An incredible tale of three intertwined lives played out on a backdrop of bureaucratic and political chaos. This book was awesome!
Ken, Heidi and AndreAn incredible tale of three intertwined lives played out on a backdrop of bureaucratic and political chaos. This book was awesome!
Ken, Heidi and Andrew have lived the lives that so many lie awake dreaming about. Saving lives in a Cambodian hospital, briefing international tribunals on war crimes, directing traffic through war zones, working in the name of peace, justice and democracy.
But is it all that its cracked up to be?
I'm sure none of them would trade their experiences for anything, but that's not to say it was as it should be. Bureaucratic hang-ups, unnecessary deaths, social and political turmoil, separation, sadness, despair and regret. Fighting the good fight ain't easy. Especially when you're not sure if who you're fighting for stands for what you're fighting for.
This book flies forward at in incredible pace, grabbing the reader and launching him along in the passenger seat of a white Toyota Land Cruiser. The writing is incredibly personal, captivating and candid. The characters are real. So are their stories.
Swain's memoir of his time spent in SEAsia gives a great overview of the atrocities that the region faced during the 1960's and 70's. Following the MeSwain's memoir of his time spent in SEAsia gives a great overview of the atrocities that the region faced during the 1960's and 70's. Following the Mekong through Cambodia into southern Vietnam, River of Time retraces his steps as a war reporter during the region's most tumultuous time.
With little knowledge of what actually happened in Vietnam, and even less of a clue as to the activities of the Khmer Rouge, River of Time offered me a personal look at these trouble countries during their most trying years. Clearly written by a journalist, not a novelist, the story is very straightforward and somewhat choppy. Not an entirely bad thing however as it makes the book easy to read in bits and pieces while traveling by bus, boat, tuk-tuk or cyclo!
Perhaps most fascinating was to hear about the fall of Phnom Phen and Saigon from someone who stood there in the thick of it. Can't possibly imagine have the gall to stick around for events like that but the romanticized war reporters of the 70's sure make it sound like the place to be. . .that is, if you're under the protection of a well established embassy and living with the all the privileges reserved solely for foreign corespondents!
Interesting peek into the Vietnam War and Khmer Rouge take over but really more just a quick biographical sketch of a war-reporter who has seen some serious business go down!...more