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The Foreigner's Confession
After a horrific accident shatters her world and leaves her an amputee, American attorney Emily Mclean moves to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to work with landmine survivors. She hopes to reinvent herself in this new land, leaving behind her sense of culpability in the death of her husband and the loss of her unborn child.
While visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, Emily discovers that she shares an eerie resemblance to a portrait of a former prison inmate, Milijana Petrova, a Yugoslavian communist revolutionary who, in the 1970s, became fatally enmeshed with the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Emily is not the only one who notices the astonishing similarity—her Cambodian driver insists she is the ghost of Milijana, come back to complete a mysterious task.
This unexpected discovery consumes Emily, who starts desperately searching for answers about Milijana in historical documents from Cambodia’s devastating civil war. As she begins to uncover more clues about Milijana’s life—from the horrible mistakes she made to the terrible price she paid—further similarities between the two women start to emerge, and their stories become intertwined. What happens when life is turned upside down and the boundaries between past and present, life and death, are blurred? Can Emily’s discoveries help her to finally emerge from the pain of her own past, or will Milijana’s tragic end foretell her own?
While visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, Emily discovers that she shares an eerie resemblance to a portrait of a former prison inmate, Milijana Petrova, a Yugoslavian communist revolutionary who, in the 1970s, became fatally enmeshed with the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Emily is not the only one who notices the astonishing similarity—her Cambodian driver insists she is the ghost of Milijana, come back to complete a mysterious task.
This unexpected discovery consumes Emily, who starts desperately searching for answers about Milijana in historical documents from Cambodia’s devastating civil war. As she begins to uncover more clues about Milijana’s life—from the horrible mistakes she made to the terrible price she paid—further similarities between the two women start to emerge, and their stories become intertwined. What happens when life is turned upside down and the boundaries between past and present, life and death, are blurred? Can Emily’s discoveries help her to finally emerge from the pain of her own past, or will Milijana’s tragic end foretell her own?
354 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
5 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Lya Badgley
3 books34 followersLya Badgley writes internationally set fiction that blends suspense, history, and transformation. Born in Myanmar to Montana parents—a political scientist and an artist—she was raised in a home that prized both creativity and critical thought. Her unconventional path has carried her from Seattle’s music scene to covert film work with Burmese insurgents, and from archival preservation in Cambodia to entrepreneurship in Yangon.
Her debut, The Foreigner’s Confession (2022), was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Award for Best Fiction. Her second, The Worth of a Ruby (2023), was a 2024 finalist for both the International Book Award and the National Indie Excellence Award. She lives outside Seattle and is excited to release her third novel, The Thirty-Fifth Page.
Her debut, The Foreigner’s Confession (2022), was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Award for Best Fiction. Her second, The Worth of a Ruby (2023), was a 2024 finalist for both the International Book Award and the National Indie Excellence Award. She lives outside Seattle and is excited to release her third novel, The Thirty-Fifth Page.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 19, 2022
Wonderful moving story. I loved the dual story lines. Eye opener to what truly happened in Cambodia and that unfortunately history continues to repeat itself. Pushed me to learn even more. Highly recommend.!
February 23, 2022
This is a brilliant first novel by Lya. She has immersed herself into the culture and the place so brilliantly while developing depth in the characters.
I can’t wait for what comes next from her!
I can’t wait for what comes next from her!
August 16, 2023
Book Review: She Rides
8/9/20230 Comments
Picture
She Rides, by Alenka Vrecek, is a memoir sent to me by my dear friend and bookologist, Stephanie Affinito. Stephanie is amazing at curating book lists for people to help them live their best life, discover something new about themselves, work through personal issues, or simply learn new things. She read this book and immediately thought of me because of my epic adventure riding across the US on a tandem bicycle. (If you didn't know about this adventure, you can read my blog here: http://doublebuttedadventures.wordpre...)
Alenka's decision to ride from Lake Tahoe to her property in Mexico was different from my own reasons for riding. However, we were both looking to heal ourselves from trauma and make sense of a world that didn't make a lot of sense. Just as importantly, we both succeeded and came out the other side with a greater understanding.
Because I have been on an adventure like this, I spoke to Alenka out loud on many occasions. "NO! Don't ride in the dark!" or "Are you crazy??? You have to take more water than that!" I also laughed with her, cried with her, and agreed with so many of her "ah-ha" moments, especially when she comes to understand that people are generally good. That was one of my biggest takeaways from our trip.
Even if you are not a cyclist or even an adventure seeker, I think you will get a lot from her words. We all need to heal, explore, and understand. She Rides will help you do all three.
