and a survivor of the gennoacide that tore Cambodia apart.
Olivia Talbot set the scene beautifully, immersing the reader into this heavy but touching story. While this is a story of grief, pain, and suffering, the greater themes of hope and redemption shine through. This story beautifully highlighted Gods redemption and restoration. Showing how those who have endured the unthinkable can still find hope and newness in Jesus.
I loved this story, it’s one that needed to be told, needs to be heard, and will touch you deeply.
October 21, 2024
Where do I even start with this absolutely amazing book?
I have read over 100 books this year and I can tell you with absolute certainty this is the book that impacted me the most and that I will recommend every time someone will ask me which book they should read.
Read this book. It broke my heart and it healed it. It brought me to tears so many times. And I don’t mean a few lonely silent tears, I mean sobbing until my head hurt. I needed breaks from this book to calm down and let sink in what I’ve just read. It followed me for days and weeks and I found myself crying quite a few times throughout the days when I was doing chores or going for walks.
You could say the book has three parts. The first is Rindy’s childhood and you just want to take this little boy, hug and kiss him and tell him he is loved, he is wonderful and everything will be okay. My heart aches for every little kid that doesn’t experience the paternal love they should. Rindy is pushed away so many times and just expected to accept a new home, a new reality without any consideration for what he needs or how he feels. There are a few people who are kind and even loving, but the common theme of his childhood is helplessness. He is helpless when it comes to the neglect he experiences and the change he is subjected to. You just can’t read this book without heartbreak for this young soul and every child like him.
The second part is the terror Rindy and so many people around him experienced through the regime of the Khmer Rouge. And I am not only horrified by what happened there but that I have never even heard of it! Being from Germany our history lessons in school mostly covered world war I and II and especially the horrors of the nazi regime. Which is absolutely right and necessary. But the older I get and the more I learn about world history (mostly though biographies, because this is my personal access to history) the more I am convinced we should teach children not only the history of the own country and continent, but more about what happened worldwide and to show that everywhere humans are capable of unthinkable things.
I really thought the first part broke my heart, but reading the second part was just gut wrenching. And everytime I needed a break from this book, everytime I picked up a lighthearted romance to distract me from these horrors, I had to remind myself that not one single soul in the hands of the Khmer Rouge had the chance to take a break. They were utterly helpless and hopeless.
Olivia Talbott manages to describe the awful things that happened without being graphic. You feel the hunger, you feel the despair and injustice. But it’s never gory or with more details than necessary.
I won’t go into details here, but there are a lot of people that will stay in my heart and mind and who are most obviously not forgotten by Rindy.
The third part is why this book - how gruesome most of it might be - is ultimately a book about hope, about love and about healing.
To think that after everything Rindy went through he was open to hear the Gospel. He was able to accept God’s gift of love and forgiveness and just to imagine someone as innocent as this child in everything that happened to him needed to know he was forgiven! This is why we know that with God, everything is possible!
While Rindy is the one who had my heart from the beginning, we learn that people who I honestly despised in earlier chapters of the book are repenting, are accepting Christ, are leaving their old lives behind. There is always hope. And this book does an amazing job of showing people through God’s eyes.
The way God brought healing to Rindy’s family warmed my heart and just showed that the past is truly forgiven, we are a new creature in Him.
The Gospel message in this book and in Rindy’s life is so clear and strong. I would 100% recommend this book to every Christian along with Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place or Richard Wurmbrand’s Tortured for Christ. Because when I say this book is about hope, love and healing, I mean the hope, love and healing only God can bring.
Aside from this amazing story concerning faith, forgiveness and redemption, the ‘theme’ I loved most was the relationship between Rindy and his brother Vuthy. Coming from a big family, he shared a very special bond with his little sibling who he loved and protected and every time they were separated my heart broke a little and I shed tears every time they were joined again. I love reading about strong sibling relationships and this is such a sweet and special one. You can feel the love between the brothers, no matter if they are together or forced apart.
Like I already said, this book gave me an insight into an aspect of history that I wasn’t even aware of and the author adds a lot of information not only through the story itself, but through historical notes at the end of the book. I still went and researched a bit more for myself because obviously my interest was piqued and I love when novels do that - make me do my own research because my historical knowledge is very slim and like I stated before, biographies and even fictional historical novels can get me deep into a history lesson. Rindy’s story definitely did that and I think Olivia Talbott accomplished a very important thing in bringing this aspect of history to people like me, who are interested but not well informed.
Lastly I want to say that Olivia’s writing brought this story to life. You can’t read this story without picturing Rindy’s surroundings, without experiencing the atmosphere, feeling the dangers, the despair and fear but also the love and hope.
It’s a very unique story told in the most beautiful way. I want to say that Olivia’s year-long work and struggle was absolutely worth it. Her debut is an absolute masterpiece and I already recommended it to a lot of people and bought a copy as a gift for someone very dear to me.
My hope and prayer is that this book will reach a lot of people, will maybe even be translated into other languages so that other people will hear this story too.
I added so many bookmarks and marked quotes. Writing them down here would just be beyond the scope of my already long review, but I just want to add one from the author’s notes which summarizes my feelings for this book pretty perfectly:
* Dear Olivia, thank you so much for this exceptional book and for letting me read an advanced copy.
I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
I have read over 100 books this year and I can tell you with absolute certainty this is the book that impacted me the most and that I will recommend every time someone will ask me which book they should read.
Read this book. It broke my heart and it healed it. It brought me to tears so many times. And I don’t mean a few lonely silent tears, I mean sobbing until my head hurt. I needed breaks from this book to calm down and let sink in what I’ve just read. It followed me for days and weeks and I found myself crying quite a few times throughout the days when I was doing chores or going for walks.
You could say the book has three parts. The first is Rindy’s childhood and you just want to take this little boy, hug and kiss him and tell him he is loved, he is wonderful and everything will be okay. My heart aches for every little kid that doesn’t experience the paternal love they should. Rindy is pushed away so many times and just expected to accept a new home, a new reality without any consideration for what he needs or how he feels. There are a few people who are kind and even loving, but the common theme of his childhood is helplessness. He is helpless when it comes to the neglect he experiences and the change he is subjected to. You just can’t read this book without heartbreak for this young soul and every child like him.
The second part is the terror Rindy and so many people around him experienced through the regime of the Khmer Rouge. And I am not only horrified by what happened there but that I have never even heard of it! Being from Germany our history lessons in school mostly covered world war I and II and especially the horrors of the nazi regime. Which is absolutely right and necessary. But the older I get and the more I learn about world history (mostly though biographies, because this is my personal access to history) the more I am convinced we should teach children not only the history of the own country and continent, but more about what happened worldwide and to show that everywhere humans are capable of unthinkable things.
