A Cloak of Good Fortune: A Cambodian boy’s journey from paradise through a kingdom of terror

by Sieu Sean Do

A Cloak of Good Fortune traces one Cambodian child's coming of age from the idyllic, peaceful years of childhood in rural Cambodia through his family's forced exile by the Khmer Rouge.Sieu Sean Do was born in 1963 and grew up in Kampong Speu, a rural town about fifty kilometers outside Phnom Penh. The midwife declared Sieu Sean a rare family blessing because he was born inside the amniotic sac, and in Khmer folklore, the sac is believed to be a "cloak of good fortune" that brings good luck. No one knew then how much luck the family would ultimately need.In A Cloak of Good Fortune, Sieu Sean shares unique childhood trips to the town's bazaar with his grandfather to celebrate Chol Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year) where street vendors sold delicious food, exotic candies, and snacks; and listening to his grandmother recite ancestral Cambodian folktales steeped in Theravada Buddhism, an enchanted world-view that permeated every part of his family life. His father was a successful fabrics merchant wholesaler whose frequent business trips to Vietnam took him away from the family. His mother was a talented seamstress whose designs were sought by the wives of locals and foreign diplomats."From our balconies, we could see the Black Iron Bridge sitting above the Stoeng Prek Thnaot River. Beyond the bridge beautiful, thick, green vegetation spread across the land. Along the road people grew coconut, banana, papaya, guava, and mango trees. Cool breezes spread the rich scent of wild, fresh jasmine. It seemed we dwelt in a kind of paradise."In 1969, Sieu Sean and his family moved to Phnom Penh where their fortunes improved until the outbreak of civil war. At the age of twelve, his peaceful world turned into a nightmare as his family was torn from their home and forced into rural exile by the Khmer Rouge. "We lived on the street for about two months, scavenging food and water like wild animals. We traded our belongings and ate anything and everything to survive." Sent to a labor camp in the Cambodian jungle, they endured dark years of violence, brutality, and starvation before making their escape to Vietnam.A Cloak of Good Fortune is told from the innocent perspective of a child coming of age. It captures the simplicity and beauty of the pre-war mystical and magical Cambodian culture that blossomed between the French colonial period and the brutal terror of Pol Pot's reign. Sieu Sean's triumphant memoir preserves the heritage, culture, and traditions of the country he loves.

308 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2023

Reviews

[Katya Cengel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the title implies, “A Cloak of Good Fortune” is not merely a story of genocide, it is also a love story to a country and culture. The author starts his account of the Cambodian genocide before the genocide, when he was a young boy immersed in the nature and traditions of his country. Anecdotes about a baby elephant that becomes a family favorite and a deformed duck that the author protects, are more than just sweet stories, they also emphasize the Buddhist belief system Sean follows. The inclusion of folk tales reinforce the value system Sean learned, one in which elders are treated with great respect. These examples serve to further emphasize how completely Sean’s world is uprooted when the Khmer Rouge take over his country, plunging it into disarray, confusion and destruction.

Sean takes you so close to the story you sometimes feel the need to step back and look for context and understanding. Yet that is what Sean makes clear. There is no understanding when it comes to genocide. There are only the stories of survivors like Sean. His story is both one of hope and one of despair, a detailed account of beauty and brutality that will draw you in and leave you questioning human nature.

[David Trautmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Cloak of Good Fortune" is a deeply moving memoir that captures both the beauty and tragedy of Cambodia through a child's eyes. Sieu's vivid descriptions transport readers from his idyllic early years filled with the scent of jasmine and rich Khmer traditions to the brutal reality of survival under the Khmer Rouge. His unique perspective - beginning with his auspicious birth in an intact amniotic sac and continuing through forced exile - weaves together the mystical elements of Cambodian culture with stark historical events. The result is a powerful testament to human resilience that preserves precious insights into a vanished way of life.

[Linda Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First person narrative of a family living through the Khmer Rouge. Their language abilities and smart choices kept the family intact. Story begins in the years before the Khmer Rouge and then follows the family as their lives deteriorate and they become refugees.