The author was the only surviving family member in the Cambodian Khmer Rouge tragedy. This account based on her experience is an homage to her father. ( )

Moving and tragic story of Raami, a seven-year-old girl, and her family, as they, along with the rest of the population, are forced by the Khmer Rouge to evacuate Phnom Penh. They are relocated a number of times, and endure violence, oppression, physical deprivations, mental anguish, separation, and deaths of loved ones. In the Shadow of the Banyan is based on the author’s experience as a small child in Cambodia. She wrote it to honor the lives of the estimated two million people, including some of her family members, who suffered and died in the Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979.

Ratner shows the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, referred to as the “Organization,” but at the same time points out the small bits of beauty that remain in the wake of destruction. The author adds fragments of poetry, Cambodian folk tales and legends, and examples of human kindness. These seem particularly appropriate to a young and innocent narrator who wants to be protected from harm and uses the stories as a form of escape. The child narrator is also the only drawback: she often exhibits wisdom and language beyond her years.

Themes include the power of storytelling, family relationships, memories, guilt, grief, and love. Vaddey Ratner’s writing style is simply beautiful. Heart-wrenching but ultimately hopeful, this story illustrates the desire to live even in the most horrific conditions.
( )

Raami tiene siete años. Su vida, como miembro de la familia real camboyana, es muy placentera. Vive en un palacio en Phnom Penh, su padre se dedica a la poesía y junto a él, su madre y su hermana disfrutan de todas las comodidades. Pero un día sus vidas se truncan abruptamente. Los Khmeres rojos obligan a la población camboyana a abandonar sus hogares, sus ciudades y trasladarse al campo. Allí serán internados en campos de trabajo para ser reeducados en la doctrina comunista. La familia de Raami se hace pasar por campesina ya que, si llegaran a conocerse sus orígenes nobles, serían ejecutados. A pesar de la terrible experiencia, Raami se mantiene fuerte. La esperanza no la ha abandonado porque ha constatado que, incluso en los momentos más extremos, ha habido un lugar para la lealtad y la solidaridad.

“words, you see," he said, looking at me again, "allow us to make permanent what is essentially transient.Turn a world filled with injustice and hurt into a place that is beautiful and lyrical.”
― Vaddey Ratner, In the Shadow of the Banyan

This is a true story about the Cambodian Genocide and I would really suggest one read it. It is not just the story which is gut wrenching. It is the writing itself. The writing is exquisite.

I am awed when I encounter someone who can write like this..who can turn a paragraph into souring poetry. And make no mistake the writing is like a poem. If the writing had not been as amazing as it is, I’m not sure I’d have been able to read it because it is such a dark book.

As sad and tragic as the book is, the writing is luminious and unforgettable. Every word is from the heart.

I should warn, (and this isn’t really very much of a spoiler) that this is a pretty dark subject matter and one should know that going in. I had a very difficult time with parts of it, particularly as the story went on.

It is a searing and passionate work of amazing beauty. It is tragic, dark and utterly heart breaking. And I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. ( )

I was dreading reading this: after reading one depressing book about a terrible part of history, moving onto a book about the Cambodian genocide? So I put it off for a while...but even though it's on such a heavy, scary topic, it's beautifully written. I wasn't surprised that it's semi-autobiographical, either. ( )