I really thought the first part broke my heart, but reading the second part was just gut wrenching. And everytime I needed a break from this book, everytime I picked up a lighthearted romance to distract me from these horrors, I had to remind myself that not one single soul in the hands of the Khmer Rouge had the chance to take a break. They were utterly helpless and hopeless.
Olivia Talbott manages to describe the awful things that happened without being graphic. You feel the hunger, you feel the despair and injustice. But it’s never gory or with more details than necessary.
I won’t go into details here, but there are a lot of people that will stay in my heart and mind and who are most obviously not forgotten by Rindy.
The third part is why this book - how gruesome most of it might be - is ultimately a book about hope, about love and about healing.
To think that after everything Rindy went through he was open to hear the Gospel. He was able to accept God’s gift of love and forgiveness and just to imagine someone as innocent as this child in everything that happened to him needed to know he was forgiven! This is why we know that with God, everything is possible!
While Rindy is the one who had my heart from the beginning, we learn that people who I honestly despised in earlier chapters of the book are repenting, are accepting Christ, are leaving their old lives behind. There is always hope. And this book does an amazing job of showing people through God’s eyes.
The way God brought healing to Rindy’s family warmed my heart and just showed that the past is truly forgiven, we are a new creature in Him.
The Gospel message in this book and in Rindy’s life is so clear and strong. I would 100% recommend this book to every Christian along with Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place or Richard Wurmbrand’s Tortured for Christ. Because when I say this book is about hope, love and healing, I mean the hope, love and healing only God can bring.
Aside from this amazing story concerning faith, forgiveness and redemption, the ‘theme’ I loved most was the relationship between Rindy and his brother Vuthy. Coming from a big family, he shared a very special bond with his little sibling who he loved and protected and every time they were separated my heart broke a little and I shed tears every time they were joined again. I love reading about strong sibling relationships and this is such a sweet and special one. You can feel the love between the brothers, no matter if they are together or forced apart.
Like I already said, this book gave me an insight into an aspect of history that I wasn’t even aware of and the author adds a lot of information not only through the story itself, but through historical notes at the end of the book. I still went and researched a bit more for myself because obviously my interest was piqued and I love when novels do that - make me do my own research because my historical knowledge is very slim and like I stated before, biographies and even fictional historical novels can get me deep into a history lesson. Rindy’s story definitely did that and I think Olivia Talbott accomplished a very important thing in bringing this aspect of history to people like me, who are interested but not well informed.
Lastly I want to say that Olivia’s writing brought this story to life. You can’t read this story without picturing Rindy’s surroundings, without experiencing the atmosphere, feeling the dangers, the despair and fear but also the love and hope.
It’s a very unique story told in the most beautiful way. I want to say that Olivia’s year-long work and struggle was absolutely worth it. Her debut is an absolute masterpiece and I already recommended it to a lot of people and bought a copy as a gift for someone very dear to me.
My hope and prayer is that this book will reach a lot of people, will maybe even be translated into other languages so that other people will hear this story too.
I added so many bookmarks and marked quotes. Writing them down here would just be beyond the scope of my already long review, but I just want to add one from the author’s notes which summarizes my feelings for this book pretty perfectly:
“The utter darkness and destruction only dimmed in light of the beautiful redemption and new life that Rindy found when he surrendered his pain to the only One who wanted it - the One who died to own it.
[...]
I hope the reading of this book not only informs your mind on a little-known portion of history and the struggles of survival, but that it infuses your heart with hope.”
* Dear Olivia, thank you so much for this exceptional book and for letting me read an advanced copy.
I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own.
May 18, 2025
What a book, and what a crazy journey. I cannot believe the story that transpired in the text between these pages.
Olivia Talbott had the chops to write about such a dark and deep well of tragedy and history that occurred in Cambodia. What a champ. She plowed through, writing, and rewriting, doing hours of research and interviewing, with ten years of perfecting this manuscript as stated in her author's note. She woke up at 5:30 am quite often to complete this project, and I admire her dedication to telling this story with such passion and dedication, despite wanting to give up several times. I'd say she did Rindy's story the absolute justice it deserved.
This book is heartbreaking on so many levels. It’s a kind of biography, but a fictional recreation of a survivor's tale, very close to non-fiction. At the 2/3s mark, I felt my mouth drop subconsciously. The book tackles themes such as: starvation, rape, death, propaganda, child-birth, violence, political upheaval, and immigration. As well as abandonment, religion, child abuse, neglect, freedom, morality, deep seated hatred, and forgiveness.
There were several parts of this book where I was so immersed that I could not put it down at some points, forcing myself to take a break. I wanted to know what happened next to Rindy and his family. I am still flabbergasted by the amount of horror that Rindy had to endure and the way he found Jesus in the middle of this absolute mess. He eventually obtained a job translating for the U.S. Embassy in the sector of immigration, and dedicated a lot of his free years to helping immigrants flee Cambodia, and treating their medical aliments. As well as bringing reformation to the people of a country that he so deeply loves.
I love that this book deepened my sense of empathy, compassion, and humbled me, which is what I can only ask of a book like this, and ask God to do, as I pray this for myself as much as I can in life.
The way the author weaves this story is so beautiful. It's rich and lush with environmental and sensory details. I felt the mood hang over me in a wonderful way just by the way the author describes the setting. The market places, sneaking across fences and mine fields, the dilapidated war torn buildings and streets. All the destroyed possessions and hand crafted cultural fabrics just gutted. It's like describing the ugliness of mankind in such a pretty, poetic way. I could imagine the vibrant warm colors of the Monk's robes, bright red, orange, and yellow, admist a muted grey, green, and brown landscape. The chanting to the Buddha statue and its eventually half buried state in the dirt was such powerful imagery. The endless bowls of watery rice. So much rice in this book. "Rice is the lifeblood of Cambodia," was a saying that stuck with me for whatever reason.
Every whip and slash, the scarring, the bodily fluids, was terrible to read about, but I thankfully have a high tolerance for violence content (probably more in books then movies). As long as its not extremely graphic, which it wasn't in this book, at least to my eyes. Others might find the content that is here nauseating. I was completely fine; I thought it was well balanced, but that is my subjective reading experience.
I love seeing God's hand on Rindy's life in that Rindy was eventually able, after nineteen years of his life, to find peace. God bless him, and the author.
