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Displaying 1 - 15 of 25 reviews
June 6, 2016
A vivid recount of a boy soldier's experience through the Khmer Rouge period and the following years. An interesting exploration of femininity and masculinity as embodied in the natural and man made forces bearing down and present within the landscape of Cambodia. Spanning centuries of history, Sinarth threads together the links between past and present, ancient and current nations, bringing to me a deeper understanding and perspective of South East Asian culture, I would not have otherwise fathomed. Perhaps Sinarth is an anti-hero, in his ordinariness and buffeting about by the journey as told through the narration, but as the reader I am beside him, and connect with him, through the dream like re-telling of his tale. Highly recommended! A story that has something for everyone in its many layers. A book of meaning yet simple in its execution making it accessible for every reader. Reading it, as a woman, I was glad it was many faceted with resounding depth yet humour, aspects of horror, yet warmth and humanity; and not your average war book. 5 stars from me.
Merged review:
A vivid recount of a boy soldier's experience through the Khmer Rouge period and the following years. An interesting exploration of femininity and masculinity as embodied in the natural and man made forces bearing down and present within the landscape of Cambodia. Spanning centuries of history, Sinarth threads together the links between past and present, ancient and current nations, bringing to me a deeper understanding and perspective of South East Asian culture, I would not have otherwise fathomed. Perhaps Sinarth is an anti-hero, in his ordinariness and buffeting about by the journey as told through the narration, but as the reader I am beside him, and connect with him, through the dream like re-telling of his tale. Highly recommended! A story that has something for everyone in its many layers. A book of meaning yet simple in its execution making it accessible for every reader. Reading it, as a woman, I was glad it was many faceted with resounding depth yet humour, aspects of horror, yet warmth and humanity; and not your average war book. 5 stars from me.
Merged review:
A vivid recount of a boy soldier's experience through the Khmer Rouge period and the following years. An interesting exploration of femininity and masculinity as embodied in the natural and man made forces bearing down and present within the landscape of Cambodia. Spanning centuries of history, Sinarth threads together the links between past and present, ancient and current nations, bringing to me a deeper understanding and perspective of South East Asian culture, I would not have otherwise fathomed. Perhaps Sinarth is an anti-hero, in his ordinariness and buffeting about by the journey as told through the narration, but as the reader I am beside him, and connect with him, through the dream like re-telling of his tale. Highly recommended! A story that has something for everyone in its many layers. A book of meaning yet simple in its execution making it accessible for every reader. Reading it, as a woman, I was glad it was many faceted with resounding depth yet humour, aspects of horror, yet warmth and humanity; and not your average war book. 5 stars from me.
June 7, 2016
I purchased this book from the author while in Cambodia and waited until recently to read it.
It was a page turner from the beginning, with a huge narrative and respect for the geography and history of Southeast Asia. The main character, Sinarth, begins as a simple child and is transformed irrecovably by the war against the Khymer Rouge. The feeling of war and in particular, this war are communicated superbly. It is a rich expression of a Cambodian boy's life from childhood through the trials of marriage and adulthood with the setting of an unusually challenging war in Cambodia. Props to Sinarth for transcending, evolving and settling down to become a good father, husband and employee.
It was a page turner from the beginning, with a huge narrative and respect for the geography and history of Southeast Asia. The main character, Sinarth, begins as a simple child and is transformed irrecovably by the war against the Khymer Rouge. The feeling of war and in particular, this war are communicated superbly. It is a rich expression of a Cambodian boy's life from childhood through the trials of marriage and adulthood with the setting of an unusually challenging war in Cambodia. Props to Sinarth for transcending, evolving and settling down to become a good father, husband and employee.
October 20, 2016
*Won in a Goodreads giveaway, Giving an honest review in return*
Wow...What can I say. Sinarth joined the military as a young teen and left a man. He was full of will. A will to live so strong not even multiple bullets, land mines or Khmer Rogue could take it away from him.
This book was incredibly well written. At some points I felt like I was in Cambodia. I could hear the foxes. I feel the bites of the mosquitoes. I could smell the flowers. The Death I could smell it all. I hope to read this book again someday. In the mean time I will pass this on to other people to enjoy and really appreciate.
I found myself throughout the book comparing the Khmer to the Nazis. Pol Pot to Hitler.
A must read in my honest opinion.
Wow...What can I say. Sinarth joined the military as a young teen and left a man. He was full of will. A will to live so strong not even multiple bullets, land mines or Khmer Rogue could take it away from him.
