Tag: Phnom Penh

Kim Fay’s—The Map of Lost Memories *****

Irene, an unscrupulous treasure hunter teams up with Simone, a drug addict with an abusive husband at the request of Mr Simms to plunder Cambodia’s lost scrolls. From Shanghai, they take a boat immediately after the murder of Simone’s husband, but by the time they reach Saigon and Irene has revealed all the information about the scrolls’ location, she discovers Simone is teaming up with Louis and has her own plans once she gets her hands of the copper scrolls.

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Vaddey Ratner’s — In the shadow of the banyan *****

This book was recommended by fellow blogger Renee, the Global Bookwork and it’s definitely a five out of five (like every book I mention on this site).

Raami has an idealistic childhood in her Phnom Penh home with loving parents and servants. But when war breaks out in 1975 and the Khmer Rouge force everyone to flee from the city, the family joins the throngs of people and head to their holiday home with Raami’s extended family. They are lulled into a false sense of security until they are ordered to leave not only their second home, but their car. They trudge along with the rest of the hoards where soldiers watch over them, their guns poised, without knowing where they are headed.

This compelling novel is based on the writer’s personal experiences with names and locations changed.