My ONLY critique is that this book is riddled with so many grammatical errors throughout, missing words in the middle of sentences, and gaping spaces in the text, a few confusing sentences, etc. I know the author spent so much time on this, but I truly felt the book needed several more rounds of edits. The pacing dragged at some parts of the book where I had to plow through a little bit, as if 50 pages or so could have been cut. I know the author said she went the self-publishing route because traditional publishing was making it more difficult to tell the story in the way she wanted. Olivia wanted creative liberty to convey Rindy's life with depth, and rightly so. This made sense, but it does show in the editing quality. I know it's nitpicky, but I was pulled out of the book several times at halts in the story due to poor grammar and wanky sentences.
Otherwise, this is a very good debut novel. What a redemptive and hopeful tone that this book lands on, after 300 pages of devastation. I'm happy to have stumbled upon this little gem, so worth it.
Olivia Talbott had the chops to write about such a dark and deep well of tragedy and history that occurred in Cambodia. What a champ. She plowed through, writing, and rewriting, doing hours of research and interviewing, with ten years of perfecting this manuscript as stated in her author's note. She woke up at 5:30 am quite often to complete this project, and I admire her dedication to telling this story with such passion and dedication, despite wanting to give up several times. I'd say she did Rindy's story the absolute justice it deserved.
This book is heartbreaking on so many levels. It’s a kind of biography, but a fictional recreation of a survivor's tale, very close to non-fiction. At the 2/3s mark, I felt my mouth drop subconsciously. The book tackles themes such as: starvation, rape, death, propaganda, child-birth, violence, political upheaval, and immigration. As well as abandonment, religion, child abuse, neglect, freedom, morality, deep seated hatred, and forgiveness.
There were several parts of this book where I was so immersed that I could not put it down at some points, forcing myself to take a break. I wanted to know what happened next to Rindy and his family. I am still flabbergasted by the amount of horror that Rindy had to endure and the way he found Jesus in the middle of this absolute mess. He eventually obtained a job translating for the U.S. Embassy in the sector of immigration, and dedicated a lot of his free years to helping immigrants flee Cambodia, and treating their medical aliments. As well as bringing reformation to the people of a country that he so deeply loves.
I love that this book deepened my sense of empathy, compassion, and humbled me, which is what I can only ask of a book like this, and ask God to do, as I pray this for myself as much as I can in life.
The way the author weaves this story is so beautiful. It's rich and lush with environmental and sensory details. I felt the mood hang over me in a wonderful way just by the way the author describes the setting. The market places, sneaking across fences and mine fields, the dilapidated war torn buildings and streets. All the destroyed possessions and hand crafted cultural fabrics just gutted. It's like describing the ugliness of mankind in such a pretty, poetic way. I could imagine the vibrant warm colors of the Monk's robes, bright red, orange, and yellow, admist a muted grey, green, and brown landscape. The chanting to the Buddha statue and its eventually half buried state in the dirt was such powerful imagery. The endless bowls of watery rice. So much rice in this book. "Rice is the lifeblood of Cambodia," was a saying that stuck with me for whatever reason.
Every whip and slash, the scarring, the bodily fluids, was terrible to read about, but I thankfully have a high tolerance for violence content (probably more in books then movies). As long as its not extremely graphic, which it wasn't in this book, at least to my eyes. Others might find the content that is here nauseating. I was completely fine; I thought it was well balanced, but that is my subjective reading experience.
I love seeing God's hand on Rindy's life in that Rindy was eventually able, after nineteen years of his life, to find peace. God bless him, and the author.
My ONLY critique is that this book is riddled with so many grammatical errors throughout, missing words in the middle of sentences, and gaping spaces in the text, a few confusing sentences, etc. I know the author spent so much time on this, but I truly felt the book needed several more rounds of edits. The pacing dragged at some parts of the book where I had to plow through a little bit, as if 50 pages or so could have been cut. I know the author said she went the self-publishing route because traditional publishing was making it more difficult to tell the story in the way she wanted. Olivia wanted creative liberty to convey Rindy's life with depth, and rightly so. This made sense, but it does show in the editing quality. I know it's nitpicky, but I was pulled out of the book several times at halts in the story due to poor grammar and wanky sentences.
Otherwise, this is a very good debut novel. What a redemptive and hopeful tone that this book lands on, after 300 pages of devastation. I'm happy to have stumbled upon this little gem, so worth it.
September 24, 2024
It truly amazes me what God allows people to go through and the fingerprints He leaves on their lives before they are in a relationship with Him! A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott is an example of this very thing. A Boy Named Rindy is based on the real life of Rindy Nong, a man born and raised in Cambodia during the Cambodian Genocide and political unrest in the country. Rindy, raised in the Cambodian Jungle, experiences firsthand what it takes to survive day-to-day in uncertainty, while feeling unloved and unwanted by those who are supposed to accept you unconditionally. Being passed around from family member to family member and from destination to destination, experiencing abuse upon abuse from Buddhist monks at Temple School and being taken by the Khmer Rouge, Rindy instinctively knows that what his Buddhist upbringing and government are teaching him are not right. God orchestrates situations and puts individuals in Rindy’s Path to encourage him not to give up and that there is Hope.
Praise God for the Testimony of Rindy Nong! Olivia Talbolt’s writing in A Boy Named Rindy is raw, truth telling at its best sweeping you in the confines of Cambodia with Rindy himself. I constantly found myself in awe of Rindy and all he overcame. Rindy’s story is certainly Revelation 12:11 personified! Ms. Talbot wrote A Boy Named Rindy in a way that you could tell and see God’s Hand was definitely on Rindy’s life from the very beginning and that gave me goosebumps! I enjoyed learning about a culture and period of history that I wasn’t aware of. I thought it was neat that Rindy grew up near tigers at the beginning. I thought it equally creative how Ms. Talbott weaved the tiger as a symbol of something that always followed Rindy metaphorically throughout his life. My heart utterly broke for all that Rindy and Cambodia went through during the Genocide because we are all created by God. I love how Rindy came to know Christ and how he is an example to all. Most of all, A Boy Named Rindy opened my eyes even more to the world around me, reinforcing that God is aware of what is going on around the world–good and bad, trying to show us all that there is Hope and Life for everyone regardless of situation or status through Jesus Christ. Thank you Rindy Nong for your Life and Testimony. Thank you Olivia Talbott for writing A Boy Named Rindy and sharing Rindy’s story with the world. If you are looking for a raw, but inspiring read that shows how Jesus can change a person’s life, then I highly recommend A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott!
Have you read A Boy Named Rindy? What did you think of the book?