This book was incredibly well written. At some points I felt like I was in Cambodia. I could hear the foxes. I feel the bites of the mosquitoes. I could smell the flowers. The Death I could smell it all. I hope to read this book again someday. In the mean time I will pass this on to other people to enjoy and really appreciate.
I found myself throughout the book comparing the Khmer to the Nazis. Pol Pot to Hitler.
A must read in my honest opinion.
September 26, 2018
I too, like others here, purchased this book from the Cambodian War Museum in Siem Reap.
For some reason, I neglected to get it signed.
It's a wonderful book and thoroughly engrossing even though the subject at times can be a bit tough (like when he witnesses the 2 soldiers with the girls). For myself, I had to slow myself down so as not to simply read the text, but to actually absorb the words and see the images they were trying to impart.
I think it must take a lot for survivors to be able to share their personal histories in such a way, but also perhaps cathartic and rewarding. The idea that telling what happened to them to others might prevent a recurrence is what seems to drive many of them and even with all the trauma they must live it, it seems to offer an avenue towards something positive. At least, I hope so.
For some reason, I neglected to get it signed.
It's a wonderful book and thoroughly engrossing even though the subject at times can be a bit tough (like when he witnesses the 2 soldiers with the girls). For myself, I had to slow myself down so as not to simply read the text, but to actually absorb the words and see the images they were trying to impart.
I think it must take a lot for survivors to be able to share their personal histories in such a way, but also perhaps cathartic and rewarding. The idea that telling what happened to them to others might prevent a recurrence is what seems to drive many of them and even with all the trauma they must live it, it seems to offer an avenue towards something positive. At least, I hope so.
August 24, 2020
Heartwrenching Horrifying Picturesque tale. Picked this up at the War Museum in Siem Reap after meeting now not so young boy, who's story is told. Sinarth took the horrors he grew up around and spends his lifes energy educating people on what happened and how the Civil War is still affecting the cambodian population today. He is an impressionable man I will never forget.
June 25, 2017
So many emotions when reading this. I couldn't imagine going through what the Cambodian people had to go through. It really sheds a light on what happens to countries after the US invades and pulls out. I can see similar books like this coming out from Afghanistan and Iraq in a few years.
September 9, 2025
Met Sinarth while in Cambodia who briefly told me his story. Upon reading this book he truly has experienced one of the craziest lives. Glad to see he has found his happiness and is still going on strong.
June 29, 2017
A must read for anyone with an interest in Cambodge and it's history.
February 7, 2019
Very interesting and informative
September 22, 2016
I was so pleased to have won this book in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This is one book that will remain in my bookcase. It is hard to imagine life at the time of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, but had a fair idea as I was in my early 20's when this horrendous genocide took place. I am not going to write about the book as I will only be repeating what other reviewers have written. Recommended.
This is one book that will remain in my bookcase. It is hard to imagine life at the time of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, but had a fair idea as I was in my early 20's when this horrendous genocide took place. I am not going to write about the book as I will only be repeating what other reviewers have written. Recommended.
June 17, 2016
Levy’s Sinarth encapsulates layers of sensory experiences during the strife of war and beyond in Cambodia.
Reading such details that the book describes, I recommend one consume each passage slowly, letting each sentence be a conjurer to immerse one’s thoughts into synchronicity with the protagonist in his past environment- Cambodia’s nature and crumbling society; the heavy rains of the wet seasons; the sounds and smells of life that brims everywhere; and the heat and dust of the dry seasons; the death and suffering brought by the Khmer Rouge; fears aroused from hearkening to the sounds at night or the mysteries of what awaited through the jungle, whichever method and direction the enemy’s attacks came from.
The landscape of Cambodia is picked apart into the smallest details to share with the reader, giving one time to escape from, or approach and recognize, the atrocities that plagued Cambodia during authoritarian oppression.
Dead men tell no tales, but few who live are able to present a window into such a dramatic, bittersweet story and find the right person to present their life with a book of such lyrical prose. Nearing the completion of the book, the emotions start to burst from the pages and give one a lot to digest.
Ironically, the Stanford prison experiment took place just a few years after the beginning of the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, which manifested a country-wide Stanford prison experiment of their own; their entitlement lasting over a generation and memories of that time cannot go away so easily. Power was given to those who didn’t deserve to wield it. Sinarth recognizes that he could have had a similar but worse story if he had had the fate of others boys who were recruited to the Khmer Rouge. Those who survived such carnage deserve to have their stories read, at least certainly written about, on both sides, to show the faces of humanity, at its best and worst.