0 Comments
Book Review: Libertie
8/3/20230 Comments
Picture
Libertie, written by Katilyn Greenidge, is a book suggested to me as a way to honor Juneteenth. Because of my crazy schedule, I wasn't able to read it prior to the holiday, but I did want to read it for a variety of reasons, including supporting a black author and seeing the time period during and after slavery from a different point of view.
The story takes place outside of Brooklyn in a free-black community prior to, during, and shortly after the Civil War. I learned quite a lot about what "free" meant and didn't mean to those of color. I had always assumed that free blacks in the North were treated no differently than anyone else. However, this was not true. And because Libertie was a girl, soon to be woman, the lack of freedom was considerably less.
I will be frank and say that I had trouble relating to Libertie and her mama, as well as the angst between them, though the author painted the picture beautifully with her words. I wanted Libertie to stop being a whiner. I wanted her mama to stop being so controlling. On the other hand, isn't that often the way it seems to be between a teenager and her mother? I loved the ending - and who Libertie becomes in the end. I'm glad I read the book and will look for others that look at this time period, especially those written from various points of view. If you read Libertie, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Emily is the main character of The Foreigner's Confession by Lya Badgley. She is a lawyer who experienced a horrific car accident that nearly cost her life. It did take the life of her husband, her unborn daughter, and left her without a portion of her leg. After months of depression, she decides to use her skills to help others in Cambodia - and that is where the story takes a very unusual twist - the appearance of another woman, Milijana, who is long-dead!
The Foreigner's Confession is a dual timeline, dual point of view historical fiction mystery. I love seeing how other authors handle differing timelines and POVs, and Lya did so masterfully. This book also gave me some insights into the Vietnam war and the aftereffects in Cambodia, neither of which I understand well.
Of course, what I love most are the characters. I immediately connected with Emily and her desire to help others who were less fortunate. However, I also understood her boss's resentment of Amercians coming in to fix problems "in order to make themselves feel better." It really made me think about how, why, and where I do service. Who is it for? And am I truly being helpful or just allaying my conscious?
I highly recommend The Foreigner's Confession, especially if you are looking for a historical fiction that explores a time and place often left untouched by authors!
8/9/20230 Comments
Picture
She Rides, by Alenka Vrecek, is a memoir sent to me by my dear friend and bookologist, Stephanie Affinito. Stephanie is amazing at curating book lists for people to help them live their best life, discover something new about themselves, work through personal issues, or simply learn new things. She read this book and immediately thought of me because of my epic adventure riding across the US on a tandem bicycle. (If you didn't know about this adventure, you can read my blog here: http://doublebuttedadventures.wordpre...)
Alenka's decision to ride from Lake Tahoe to her property in Mexico was different from my own reasons for riding. However, we were both looking to heal ourselves from trauma and make sense of a world that didn't make a lot of sense. Just as importantly, we both succeeded and came out the other side with a greater understanding.
Because I have been on an adventure like this, I spoke to Alenka out loud on many occasions. "NO! Don't ride in the dark!" or "Are you crazy??? You have to take more water than that!" I also laughed with her, cried with her, and agreed with so many of her "ah-ha" moments, especially when she comes to understand that people are generally good. That was one of my biggest takeaways from our trip.
Even if you are not a cyclist or even an adventure seeker, I think you will get a lot from her words. We all need to heal, explore, and understand. She Rides will help you do all three.
0 Comments
Book Review: Libertie
8/3/20230 Comments
Picture
Libertie, written by Katilyn Greenidge, is a book suggested to me as a way to honor Juneteenth. Because of my crazy schedule, I wasn't able to read it prior to the holiday, but I did want to read it for a variety of reasons, including supporting a black author and seeing the time period during and after slavery from a different point of view.
The story takes place outside of Brooklyn in a free-black community prior to, during, and shortly after the Civil War. I learned quite a lot about what "free" meant and didn't mean to those of color. I had always assumed that free blacks in the North were treated no differently than anyone else. However, this was not true. And because Libertie was a girl, soon to be woman, the lack of freedom was considerably less.
I will be frank and say that I had trouble relating to Libertie and her mama, as well as the angst between them, though the author painted the picture beautifully with her words. I wanted Libertie to stop being a whiner. I wanted her mama to stop being so controlling. On the other hand, isn't that often the way it seems to be between a teenager and her mother? I loved the ending - and who Libertie becomes in the end. I'm glad I read the book and will look for others that look at this time period, especially those written from various points of view. If you read Libertie, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Emily is the main character of The Foreigner's Confession by Lya Badgley. She is a lawyer who experienced a horrific car accident that nearly cost her life. It did take the life of her husband, her unborn daughter, and left her without a portion of her leg. After months of depression, she decides to use her skills to help others in Cambodia - and that is where the story takes a very unusual twist - the appearance of another woman, Milijana, who is long-dead!
