Book: First they killed my father

First they killed my father - by Loung Ung

Anyone that is planning to visit Cambodia any time soon, or thinks that they have an opinion on Cambodia or the Khmer Rouge, should read this book.

I read it in Thailand just before heading over to Cambodia and it changed my visit dramatically. Rather than be annoyed with the armless and legless beggers, I wanted to just hug them and say I'm sorry. I had a profound respect for every person of age that would have lived during the war, they were survivors in the toughest sense.

The book is well written, and I even remember sitting on the beach in Thailand reading it with tears in my eyes. Not exactly your typical cheerful beach novel, so be warned.

If you are already traveling, you can buy the book extremely cheap in Cambodia....just grab one of the kids selling them around Siem Reap or pop into a bookstore. Otherwise, I would recommend reading it before you go to Cambodia.