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First They Killed My Father

A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers

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First They Killed My Father

Written by: Loung Ung
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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About this listen

One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung's family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed. Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.

©2000 Loung Ung (P)2011 Tantor Asia Historical Military & War Politicians Politics & Activism Women

What the critics say

"Ung's memoir should serve as a reminder that some history is best not left just to historians but to those left standing when the terror ends." ( Booklist)
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Couldn't put it down, had to listen from start to finish in one day. Having worked with Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees in the Philippines, I had a sense of affinity with the author - quite a compelling and remarkable story.

compelling

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… which I can strongly relate to as a refugee 40 years ago escaped from one of East European communist hellhole. We have to speak out when and wherever the dogooders of all ideological spectrums start to preach their ideas to do “good for the people” by suppressing freedom to speak out. *** The narrator is the weakest part of the book. The book doesn’t need so many narrator’s overdone emotional outbursts. It is book’s entire story which is telling to a reader what was to lived and survive in Pol Pot’s nightmarish lunatic paradise.

Definitely, it is a very powerful and well written story…

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This book was an extremely intense read. I was aware of the Khmer Rouge but to read about the experience from a first hand account was truly heartbreaking at times. Well written and the ability of Cambodians to perceiver and survive is truly inspiring.

Powerful

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Well worth the read. Gives insight into true suffering and true hate and the love and life that can stand up to hate and overcome it. Beautiful story and beautiful people.

Beautiful story filled with pain and love and truth

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This book is well written and is a heart wrenching story. it's a must read!

Beautiful and tragic

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#Audible 1. This was a fantastic book. highly recommend it. Everyone should read it now.

#Audible 1. it is a fantastic book. i highly recom

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I think it is important that people know this history that rarely gets much attention in schools, and that we listen to the experiences of survivors so that we may feel closer to them and understand that the tragedy happened to a fellow human with loved ones and a desire to simply live their life, just like anyone else.

Must read, so that people never forget.

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