The Foreigner's Confession is a dual timeline, dual point of view historical fiction mystery. I love seeing how other authors handle differing timelines and POVs, and Lya did so masterfully. This book also gave me some insights into the Vietnam war and the aftereffects in Cambodia, neither of which I understand well.
Of course, what I love most are the characters. I immediately connected with Emily and her desire to help others who were less fortunate. However, I also understood her boss's resentment of Amercians coming in to fix problems "in order to make themselves feel better." It really made me think about how, why, and where I do service. Who is it for? And am I truly being helpful or just allaying my conscious?
I highly recommend The Foreigner's Confession, especially if you are looking for a historical fiction that explores a time and place often left untouched by authors!
February 22, 2022
I need more stars for this incredible, brilliant book. Not all victims of war are on the battlefield. This book wakes you in the night to ponder the unexpected life changes. Two stories and two women making a choice they don't really understand, which entwines multiple generations with the war in Cambodia. Surviving tragedy little did Emily ever know of the chapters already written. Her unknown resilience takes her to where she needs to be and find those that have been waiting. This is the book to devour, contemplate and share.
April 27, 2022
I read The Foreigner's Confession through Chapter One Bookstore's book club. We just Zoomed with the author tonight and had a great conversation. I enjoyed the book for the characters and for the insight into the history of the Kymer Rouge in Cambodia. All but two of the characters were based on people who the author met while working in Cambodia. There were some really good twists and at least one surprise in the plot. The book stayed with me with, for me, is always the sign of a good read.
February 18, 2022
This book examines a period in Cambodian history that is very painful and dark. It doesn't shy away from that darkness. But it also brings to life the magic of the Cambodian people and culture. The characters and place are vividly haunting. I recommend this novel strongly, but it is not for the faint of heart.
October 24, 2023
Really enjoyed this book!!! For the story alone it was great. Also I loved that it was set in Cambodia in the 1970s and 1990s. Knowing the author had worked with David Chandler on the S-21 documents meant I knew she was the perfect person to write a story set in Toul Sleng. And I LOVED her her descriptions of the the Cambodian weather.
September 12, 2023
This was an impressive and ambitious novel from a writer who based her story on research she carried out in Cambodia documenting the atrocities of Pol Pot and the agrarian revolution he led.
The tale is told in two timelines. American attorney Emily moves to Cambodia in the early 1990s, as Khmer Rouge power begins to wane. A horrific accident has left her an amputee, but the deepest scars are internal. She hopes helping Cambodian amputees will help restore a sense of purpose to her life, but she quickly grasps how little she understands about the history of her new country and her inability to recognize the internal wounds many of the locals choose to keep hidden. A portrait resembling her at the former prison turned Genocide Museum leads her to delve more deeply into Cambodia's recent past.
In 1970, Milijana is a young Serb who met her husband, a Cambodian, in Paris. Caught up in the communist ideology fashionable at the universities at the time, Milijana attends the Sorbonne, alongside a young Pol Pot. Milijana's activism converts her into a communist revolutionary, welcoming Cambodia's agrarian revolution as a chance to rebuild a more just society. Now married and a young mother, Milijana urges her reluctant husband to return to his homeland to take part in the glorious, new society. But Milijana quickly - and tragically - learns that political philosophy on paper and radical political movements in practice have little in common. In diaries we learn the heartbreaking fate that befalls Milijana and her family.
Badgely does a masterful job of weaving these dual timeline stories together and bringing the locales to life on the page. A gripping story of a complicated period of Cambodian history, told through the alternating perspectives of two strong women.
The tale is told in two timelines. American attorney Emily moves to Cambodia in the early 1990s, as Khmer Rouge power begins to wane. A horrific accident has left her an amputee, but the deepest scars are internal. She hopes helping Cambodian amputees will help restore a sense of purpose to her life, but she quickly grasps how little she understands about the history of her new country and her inability to recognize the internal wounds many of the locals choose to keep hidden. A portrait resembling her at the former prison turned Genocide Museum leads her to delve more deeply into Cambodia's recent past.
In 1970, Milijana is a young Serb who met her husband, a Cambodian, in Paris. Caught up in the communist ideology fashionable at the universities at the time, Milijana attends the Sorbonne, alongside a young Pol Pot. Milijana's activism converts her into a communist revolutionary, welcoming Cambodia's agrarian revolution as a chance to rebuild a more just society. Now married and a young mother, Milijana urges her reluctant husband to return to his homeland to take part in the glorious, new society. But Milijana quickly - and tragically - learns that political philosophy on paper and radical political movements in practice have little in common. In diaries we learn the heartbreaking fate that befalls Milijana and her family.
