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First They Killed My Father
- A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
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First They Killed My Father
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Summary
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.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-01-19
Humans can be so evil.
After visiting the killing fields in Cambodia near Phnom Penh and seeing the place where so many men, women, children and babies died, I decided to learn more about what happened. This audio book tells the harrowing story of Loung Ung and the horrendous things this little girl and her family went through during this terrible time in history. It is an amazing story.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jay Acharya
- 08-10-17
Gripped from the first line
This is an autobiographical view of a young girl who has witnessed so much and experienced so much at such a young age. Luong Ung, like many young children her age was displaced from her comfortable life to that of something I could never describe the way she did in her book. Considering this was in the 1970’s, the story I am sure resonates today in the harsh and unpredictable landscape we live in today.
The book is far superior to the movie, which is amazing - but the story is more detailed from such a young naive and innocent mind and frantic and dramatic and most of all true! Although written by an older Luong, she has captured her younger selfs thoughts amazingly.
Tavia Gilbert read the story with a gift of expression that could only be captured by someone with her talents.
I truly enjoyed this story from start to finish. With tears in my eyes at many points and also a few laughs, as of course it is a child telling a story. But the times listening to this during my long flights instead of watching movies, flight attendants kept making sure I was ok as they were watching a grown man with tears In his eyes.
Simply beautiful. Engaging. Thought provoking. True.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- shona
- 23-12-12
Excellent
A very touching and descriptive tale of a child's experience of the war in cambodia. Well told and beautifully written.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-07-22
A must listen/read!
This book is brutal, moving, tragic and the descriptions of Cambodia and the Khmer people transport you there. Be prepared for all emotions!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- MAGGS
- 04-08-19
First they killed my father - very enlightening book
First they killed my father - very enlightening book
I knew little about Cambodia & the terrible things that happened to the people living there, I was to young, but this book has educated me in their struggle.
Great narration
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Rocket
- 05-02-22
Incredible story
To be honest, the author is occasionally childlike in her writing style so I wouldn't rush to search out other books by her. Having said that, the story itself is just so compelling that neither the writing style nor the questionable narration were enough to tear me from reading on.
I find it humbling to read books such as these, people's true stories, and to think that this was someone's life. Depending on your beliefs, this set of people had one go at being alive and this is what they lived through, it's harrowing to think that.
I thought it was a great read despite everything.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- hazel999
- 11-04-24
the harsh reality of what the Cambodian people endured
an amazing read you can't put it down, very sad but also an amazing resilience through starvation and brutality, this young girl was always going to make something of herself if she could survive the hardship.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joshua Pritchard
- 01-12-21
must read
excellent book and narrator. Story is absolutely heartbreaking, but something everyone should read if they think communism is a good idea
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James
- 29-05-23
Compelling & Shocking
This is a significant and devastating event which is well documented but didn’t appeal to the Western media agenda at the time. Incredible account of real life events. I would recommend a listen as successfully opens your eyes in respect to the atrocities that were allowed to manifest. Makes you appreciate just how fortunate we (the readers) are and helps but life’s little inconveniences into perspective. Hats off to Loung, what a remarkable story of survival!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-08-23
Must read
An incredible book, never read anything quite like it. Really important to shine a spotlight on the horrors that humans are capable of inflicting on each other and the importance of family bonds.
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