I would like to thank Olivia Talbott for giving me a copy of A Boy Named Rindy to review, for letting me be on the ARC Team, and for giving me the information needed for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My review is also on Amazon and my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.
Praise God for the Testimony of Rindy Nong! Olivia Talbolt’s writing in A Boy Named Rindy is raw, truth telling at its best sweeping you in the confines of Cambodia with Rindy himself. I constantly found myself in awe of Rindy and all he overcame. Rindy’s story is certainly Revelation 12:11 personified! Ms. Talbot wrote A Boy Named Rindy in a way that you could tell and see God’s Hand was definitely on Rindy’s life from the very beginning and that gave me goosebumps! I enjoyed learning about a culture and period of history that I wasn’t aware of. I thought it was neat that Rindy grew up near tigers at the beginning. I thought it equally creative how Ms. Talbott weaved the tiger as a symbol of something that always followed Rindy metaphorically throughout his life. My heart utterly broke for all that Rindy and Cambodia went through during the Genocide because we are all created by God. I love how Rindy came to know Christ and how he is an example to all. Most of all, A Boy Named Rindy opened my eyes even more to the world around me, reinforcing that God is aware of what is going on around the world–good and bad, trying to show us all that there is Hope and Life for everyone regardless of situation or status through Jesus Christ. Thank you Rindy Nong for your Life and Testimony. Thank you Olivia Talbott for writing A Boy Named Rindy and sharing Rindy’s story with the world. If you are looking for a raw, but inspiring read that shows how Jesus can change a person’s life, then I highly recommend A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott!
Have you read A Boy Named Rindy? What did you think of the book?
I would like to thank Olivia Talbott for giving me a copy of A Boy Named Rindy to review, for letting me be on the ARC Team, and for giving me the information needed for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My review is also on Amazon and my blog, Leslie's Library Escape.
September 17, 2024
I really do not know where to begin to tell you about the impact this story had on me. By the end of this book, I was moved to tears.
This is a gut wrenching story of a Cambodian refugee named Rindy. The atrocities that this young man, his family, and the Cambodian people experienced will leave you speechless. Mrs. Talbott weaves her words in a way that pulls at your heart and there is no going back. This is a story that had to be spoken, but people have kept silent. The world that the Cambodian people lived in was unfathomable. Starvations, beatings, abuse, and even death. Rindy will not live in the jungles forever. One man comes to tell him about a Savior that loves him and his life is never the same. A beautiful redemptive story on the pages!
One thing is for sure, after reading Rindy’s story, Philippians 4:13 rings true to you.
I would highly recommend this book to all who want to see how people live in other areas of the world and how fortunate we are. This book needs to be in every school library and his story told to students in school. You will see perseverance at its finest.
I was given an ARC of this book and these are all my opinions.
This is a gut wrenching story of a Cambodian refugee named Rindy. The atrocities that this young man, his family, and the Cambodian people experienced will leave you speechless. Mrs. Talbott weaves her words in a way that pulls at your heart and there is no going back. This is a story that had to be spoken, but people have kept silent. The world that the Cambodian people lived in was unfathomable. Starvations, beatings, abuse, and even death. Rindy will not live in the jungles forever. One man comes to tell him about a Savior that loves him and his life is never the same. A beautiful redemptive story on the pages!
One thing is for sure, after reading Rindy’s story, Philippians 4:13 rings true to you.
I would highly recommend this book to all who want to see how people live in other areas of the world and how fortunate we are. This book needs to be in every school library and his story told to students in school. You will see perseverance at its finest.
I was given an ARC of this book and these are all my opinions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
You guys, this book 😭😭 It’s fantastic and absolutely life changing!
A Boy Named Rindy is based on the true life story of Rindy Nong, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide. It tells of a time in history that is mostly forgotten.
His story is absolutely heart wrenching. The content is heavy but this book is absolutely vital as a follower of Jesus. Reading about the hell that Rindy and his family walked through and then seeing the miraculous love of Jesus come in and transform his life has me absolutely weeping.
Olivia Talbott, after reading the “Author’s Note” I have no doubt that God has great plans for this book. You had every reason to give up but you persisted! Thank you for being faithful and sharing Rindy’s story with the world. It’s life changing! ♥️
*A big thank you to the author for the privilege to read an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Boy Named Rindy is based on the true life story of Rindy Nong, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide. It tells of a time in history that is mostly forgotten.
His story is absolutely heart wrenching. The content is heavy but this book is absolutely vital as a follower of Jesus. Reading about the hell that Rindy and his family walked through and then seeing the miraculous love of Jesus come in and transform his life has me absolutely weeping.
Olivia Talbott, after reading the “Author’s Note” I have no doubt that God has great plans for this book. You had every reason to give up but you persisted! Thank you for being faithful and sharing Rindy’s story with the world. It’s life changing! ♥️
*A big thank you to the author for the privilege to read an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 12, 2024
This is a powerful true story that needs to be read.
The author did a great job bringing a story of a real man alive, at times I could picture myself in Cambodia. The way she was able to merry the storyline with the political history was wonderfully done. At times I found myself crying out loud, I felt the pain and hurt Rindy was going through. I liked the way the writer brought all the other folks into Rindy’s story, I really liked them all and liked hearing their stories too., Chivy has stuck with me. Reading of God’s hand in the lives of all these folks brought hope into my heart. I also loved the way the Christian faith was weaved in throughout the book.
I enjoyed the writing style and look forward to reading more of Olivia Talbott’s work.
The author did a great job bringing a story of a real man alive, at times I could picture myself in Cambodia. The way she was able to merry the storyline with the political history was wonderfully done. At times I found myself crying out loud, I felt the pain and hurt Rindy was going through. I liked the way the writer brought all the other folks into Rindy’s story, I really liked them all and liked hearing their stories too., Chivy has stuck with me. Reading of God’s hand in the lives of all these folks brought hope into my heart. I also loved the way the Christian faith was weaved in throughout the book.
I enjoyed the writing style and look forward to reading more of Olivia Talbott’s work.
October 5, 2024
The story of Rindy is a beautiful, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and powerful one.
Olivia takes us through what it felt, sounded, smelled, and even tasted like to be living during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Some parts of this book were truly hard to read and process through, but I’m so thankful that I did. Rindy fought to *live,* and his will to never give up is inspiring.
I loved the storyline of Chivy and the deep connection that Rindy made with a friend despite the Khmer Rouge attempting to keep the Cambodians from making bonds and connections with one another.
I personally love to read historical fiction stories from a specific/niche people group to see what their lives were like, and this is the book for you if that’s your cup of tea too. I learned so much about Cambodian history and the hurt that these people went through, and I will forever be marked by it.
*I was given an ARC of this story, but all views are my own. Thanks, Olivia, for letting me be immersed in a story you are so passionate about 🤍
Olivia takes us through what it felt, sounded, smelled, and even tasted like to be living during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. Some parts of this book were truly hard to read and process through, but I’m so thankful that I did. Rindy fought to *live,* and his will to never give up is inspiring.
I loved the storyline of Chivy and the deep connection that Rindy made with a friend despite the Khmer Rouge attempting to keep the Cambodians from making bonds and connections with one another.
I personally love to read historical fiction stories from a specific/niche people group to see what their lives were like, and this is the book for you if that’s your cup of tea too. I learned so much about Cambodian history and the hurt that these people went through, and I will forever be marked by it.
*I was given an ARC of this story, but all views are my own. Thanks, Olivia, for letting me be immersed in a story you are so passionate about 🤍
September 11, 2024
A Boy Named Rindy
This story is based on the true account of Rindy Nong. Historical facts are interwoven within the outline of Rindy's story along with some fiction. Overall, it is about survival and perseverance in the war torn country of Cambodia during civil war.
I don't remember the last time I read something so in depth horrifying or real, as I read mostly stories of fantasy or speculative fiction. While those genres are entertaining, they don't strike you as hard as something that really happened.
Being from a country where we have democracy and a sense of freedom, even though, with an election year politicians constantly tell us our democracy is in threat by their opponents, after reading this you value the freedom we have.
Anyone who is privileged with freedom should read this book. You will appreciate it that much more and value your families that much more.
The journey Rindy has is remarkable in the sense of 'how does one even endure this?' The author does a great job telling it from a young kid's point of view. I am taken to this place of torture under several changing hands of regimes. The world is encompassed around me and I feel terrified and root for the main character to muster the strength that he does, so he may live to reach the freedom he deserves, that anyone living deserves.
I try to imagine how anyone can survive the cruelty of being a slave and just when there is hope, it is quickly snatched away. How can people escape the abyss as dark as a black hole where light is unable to escape. Many have not, which gives another sense of guilt to those who survive. Through the horrific journey, that starts with his parents not even wanting him, Rindy is somehow able to withstand the barely viable conditions and champion through the hardship. To anyone born in a country of freedom, we will never fully understand or exhibit the same strengths Rindy has. But everyone who reads this, I hope they know whatever troubles or turmoil they go through (because life is not easy) that we are given strength to overcome any obstacle, but we have to use it and believe in it. This story exhibits that hidden strength we all have. With it, we are able to escape the black hole and come into the light of God's will.
This is a story that needs to be told and read, and thanks to Olivia Talbot we are able to. If you are a Christian, it is a definite read too. This novel will renew your faith and fortify it. It will show you however turbulent the seas of life are, God will protect you and keep your boat from sinking, but you have to trust in Him to guide and lead you.
Now, I must commend the author Olivia Talbot for writing a story I was unaware of and educating me on the facts. After reading her 'Author's Note' section, I have discovered it wasn't easy for her to write this book, either. She had her own dilemmas in completing the novel and then was prevented with more hold-backs to get it published. But God had plans for her, too. She was appointed to get this story in the hands of the readers. Though life slowed down the process with marriage and raising three kids of her own, she persevered and God whispered into ear for her to complete this goal. Now, everyone will be blessed with the story of Rindy and the power of Christianity through his journey.
Thank you, Olivia, for putting this book into the world. All of your hard work was well worth it to me, a reader and a fan of this tremendous story.
This story is based on the true account of Rindy Nong. Historical facts are interwoven within the outline of Rindy's story along with some fiction. Overall, it is about survival and perseverance in the war torn country of Cambodia during civil war.
I don't remember the last time I read something so in depth horrifying or real, as I read mostly stories of fantasy or speculative fiction. While those genres are entertaining, they don't strike you as hard as something that really happened.
Being from a country where we have democracy and a sense of freedom, even though, with an election year politicians constantly tell us our democracy is in threat by their opponents, after reading this you value the freedom we have.
Anyone who is privileged with freedom should read this book. You will appreciate it that much more and value your families that much more.
The journey Rindy has is remarkable in the sense of 'how does one even endure this?' The author does a great job telling it from a young kid's point of view. I am taken to this place of torture under several changing hands of regimes. The world is encompassed around me and I feel terrified and root for the main character to muster the strength that he does, so he may live to reach the freedom he deserves, that anyone living deserves.
I try to imagine how anyone can survive the cruelty of being a slave and just when there is hope, it is quickly snatched away. How can people escape the abyss as dark as a black hole where light is unable to escape. Many have not, which gives another sense of guilt to those who survive. Through the horrific journey, that starts with his parents not even wanting him, Rindy is somehow able to withstand the barely viable conditions and champion through the hardship. To anyone born in a country of freedom, we will never fully understand or exhibit the same strengths Rindy has. But everyone who reads this, I hope they know whatever troubles or turmoil they go through (because life is not easy) that we are given strength to overcome any obstacle, but we have to use it and believe in it. This story exhibits that hidden strength we all have. With it, we are able to escape the black hole and come into the light of God's will.
This is a story that needs to be told and read, and thanks to Olivia Talbot we are able to. If you are a Christian, it is a definite read too. This novel will renew your faith and fortify it. It will show you however turbulent the seas of life are, God will protect you and keep your boat from sinking, but you have to trust in Him to guide and lead you.
Now, I must commend the author Olivia Talbot for writing a story I was unaware of and educating me on the facts. After reading her 'Author's Note' section, I have discovered it wasn't easy for her to write this book, either. She had her own dilemmas in completing the novel and then was prevented with more hold-backs to get it published. But God had plans for her, too. She was appointed to get this story in the hands of the readers. Though life slowed down the process with marriage and raising three kids of her own, she persevered and God whispered into ear for her to complete this goal. Now, everyone will be blessed with the story of Rindy and the power of Christianity through his journey.
Thank you, Olivia, for putting this book into the world. All of your hard work was well worth it to me, a reader and a fan of this tremendous story.
March 10, 2025
WOW.
What an incredible, gripping, and altogether unfathomable story. This book is the true story of a Cambodian boy named Rindy and how he and his fellow countrymen endured and (barely) survived the war and genocide that nearly destroyed their entire nation.
Initially I was bummed that I missed the chance for an ARC copy to experience this story before it was released into the wild. But it patiently waited for me for the right time, when it would fill the cracks in my heart scored by grief with its tales of hardship and redemption.
I knew OF the war in Cambodia and heard mention of there being a genocide, but to my dismay it wasn’t covered much in my school years. What they went through is truly horrific. Nearly half of the population was brutally murdered whether by being a casualty of war or the victim of pure vile evil. To think this happened only one or two generations ago…it is crucial for this story to be illuminated further in society. Especially these days, where ideologies seem to outweigh human compassion.
And Rindy. Oh my word, Rindy. He deserves a Nobel prize for living through what he did, especially as a young child. Not just Rindy, but all the Cambodians-many who had even more harrowing stories than his.
The suffering of the Cambodian people is truly unconscionable and unimaginable, and it seems almost impossible that these events occurred not that long ago.
If there was anyone meant to tell this story, it is without doubt dear Olivia. Her tender care for the experiences of others, her deep and broad love for people, and her thoughtful intentionality to stay true to historical events is what makes this debut an absolute masterpiece.
Well done, friend 💗
“What could possibly fix a world so full of hurt if we just kept reincarnating into it again and again?
“The nightmares I had of jungle tigers in my childhood had long been replaced by even worse realities: the human animals I had encountered.”
“My life felt like the burned rice clinging to the bottom of a pot; I was meant to be discarded.”
“They’re orchids I think, just smaller than the ones sold at market.” She reached out to pluck one. “They never get sunlight here. I didn’t know things could survive in complete darkness.” I looked around at the thick underbrush. She looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “Yet somehow, they do.”
“Joining the freedom fighters was his way of spitting in the face of the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge at once, but to me it was like spitting into the wind. Everything we could do was useless against a greater force.”
“The enemy changed from month to month and sometimes day to day. Our lives were like walking through a minefield, never knowing what was going to go off and who would try to kill us next.”
“No one spoke a word, they just sobbed because words weren’t enough. They had lived through the unspeakable.”
“It was a mystery to me how new life emerged in a place so pregnant with death.”
“Hope is a resilient thing, and I marveled that we were still capable of it.”
“I didn’t know what to fear more: living or dying. Both seemed equally grim. I could no longer believe in building up merit by good deeds, that system was broken for me. I had seen too many perish who didn’t deserve to.”
“We merely existed like a speck of dirt on the back of a shovel that was being driven deeper and deeper into the earth.”
What an incredible, gripping, and altogether unfathomable story. This book is the true story of a Cambodian boy named Rindy and how he and his fellow countrymen endured and (barely) survived the war and genocide that nearly destroyed their entire nation.
Initially I was bummed that I missed the chance for an ARC copy to experience this story before it was released into the wild. But it patiently waited for me for the right time, when it would fill the cracks in my heart scored by grief with its tales of hardship and redemption.
I knew OF the war in Cambodia and heard mention of there being a genocide, but to my dismay it wasn’t covered much in my school years. What they went through is truly horrific. Nearly half of the population was brutally murdered whether by being a casualty of war or the victim of pure vile evil. To think this happened only one or two generations ago…it is crucial for this story to be illuminated further in society. Especially these days, where ideologies seem to outweigh human compassion.
And Rindy. Oh my word, Rindy. He deserves a Nobel prize for living through what he did, especially as a young child. Not just Rindy, but all the Cambodians-many who had even more harrowing stories than his.
The suffering of the Cambodian people is truly unconscionable and unimaginable, and it seems almost impossible that these events occurred not that long ago.
If there was anyone meant to tell this story, it is without doubt dear Olivia. Her tender care for the experiences of others, her deep and broad love for people, and her thoughtful intentionality to stay true to historical events is what makes this debut an absolute masterpiece.
Well done, friend 💗
“What could possibly fix a world so full of hurt if we just kept reincarnating into it again and again?
“The nightmares I had of jungle tigers in my childhood had long been replaced by even worse realities: the human animals I had encountered.”
“My life felt like the burned rice clinging to the bottom of a pot; I was meant to be discarded.”
“They’re orchids I think, just smaller than the ones sold at market.” She reached out to pluck one. “They never get sunlight here. I didn’t know things could survive in complete darkness.” I looked around at the thick underbrush. She looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “Yet somehow, they do.”
“Joining the freedom fighters was his way of spitting in the face of the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge at once, but to me it was like spitting into the wind. Everything we could do was useless against a greater force.”
“The enemy changed from month to month and sometimes day to day. Our lives were like walking through a minefield, never knowing what was going to go off and who would try to kill us next.”
“No one spoke a word, they just sobbed because words weren’t enough. They had lived through the unspeakable.”
“It was a mystery to me how new life emerged in a place so pregnant with death.”
“Hope is a resilient thing, and I marveled that we were still capable of it.”
“I didn’t know what to fear more: living or dying. Both seemed equally grim. I could no longer believe in building up merit by good deeds, that system was broken for me. I had seen too many perish who didn’t deserve to.”
“We merely existed like a speck of dirt on the back of a shovel that was being driven deeper and deeper into the earth.”
October 17, 2024
A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott is a heartbreaking, yet inspiring tale, based on a true story, of the arduous early years of Rindy, who was born in Cambodia and experienced the gruesome events of the Cambodian genocide during the 1970’s. While tackling difficult themes including abandonment and rejection, this novel also depicts his strength in the face of suffering, his resiliency amidst the snare of death, and the hope he acquires after learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“If you hate your life and wish it away, God can’t use it. He can’t redeem it. He can’t present it to the world that so desperately needs to know that He can restore, even out of this deep darkness we are all climbing from” (Pastor Akara, A Boy Named Rindy).
A Boy Named Rindy is a Christian historical fiction novel, largely based upon a true story. The novel depicts Rindy’s difficult upbringing as a child who experienced unmerciful rejection, rueful abandonment, and horrific abuse. During his early teenage years, Rindy is forced to endure the horrendous events of the Cambodian genocide that included starvation, forced severe labor, numerous deaths, and unimaginable violence. Throughout this time, Rindy is engulfed by despair and misery from the suffering he has endured since early childhood. Having grown up under the dictatorship of the Buddhist religion, he is void of hope and purpose. However, when he is introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Rindy discovers the unmatched love of Christ, spiritual liberty, and immeasurable peace.
Since the novel is based upon the life of Rindy, he is noticeably the main character and POV of the story. The plot is primarily character driven and slow in pace, which did not hinder the flow of the story, but rather effectively built upon each event of Rindy’s early years in life. Prior to reading this novel, I was unaware of the Cambodian genocide and the horrors that millions of people faced during this period. Most of the occurrences in his life were difficult to read, as it was saturated with suffering, abandonment, and abuse. (Please be aware of content warnings including child abuse, violence, and child abandonment). However, his sheer will to survive was inspiring. The pivotal point of the story is when Rindy learns about Jesus and gives his life to Christ. After numerous years of unthinkable suffering, Rindy experiences the redemptive power of Christ as well as the liberty found in the finished work of the cross. A hopeful tale of survival and redemption, I highly recommend this to others.
“If you hate your life and wish it away, God can’t use it. He can’t redeem it. He can’t present it to the world that so desperately needs to know that He can restore, even out of this deep darkness we are all climbing from” (Pastor Akara, A Boy Named Rindy).
A Boy Named Rindy is a Christian historical fiction novel, largely based upon a true story. The novel depicts Rindy’s difficult upbringing as a child who experienced unmerciful rejection, rueful abandonment, and horrific abuse. During his early teenage years, Rindy is forced to endure the horrendous events of the Cambodian genocide that included starvation, forced severe labor, numerous deaths, and unimaginable violence. Throughout this time, Rindy is engulfed by despair and misery from the suffering he has endured since early childhood. Having grown up under the dictatorship of the Buddhist religion, he is void of hope and purpose. However, when he is introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, Rindy discovers the unmatched love of Christ, spiritual liberty, and immeasurable peace.
Since the novel is based upon the life of Rindy, he is noticeably the main character and POV of the story. The plot is primarily character driven and slow in pace, which did not hinder the flow of the story, but rather effectively built upon each event of Rindy’s early years in life. Prior to reading this novel, I was unaware of the Cambodian genocide and the horrors that millions of people faced during this period. Most of the occurrences in his life were difficult to read, as it was saturated with suffering, abandonment, and abuse. (Please be aware of content warnings including child abuse, violence, and child abandonment). However, his sheer will to survive was inspiring. The pivotal point of the story is when Rindy learns about Jesus and gives his life to Christ. After numerous years of unthinkable suffering, Rindy experiences the redemptive power of Christ as well as the liberty found in the finished work of the cross. A hopeful tale of survival and redemption, I highly recommend this to others.
October 12, 2024
A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott is an emotional, powerful book. Though it was quite long, just over 500 pages, I was drawn into the story and it just wouldn't let me go. So much heartache and devastation. So many tears. But, there was hope. Even through rejection and being unloved, through abuse and starvation, war and being near death, there was courage and tenacity and determination. At different times in his life, Rindy had been told his life meant something, even though his family rejected him, the Buddist religion he grew up in tried to beat him down, and those in power tried to destroy him (along with everything and everyone he knew and loved), there was that flicker of hope.
This story takes us from Rindy's childhood through him becoming a young man. It is based on his true story. A story told directly to the author. A story that needed to be told. And I'm so glad it was even though it was so devastating. I couldn't believe I had never learned of the genocide in Cambodia when learning about world history. I'm sitting there looking at the dates, thinking about my life as a young girl living in America when this atrocity was taking place in Asia. It's heartbreaking. I'm tearing up writing this review, thinking back on what took place in Rindy's life, in his country.
But, we also see the power of God. The transformation of a person who grew up Buddhist, was forced to become religion-less during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, but ultimately led to Christ. And yes, there were also happy tears as I read about how Christ started to use this young man.
Yes, there is a lot in this book, it is heavy, not a light read. But it is so well worth the read. I highly recommend it.
I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.
This story takes us from Rindy's childhood through him becoming a young man. It is based on his true story. A story told directly to the author. A story that needed to be told. And I'm so glad it was even though it was so devastating. I couldn't believe I had never learned of the genocide in Cambodia when learning about world history. I'm sitting there looking at the dates, thinking about my life as a young girl living in America when this atrocity was taking place in Asia. It's heartbreaking. I'm tearing up writing this review, thinking back on what took place in Rindy's life, in his country.
But, we also see the power of God. The transformation of a person who grew up Buddhist, was forced to become religion-less during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, but ultimately led to Christ. And yes, there were also happy tears as I read about how Christ started to use this young man.
Yes, there is a lot in this book, it is heavy, not a light read. But it is so well worth the read. I highly recommend it.
I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.
December 19, 2024
This was an amazing story. In her author’s note, Talbott mentions that one of her influences is Laura Hillenbrand (who if you didn’t know I *love*) and honestly this novel compares really well — it’s an incredibly well-told, well-researched story of survival and redemption that had me in tears at many points.
The Cambodian genocide is a period of history that I knew about in a vague sense of “it happened,” but overall it is not one that I think enough attention. While horrifying things happen over the course of the novel, Talbott handled everything in a way that felt respectful and, though heavy, never became gruesome. I thought it was really cool how each chapter began with a quote from Rindy, reminding us that this is the true story of one man's struggle to survive a childhood of rejection and coming of age in unspeakable circumstances, to ultimately finding hope.
Another highlight for me was how the themes of faith and redemption were woven into the narrative in such a natural and organic way, so that by the time Rindy comes to know Christ, we can see how all these threads led him there. And that chapter, where Rindy finds the answer to the guilt he is unsuccessfully trying to hide and the rejection that has haunted him his whole life, had me sobbing (in public, alas).
The side characters were equally well-drawn and powerful, especially Vuthy, Chivy, and Vichet. I really loved how forgiveness was addressed in this story, especially with Rindy’s stepfather and older brother. Talbott’s descriptions were so evocative and really made each setting come to light.
Overall, I highly recommend this beautiful, heart-wrenching story of rejection and desperation but also of hope, forgiveness, and redemption.
The Cambodian genocide is a period of history that I knew about in a vague sense of “it happened,” but overall it is not one that I think enough attention. While horrifying things happen over the course of the novel, Talbott handled everything in a way that felt respectful and, though heavy, never became gruesome. I thought it was really cool how each chapter began with a quote from Rindy, reminding us that this is the true story of one man's struggle to survive a childhood of rejection and coming of age in unspeakable circumstances, to ultimately finding hope.
Another highlight for me was how the themes of faith and redemption were woven into the narrative in such a natural and organic way, so that by the time Rindy comes to know Christ, we can see how all these threads led him there. And that chapter, where Rindy finds the answer to the guilt he is unsuccessfully trying to hide and the rejection that has haunted him his whole life, had me sobbing (in public, alas).
The side characters were equally well-drawn and powerful, especially Vuthy, Chivy, and Vichet. I really loved how forgiveness was addressed in this story, especially with Rindy’s stepfather and older brother. Talbott’s descriptions were so evocative and really made each setting come to light.