Badgely does a masterful job of weaving these dual timeline stories together and bringing the locales to life on the page. A gripping story of a complicated period of Cambodian history, told through the alternating perspectives of two strong women.
March 31, 2022
This book was absolutely amazing. The characters were well developed and the plot made it hard to put this book down. The descriptions of Cambodia were powerful. This book gripped me and I cannot wait for more books from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2022
I love books that transport me to a location or a period in time. This book did both. It it beautifully written and helps to understand a part of history that we seem to either ignore or forget. I couold not put it down.
April 27, 2022
Loved this book. The story was captivating, and the characters were relatable. The imagery was wonderful. I could feel the heat and humidity and could smell the flowers and food. I thank the author for creating this story.
May 18, 2022
One of the very best books i've read this year! It gives such a clear and intriguing insight into a country, a time and the cultural/ political situation, as well as the layers in a good story. Heart breaking, exciting and a sense of yearning at the same time.
April 12, 2022
Loved this book. It was easy to read, very educational and moving, and I loved the characters.
April 27, 2022
Good read. A few characters could have been better developed, but I enjoyed the book overall. Introduced me to a time period I knew little about.
June 7, 2023
After completing this book, I had to sit with its mental images and emotions for a while before writing this review. Reading it is an invitation to witness. This novel takes up the Khmer Rouge’s brutal torture and genocide of thousands of Cambodians during its civil war. Written as a dual timeline, the story moves between present-day Emily, an American human rights worker, and Milijana, a prisoner of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. The events carry the authenticity of the author drawing from her own experience documenting genocide records and interviewing insurgents in the nineties. The result is a brilliant, multi-layered novel. It explores the tension between Western and Khmer cultures; otherworldly ghosts and journalistic facts; and the idealism of Communism’s nirvana promise and its degradation in the hands of tyrants. The writing is sensuous: We smell the rank odor of the torture cells and feel the clamminess of heavy humidity. And through it all, Emily’s pursuit of truth, which is caught up with Milijana’s gradually unraveled story, drove me to keep the pages turning. I love how the author’s love for this country and its people shine through the pages. I love her sensitivity and honesty in writing about fragile, horrific events. But most of all, I love the hope that the more books such as these are written, the closer humankind can get to ending horrific acts.
July 21, 2023
This book surprised me at almost every corner and I loved that it was both absolutely grounded in the crazy reality of post-Angkar Cambodia but also a literal ghost story. Truth is stranger than fiction, but her fiction is based in experience which is important.
I felt like I knew all of these characters intimately and the author did a great job of humanizing them and their flaws in the context of their experiences, asking without trying to answer the deep psychological questions we all have in the wake of a horrific man-made humanitarian disaster such as genocide. How can you do such a thing? What is the nature of evil? What did you do to survive?
Even her portrayal of the UN was great. Neutral, ambivalent, human in their want to help or their desire to profit, hamstrung by red tape and international politics… These stories need to be told - doing so in fiction helps compartmentalize the horrors of history.
I was randomly assigned this title for a book review and honestly a little astounded. The ties to the Cornell Archive Project at S21 and Yugoslavia, the themes and hard discussions about white savior complex, international adoptions, ethnic nationalism in political borders, American imperialism, etc. are all themes that I have interacted with academically, and even had Peter Maguire on my thesis committee in grad school (read Facing Death in Cambodia).
Small world.
I felt like I knew all of these characters intimately and the author did a great job of humanizing them and their flaws in the context of their experiences, asking without trying to answer the deep psychological questions we all have in the wake of a horrific man-made humanitarian disaster such as genocide. How can you do such a thing? What is the nature of evil? What did you do to survive?
Even her portrayal of the UN was great. Neutral, ambivalent, human in their want to help or their desire to profit, hamstrung by red tape and international politics… These stories need to be told - doing so in fiction helps compartmentalize the horrors of history.
I was randomly assigned this title for a book review and honestly a little astounded. The ties to the Cornell Archive Project at S21 and Yugoslavia, the themes and hard discussions about white savior complex, international adoptions, ethnic nationalism in political borders, American imperialism, etc. are all themes that I have interacted with academically, and even had Peter Maguire on my thesis committee in grad school (read Facing Death in Cambodia).
Small world.
September 18, 2023
I was so happy to win this book, it was a good book learning of Cambodia and the dual stories that were happening. It shows that war can cause many different things not just the people on the battlefield. This book was hard to put down. I typically only read thrillers so I loved reading this and learning of new style books. If you have an option to read this, I recommend it.
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April 29, 2022Read this for a DE&I book club. Some of the things were disturbing.
October 16, 2022
Beyond fascinating and heartbreaking. Couldn't pull myself away and finished it in three days. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews