Sum Rithy: Surviving the Genocide in the Land of Angkor

by Kok-Thay ENG

A story of suffering, hope and resilience under the Khmer Rouge genocide

115 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Rebekah Gyger]

I'm not going to leave a starred review, as I feel that there are many layers to evaluating a book like this which perhaps make a starred rating ineffectual.

The most obvious criteria to evaluate is that of the writing, which is admittedly poor. Unlike what other reviewers seem to have mentioned (and how it may have been translated to them by an interpreter) this book was not written by Sum Rithy himself. The author is instead a historian who has devoted his career interviewing those left behind in the wake of the defeat of the Khmer Rouge. Based on what little information can be gleaned from the book itself, it seems that he wrote the book in English himself without a translator (there is not one credited) or an editor. As Kok-Thay Eng is a Khmer name, it is likely that English is his second language.

As far as content, the book details the life of one of the survivors of the Khmer Rouge, his story made all the more important due to his status as one of the few survivors of one of the torture prisons. Sum Rithy's story offers much to history in that he was imprisoned for two years, in which time he was witness to some of the Khmer Rouge's worst brutalities.

The book's historical and anthropological value is compounded by the addition of twelve interviews following Rithy's story, these being interviews with Khmer Rouge members who remained part of the party until its final desolation in 1998.

As other reviewers have mentioned, I also purchased a copy from Sum Rithy himself, where he now lives in Phenom Penh. On a personal level, it was moving to see him in person and to experience the emotion on his face as he spoke with my friend who translated for me. And, if for nothing else, I am grateful for this book which allowed a man to share his story with me across languages and culture.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

We bought this book from Sum Rithy himself in Siem Reap, Cambodia on the site of the former Khmer Rouge prison. We were able to talk to him a little about his experience, but reading this book filled in al the horrific details. He was one of only seven survivors of the prison at Siem Reap. I rated the book high because of the importance of the story that it tells and I appreciate the political details included that wrap Sum Rithy's story into its historical context. It has some writing errors - could use a good editor - but the story is incredible. I'm glad Sum Rithy was able to share his story and that someone took the time to print the book. I'm far from an expert on this and am glad to have been educated. These stories are important.

[Erika Hyett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously a translation to English so this can make the story a bit stilted but extremely moving for such atrocities and for people to have survived.

[Katrine Funding]

Det ville ikke være særligt givtigt at forsøge at give denne bog stjerner, for den er virkelig ikke særligt velskrevet. Bogens forfatter, en cambodjansk historiker, hakker noget i det engelske, så det giver nogle spøjse sproglige konstruktioner. Selve indholdet er dog interessant og vigtigt, når man ser igennem fingre med den ringe formidling. Bogen beskriver en personlig fortælling fra folkemordets tid. Vi hører om Sum Rithy, der overlevede flere års fængsel under Khmer Rouges tyranni. De færreste slap levende ud af fængsler i de år… Rithy lever stadig og sælger denne bog ved Killing Fields i Phnom Penh, så bogen har jeg købt af ham personligt. Det sætter virkelig vores behagelige moderne liv i perspektiv når man får indblik i fortidens brutaliteter.

[Andreanna Coley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, with some important historic information. The English and the flow of the sentences could be improved alot. I would be happy to assist Rithy!

[Naj]

I bought a copy from Sum Rithy himself at the Choeung Ek Genocidal Center in Cambodia. I was particularly drawn to his account because he was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in Siem Reap—home to Angkor Wat. It's difficult to fathom that such brutality occurred in a place so sacred—yet it did. I'm grateful Sum Rithy survived and shared his story, lest we forget.

The appendix also includes stories of villagers who viewed the Khmer Rouge in a positive light (even as a blessing), which I found thought-provoking and deepened my understanding of this part of Cambodian history.

Overall, my thoughts about this book and the Khmer Rouge more broadly can be summed up by this quote from Milan Kundera's Unbearable Lightness of Being:

"Anyone who thinks that the Communist regimes of Central Europe are exclusively the work of criminals is overlooking a basic truth: the criminal regimes were made not by criminals but by enthusiasts convinced they had discovered the only road to paradise. They defended that road so valiantly that they were forced to execute many people. Later it became clear that there was no paradise, that the enthusiasts were therefore murderers."

[Fifi Brindacier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tbh the English wasn’t great so that made it harder to get through

So if we’re rating it as a read I have to be a harsh critic

But it was so raw and real (plus I bought the book from the author so I felt connected to it) that it’s unfair to rate it at all

Some lines I had to read over and over because of the VIOLENCE

It’s been real

[Maureen Mclelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book on site at the El Chouek Killing Fields just outside of Phnom Penh from Sum Rithy, the author. While it is not very well translated and is actually written by an historian and is not his first-person account, there is no mistaking the gut punch it leaves. What he experienced and the senseless tragedy of what occurred in his country is something we all need to learn about.

[Jonathan Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting first-hand account of someone's experience throught the Cambodian genocide.

Littered with spelling and grammatical errors, due to being written by a non-English speaker and the structure is a bit jarring, but ultimately not too difficult to understand what is being said.

[Ben Wooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book discusses Sum Rithy’s experiences during the Khmer Rouge genocide, and what he had to do to survive. Although the English quality is not the highest, that perhaps protects you from overly graphic descriptions and is therefore appreciated.

[Héloïse Couronné · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grijpende getuigenis over het overleven van de genocide door de Khmer rouges in Cambodja. Vertaling naar het Engels dus niet prachtig geschreven.

[riti aggarwal]

Bought the book from Sum Rithy himself. Very harrowing. It's important to document tragedies and atrocities like this, especially in light of current genocides.

[Vera Kirk]

This is such an important topic and story to talk about, to remember the history that came before us.

At the same time this wasn't well written, which did take away from the experience.