|
From his retelling of his role as a student activist in the prodemocracy protests of 1988 to the helping hand of a Cambridge professor, the book is filled with the mix of sadness and serendipity usually found only in fairy tales. From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey is simply one of the best. I've read many books about Burma and travel to the country frequently. After his escape from Burma, Pascal Khoo Thwe beautifully explains his dilemma as he is caught between the world of his village and trauma in Burma versus life in England. Unlike a lot of memoirs, it is both poetic and passionate at the same time. Pascal Khoo Thwe, who struggled with English when he fled the country, has produced an English-langauge masterpiece. Pascal Khoo Thwe never recites a history of his country's problems, but rather blends them in seamlessly with his own life, providing a much more textured picture of the struggles people did (and still) face under the military dictatorship.From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey would make an excellent movie and I hope one day somebody makes one. In the meantime, definitely read the book if you have any interest in Burma, or just good literature.
There is one escalator in the whole country and no one knows how to fix it. Joining the army to defend the regime is the only avenue for many to feed their families. The situation in Burma is a sad, sad thing. By the extraordinary actions of John Casey, Pascal Khoo Thwe "got out" and was put in a position where he could tell his story. No ghost writer is credited. These rulers refuse international help in a natural disaster to shield themselves not only from criticism of past atrocities but to further confiscate property. In the odd circumstances of this civil war we see how one day the armies are shooting at each other, the next side by side in a hospital on neutral ground.This narrative shows how the Burma police state operates on a personal level.
The author sees the end of the man who told him his life was worth a bullet, he sees college friends on both sides of the freedom fight and when he is safely in England he sees a photo of his grandmother with her ringed neck as she was displayed in England, many years ago. Its rulers have guns and no compassion. For more on the collapse of Burmese society I recommend Finding George Orwell in Burma.There is a lot of eerie symmetry. All wealth trickles up leaving the population total prey to its rulers. Through this story we learn how land is taken in Burma, how the people are cowed into submission and about the life of a freedom fighter. The prose of this book is outstanding, vocabulary and nuance show English skills far beyond even native English speaking college graduates. The book starts you thinking about the lonely life of an exile, the plight of the Burmese people, the problems for Thailand this has created, and an international commuity that has been unable to act.
Absolutely loved this book. Written in such a style that you almost forget the seriousness of the events taking place. The author explains the culture, events, and his own personality beautifully. Get past the 1st few pages, get used to the way he talks, and enjoy.
His book swept me away and brought me to understand and sympathize with the central Burmese people's courage and devotion to democracy and freedom. This book converted me from a skeptic of opposition politics in Burma to an ardent believer in the democracy movement there. They have taught me to love as a human being in Burma amidst the poverty and deprivation. I grew up in the magnificent Shan State with bitter distrust of urban Burmese elites and their political dominance. I was persuaded to read this book after finding out that for the first time I had a chance to discover someone from a village close to my home town. I owe my soul to that land and grateful to Khoo Thwe for his gift of writing. May he be strong enough to write many more books for Burma and the Kaya State.
It does give a good account of what's going on in Burma, especially in the rural parts too. It's definitely well written, and it's a very personal account of the author's journey. I'll recommend it for those interested in learning about Burma from a Burmese person, and from the native's perspective. It's not as dramatic as I thought it'll be but then, I guess that's real life at times. It's definitely as honest as it can be. Easy to read but by no means a simple writer. It's a literary piece for sure.
|