Can this help other people evade future mass suffering? I think other authors can be inspired by this book to present more windows to the struggles of other survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. Having survivors open up about past wounds is not the hard part, but putting it all together in a book like this, is.
Reading such details that the book describes, I recommend one consume each passage slowly, letting each sentence be a conjurer to immerse one’s thoughts into synchronicity with the protagonist in his past environment- Cambodia’s nature and crumbling society; the heavy rains of the wet seasons; the sounds and smells of life that brims everywhere; and the heat and dust of the dry seasons; the death and suffering brought by the Khmer Rouge; fears aroused from hearkening to the sounds at night or the mysteries of what awaited through the jungle, whichever method and direction the enemy’s attacks came from.
The landscape of Cambodia is picked apart into the smallest details to share with the reader, giving one time to escape from, or approach and recognize, the atrocities that plagued Cambodia during authoritarian oppression.
Dead men tell no tales, but few who live are able to present a window into such a dramatic, bittersweet story and find the right person to present their life with a book of such lyrical prose. Nearing the completion of the book, the emotions start to burst from the pages and give one a lot to digest.
Ironically, the Stanford prison experiment took place just a few years after the beginning of the rise of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, which manifested a country-wide Stanford prison experiment of their own; their entitlement lasting over a generation and memories of that time cannot go away so easily. Power was given to those who didn’t deserve to wield it. Sinarth recognizes that he could have had a similar but worse story if he had had the fate of others boys who were recruited to the Khmer Rouge. Those who survived such carnage deserve to have their stories read, at least certainly written about, on both sides, to show the faces of humanity, at its best and worst.
Can this help other people evade future mass suffering? I think other authors can be inspired by this book to present more windows to the struggles of other survivors of the Cambodian Genocide. Having survivors open up about past wounds is not the hard part, but putting it all together in a book like this, is.
July 11, 2016
"Sinarth: A Dedication To Life" depicts a powerful picture of a young boy who experienced things that most people never experienced in a lifetime. He saw his life get swept away in one swift motion. He went from being a happy, contented boy who had a loving family to being a boy who saw horrors which few boys ever experienced. He lost his parents, friends, siblings and that is only a glimpse of what he went through.
This book reminds us that this could have happened to any of us. Any one of use could have lost their family to a communist army. Any one of us could have our happy lives snatched way and be replaced with a hole in our hearts. It reminds us to be thankful that we would have a small chance of experiencing the horrors Sinarth went through. The blurb on the book tells us that we must cherish every single day in our lives no matter the obstacles placed before us.
What I loved about this book is that it gives us an idea of what it feels like to be Sinarth. You get to see what it feels like to have your peaceful country turn to a country run by blood-thirsty individuals, to be recruited in the army at a very young age and get injured multiple times, to find a different life after the Cambodian-Vietnamese War and much more. Another thing that I liked in this book was that it isn't biased and that the raw truth was just there.
This book is very well-written and at the same time, it adds a different style in writing. It puts a bit of poetry in it. The book is like a biography but at the same time, it isn't writing in a biography style of writing. Karl Levy put this book as an "emotional interpretation". The book is very interesting as for some parts, you can only speculate what will happen next. The last thing I would like to say is that it can be a wakeup call for some who don't appreciate what they have. The main message of the book is to appreciate what you have and to spread love all around you.
This book reminds us that this could have happened to any of us. Any one of use could have lost their family to a communist army. Any one of us could have our happy lives snatched way and be replaced with a hole in our hearts. It reminds us to be thankful that we would have a small chance of experiencing the horrors Sinarth went through. The blurb on the book tells us that we must cherish every single day in our lives no matter the obstacles placed before us.
What I loved about this book is that it gives us an idea of what it feels like to be Sinarth. You get to see what it feels like to have your peaceful country turn to a country run by blood-thirsty individuals, to be recruited in the army at a very young age and get injured multiple times, to find a different life after the Cambodian-Vietnamese War and much more. Another thing that I liked in this book was that it isn't biased and that the raw truth was just there.
This book is very well-written and at the same time, it adds a different style in writing. It puts a bit of poetry in it. The book is like a biography but at the same time, it isn't writing in a biography style of writing. Karl Levy put this book as an "emotional interpretation". The book is very interesting as for some parts, you can only speculate what will happen next. The last thing I would like to say is that it can be a wakeup call for some who don't appreciate what they have. The main message of the book is to appreciate what you have and to spread love all around you.
June 6, 2016
This review is from the author. Sinarth is a book that concentrates philosophically on the pluralities of the realities of a boy soldier in Cambodia. It examines his emotions including fear, arrogance, pride, terror, love in the Pol Pot genocidal period, as a boy soldier and in the sorrow of post war Cambodia. It is not a history of the period, nor is it a factual biography. It is a record of the emotional connection of an ordinary boy left in Cambodia to Pol Pot's communists and the surrounding civil wars both before and after that period from 1975 to 1980. Sinarth is alive and well today and the beauty of this book is that readers can readily meet him working at the Cambodian War Museum in Siem Reap putting a face to the person and take a personal tour with him where he describes what occurred during his life.
Merged review:
This review is from the author. Sinarth is a book that concentrates philosophically on the pluralities of the realities of a boy soldier in Cambodia. It examines his emotions including fear, arrogance, pride, terror, love in the Pol Pot genocidal period, as a boy soldier and in the sorrow of post war Cambodia. It is not a history of the period, nor is it a factual biography. It is a record of the emotional connection of an ordinary boy left in Cambodia to Pol Pot's communists and the surrounding civil wars both before and after that period from 1975 to 1980. Sinarth is alive and well today and the beauty of this book is that readers can readily meet him working at the Cambodian War Museum in Siem Reap putting a face to the person and take a personal tour with him where he describes what occurred during his life.
Merged review:
This review is from the author. Sinarth is a book that concentrates philosophically on the pluralities of the realities of a boy soldier in Cambodia. It examines his emotions including fear, arrogance, pride, terror, love in the Pol Pot genocidal period, as a boy soldier and in the sorrow of post war Cambodia. It is not a history of the period, nor is it a factual biography. It is a record of the emotional connection of an ordinary boy left in Cambodia to Pol Pot's communists and the surrounding civil wars both before and after that period from 1975 to 1980. Sinarth is alive and well today and the beauty of this book is that readers can readily meet him working at the Cambodian War Museum in Siem Reap putting a face to the person and take a personal tour with him where he describes what occurred during his life.
July 27, 2016
This is an excellent book, with just the correct amount of background history. I think there was a very good balance between the portrayal of the horror of the Khmer Rouge period while making it palatable to read through the Buddhist viewpoint of Sinarth, his friendships and his miraculous journey. Levy provides rich descriptions of the rural backdrop of bucolic landscapes, villages, people and their livestock amidst a ruthless era of unconscionable cruelty. The story about how Sinarth survived this period is quite remarkable.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet Sinarth at the War Museum in Siem Reap. He was our guide through the reminders of a past age that had caused him and so many others so much terror, pain and loss. He spoke in neutral tones, as someone who had shared this a thousand times before, about the history. He showed us the weapons that were used so brutally, but his eyes displayed the sadness and pain that was associated with these memories. He is a true testament to the resilience of the human body, mind and spirit. He showed us the scars from bullet wounds, shell blasts and the loss of his leg after stepping on a land mine. He wiggled a piece of shrapnel with his finger that was lodged under his skin and over his kneecap. I am thankful for what he shared and, to be honest, thankful for what he didn't share. The atrocities that happened during that period are too dreadful to be fully shared and too painful to be willingly accepted. But this book was ultimately one of hope. I highly recommend reading this book to learn more about the world and the mindset to survive the unsurvivable.
Recently I had the opportunity to meet Sinarth at the War Museum in Siem Reap. He was our guide through the reminders of a past age that had caused him and so many others so much terror, pain and loss. He spoke in neutral tones, as someone who had shared this a thousand times before, about the history. He showed us the weapons that were used so brutally, but his eyes displayed the sadness and pain that was associated with these memories. He is a true testament to the resilience of the human body, mind and spirit. He showed us the scars from bullet wounds, shell blasts and the loss of his leg after stepping on a land mine. He wiggled a piece of shrapnel with his finger that was lodged under his skin and over his kneecap. I am thankful for what he shared and, to be honest, thankful for what he didn't share. The atrocities that happened during that period are too dreadful to be fully shared and too painful to be willingly accepted. But this book was ultimately one of hope. I highly recommend reading this book to learn more about the world and the mindset to survive the unsurvivable.
June 20, 2016
I was captivated from the first word to the very last. I thought as I was reading each chapter that it couldn't possibly get any worse but actually did which had a hold on me to keep reading to find the happy ending on the last page. War is peace in the end because there appeared nothing left to fight for in the end but your family. FAMILY IS NO 1!. Karl well done!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 25 reviews