Overall, I highly recommend this beautiful, heart-wrenching story of rejection and desperation but also of hope, forgiveness, and redemption.
October 14, 2024
This is one of the most captivating books I have ever read. Rindy’s story drew me in from the start and held me til the end. His story of such unfathomable pain, struggle and faith is so powerful and I am so thankful to have read it. Anyone who is interested in history or who has read books about the Holocaust should absolutely read this. This piece of Cambodian history was completely new to me; it is hard to believe the blackness of corruption that has affected so much of the world.
Much of the author’s prose is beautiful and eloquent. She does an incredible job of describing scenes in such a way that you feel you are there, and the word pictures she paints with personification and imagery are exquisite.
The one struggle I had was that it desperately needs to be edited. It’s not an exaggeration to say that nearly every one of the 64 chapters (including the author’s note for goodness sake) had a grammatical error, with missing words and homophones (horde vs hoard etc) being the most common offenders. Even one chapter title is misspelled and it��s a shame. However, the story was so good that even I as a grammar aficionado couldn’t bear to take away a star from my review. With editing help, this book could be an award winner for sure.
Much of the author’s prose is beautiful and eloquent. She does an incredible job of describing scenes in such a way that you feel you are there, and the word pictures she paints with personification and imagery are exquisite.
The one struggle I had was that it desperately needs to be edited. It’s not an exaggeration to say that nearly every one of the 64 chapters (including the author’s note for goodness sake) had a grammatical error, with missing words and homophones (horde vs hoard etc) being the most common offenders. Even one chapter title is misspelled and it��s a shame. However, the story was so good that even I as a grammar aficionado couldn’t bear to take away a star from my review. With editing help, this book could be an award winner for sure.
August 25, 2024
One must read A Boy Named Rindy to truly appreciate this powerful debut novel by Olivia Talbot.
Be prepared to experience a range of emotions as
Olivia weaves the harrowing story of Rindy's life in Cambodia spanning decades of conflict and unrest under different tyrants. As readers, we may have limited awareness of or no knowledge of these moments in Cambodia’s history, but this is just proof of why we need to sit at the feet of survivors and learn their stories of what it was like to live, survive and eventually thrive!
May we join our voices with Rindy, and faithful friends like Olivia (who spent a decade fighting for this story to be in our hands) to raise awareness and understanding of the Cambodian genocide, breaking loose the strongholds of pain and shame revealing the resiliency of humankind.
Be prepared to experience a range of emotions as
Olivia weaves the harrowing story of Rindy's life in Cambodia spanning decades of conflict and unrest under different tyrants. As readers, we may have limited awareness of or no knowledge of these moments in Cambodia’s history, but this is just proof of why we need to sit at the feet of survivors and learn their stories of what it was like to live, survive and eventually thrive!
May we join our voices with Rindy, and faithful friends like Olivia (who spent a decade fighting for this story to be in our hands) to raise awareness and understanding of the Cambodian genocide, breaking loose the strongholds of pain and shame revealing the resiliency of humankind.
May 27, 2025
This book is a heartbreaking but heartwarming true story. It was a really tough read but I’m glad I powered through to the end because it was so worth it! Rindy’s life seems to go from bad to worse, he endures through more than one person should have to experience. He lives through the Cambodian genocide and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. His life is a beautiful masterpiece of how God’s love can power through and heal even the worst trauma in someone’s life. There were times where I was out somewhere reading this book and had to put it down bc I didn’t want to cry in public. Much of this book is HEAVY, and thinking that this was someone’s real life is eye opening to say the least. Rindy is an inspiration to me, thankful for Olivia for beautifully telling his story!
December 5, 2024
This book is beautifully written, grips you, and will leave you inspired. At times the content is hard to read. I had to take it slow, so I wasn’t overwhelmed. It covers details of the Cambodian genocide that, unfortunately, are not well known. But these stories need to be told. You can tangibly feel the fear and darkness that stalked Rindy throughout his life. But then you can also feel the breath of relief that comes once the peace and life of Jesus Christ takes over. I appreciated how this book gave me a greater understanding of history, Buddhism, and karma.
“This won’t last forever, Rindy. Dawn is coming. You must live to see it.”
“This won’t last forever, Rindy. Dawn is coming. You must live to see it.”
October 26, 2024
Beautiful, heart gripping story
This is such an important piece of history that needs to be told, and the author has done just that. I wasn’t aware of the Cambodian genocide; it wasn’t a school history lesson and I haven’t read any books about it until now. It is a hard read, with high emotional content and unbelievable acts of evil against innocent people. But it is also a beautiful picture of redemption. A story of divine grace. A story that you don’t want to miss. A Boy Named Rindy is a boy that I will not soon forget.
This is such an important piece of history that needs to be told, and the author has done just that. I wasn’t aware of the Cambodian genocide; it wasn’t a school history lesson and I haven’t read any books about it until now. It is a hard read, with high emotional content and unbelievable acts of evil against innocent people. But it is also a beautiful picture of redemption. A story of divine grace. A story that you don’t want to miss. A Boy Named Rindy is a boy that I will not soon forget.
October 3, 2024
Olivia Talbott is an excellent storyteller. As I was reading A Boy Named Rindy, I felt like I was with him in the jungle, and everywhere else he traveled. The book is a fictionalized story based on Rindy's real life. Although some of it is difficult to read, due to the cruelty in Cambodia, the story is uplifting and hopeful. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true to life stories, and books with an encouraging message. I purchased a copy.
November 19, 2025
Everyone should read this. I had heard of this but never really knew anything deeply about it. This story is amazing and heartbreaking. I could not quit reading it until I read it all. I cried for them and cried for them more in happiness. There are not enough words for this book, this family and their life. I love Rindy and their family and I have never met them, but I will never forget them. Olivia’s time in writing this book well spent. Well. Spent.
February 21, 2025
This story is of a young boy who survives the Cambodian genocide. It was so well written that you can feel the pain Rindy went through. I am so glad this story was told and brought light to the horrible Cambodian genocide. I had no idea that even happened. I would definitely recommend it.
September 24, 2024
This is such a beautiful and poignant story. The descriptions of the settings are gorgeous and the book makes the world of Cambodia during this time period come alive.
October 25, 2024
What a beautiful story of redemption through so much devastation and heartache. Loved seeing how evident God’s love and provision is in Rindy’s life.
November 12, 2024
One of the more inspiring stories I’ve read. I felt as if I was experiencing the story as Rindy. I’m grateful to have read it.
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