Title: In the Shadow of the Banyan
Author: Vaddey Ratner
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN: 978-1451657708
Genre: Historical Fiction
My Review:
In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner is a heartrending story of the adversity faced by one young Cambodian girl during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. The author, having lived through these same extraordinarily brutal times in Phnom Penh, writes in artful prose a novel that transports readers to a time in the life of the young girl, Raami, who endures more brutality, violence, persecution and despair in 4 years than most people could imagine over a lifetime. While these horrific life experiences are masterfully illustrated by Ratner, the novel pulls from such terrifying realities something that overcomes the evils committed by the Khmer Rouge – the inspiration Raami draws from those who have left indelible, positive prints on her memories. Most importantly, Raami finds perseverance by her recollections of her father’s poetry, a mechanism by which she is able to cope with the atrocities she has witnessed and lived through. Brilliantly crafted, In the Shadow of the Banyan is a must read for those readers interested in learning of the extremely violent times in Cambodia in the 1970s, but with that knowledge and understanding, readers should be forewarned that humanity can be, and was in these times, graphically brutal, making some passages very difficult to read. While In the Shadow of the Banyan was difficult at times, I am deeply grateful for being given the opportunity to read Ratner’s book and believe In the Shadow of the Banyan would make for an excellent, albeit difficult, discussion group pick.
I am definitely going to keep this book in mind for my book discussion groups. I think I’d like it too. I don’t know that much about that time in history (I was born in the late 70s) and we didn’t really study it at my school. Thank you for sharing your review. I like the idea that poetry can help bring healing and strength when going through such a painful and scary time.
Christina,
The book is beautiful, which says a lot about the author, considering the brutality of the subject matter. I studied the Khmer Rouge in college, but rarely heard accounts from those who lived through it, as this author did (even though her book is not a biography).
I am really looking forward to this book!
Kathy,
It is definitely one to add to your bookshelves. For such a brutal topic (the author lived through the horror of the Khmer Rouge herself) the book is eloquently written. This is the first book in an extremely long time that had me in tears at times. This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.
I should look into this one! I visited Cambodia a few years ago and it was beautiful and the people were so kind, but it’s so hard to recover from what happened…
I have always wanted to travel to Cambodia. Since you have been, I look forward to your thoughts on the book.
This sounds like such a powerful read. Your review made me want to know more about this story. Thanks so much for sharing and intriducing me to this book.
Enjoy the book Jess, it is brilliant.