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8th out of 54 books
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39 voters
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The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine
by
Somaly Mam
A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope
Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade o
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
September 9th 2008
by Spiegel & Grau
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This was one of the most difficult books I have ever read. We all know that prostitution and human trafficking is million dollar business that seems to continue to grow over the years. But most of us probably don’t know the extent of this problem and how it affects lives of young girls. All over the world and especially in underdeveloped/ developing countries, this is a problem that is quickly getting out of hands.
The Road of Lost Innocence is a story from Cambodia. Ms. Somaly had a ...more
The Road of Lost Innocence is a story from Cambodia. Ms. Somaly had a ...more
Petra X
rated it
When I started to read the book, noting the curiously flat tone and simple language, I thought I was in for another one of the books like Slave by Mende Nazer (a 5-star book) or even Halima Bashir's Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur (another 5-star read). I've read a lot of these books of Black men and women taken by the Arabs in Sudan as slaves or victims of a civil war and I'd reached the point where I only wanted to read another one if it was going to be radically different...more
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As stated in this book by the Cambodian ex-sex slave, Somaly Mam, "the prostitution business is worth $500 million a year, almost as much as the annual budget of the government." Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, etc., are countries where the sex trade is booming (and has been for decades). Young girls, sometimes as young as 5, are sold by their parents, grandparents, or caregivers to brothels and then are used as a type of credit. They work in horrible conditions, worse than one c...more
Somaly was sold into sexual slavery when she was 12 years old. Although this is her memoir, she stresses this is not just her story. This is the story of many young girls, some of whom Somaly highlights in her recounting of her personal life and the development of the Acting for Women in Distressing Situations.
Somaly Mam's story is a fantastic one for 2 reasons. One is that it highlights the depravity of human trafficking and how little we value those don't have the resources to prot...more
Somaly Mam's story is a fantastic one for 2 reasons. One is that it highlights the depravity of human trafficking and how little we value those don't have the resources to prot...more
Lataun
rated it
Recommends it for:
Not the faint of heart...
Recommended to Lataun by:
People Magazine
I wasn't sure how to put into words what I thought of this book, so I stole some other reviews that best described what I was thinking...
Also not sure what to rate it. I guess I'll go with 5 stars, not because I loved it or anything but the 5 stars equates to "it was amazing". And the author is amazing! I'm also going to donate money to her cause. Pen told me I need to read some happy books :)
"Not an uplifting story and lots of very depressing realizati...more
Also not sure what to rate it. I guess I'll go with 5 stars, not because I loved it or anything but the 5 stars equates to "it was amazing". And the author is amazing! I'm also going to donate money to her cause. Pen told me I need to read some happy books :)
"Not an uplifting story and lots of very depressing realizati...more
Ayaan Hirsi Ali said it right, this memoir is unputdownable! I read a couple pages, got interrupted, but when I picked it up again I could not stop reading. Somaly Mam's beautifully raw prose transfixed me. It held me even when my heart raged with anger as I read about the inhumanities she suffered, or even as I felt goose bumps as I imagined the torture girls like herself went through. At some point, keeping the tears back just seemed pointless.
Despite the horrors described in her bo...more
Despite the horrors described in her bo...more
What a tough book to read. I cried a lot while I read this; it is heartbreaking to read about the atrocities that are happening right now in human trafficking. Somaly Mam's memoir recounts her past as a girl sold into prostitution and how she managed to slowly climb out of the pit she was unceremoniously dropped into. Though the story she tells is one of violence and inhumanity, it is also one of hope; she managed to do truly wonderful and amazing things for young girls (as young as 4) who were/...more
wow.
the suffering that is enduring by so many in their short lives is astonishing. as is the capacity in human beings for violence and cruelty, as well as the capacity to struggle for what is good and right.
there is so much that needs to be done about human trafficking, sex trade, slavery, rape, prostitution.
so much.
what is so compelling about this book is that it is a first hand account of someone who suffered her entire life, found a way out, and...more
the suffering that is enduring by so many in their short lives is astonishing. as is the capacity in human beings for violence and cruelty, as well as the capacity to struggle for what is good and right.
there is so much that needs to be done about human trafficking, sex trade, slavery, rape, prostitution.
so much.
what is so compelling about this book is that it is a first hand account of someone who suffered her entire life, found a way out, and...more
her story is devastatingly powerful. my stomach tightened so many times as well as my heart. cannot imagine what more she could have done...if anything or anyone was on her side...
Extraordinarily inspiring autobiography; and we Americans think we have it rough. The story of a courageous woman overcoming all odds - a must read for all women!
Review by Jill Williamson
I can’t stop thinking about this book. First let me caution you, this book is graphic due to the subject matter, but I believe all older girls would benefit from reading it. The Road to Lost Innocence is not a fiction novel. It’s a memoir, which is a true story of an author’s life. The Road to Lost Innocence is the story of Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman who was sold into slavery as a girl and later sold to a brothel. The village world she paints is fascinatin...more
I can’t stop thinking about this book. First let me caution you, this book is graphic due to the subject matter, but I believe all older girls would benefit from reading it. The Road to Lost Innocence is not a fiction novel. It’s a memoir, which is a true story of an author’s life. The Road to Lost Innocence is the story of Somaly Mam, a Cambodian woman who was sold into slavery as a girl and later sold to a brothel. The village world she paints is fascinatin...more
In this incredible memoir, which I listened to on CD, the author tells of her childhood in Cambodia in which she was first sold to an older man known as "grandfather" who abused her and treated her as a slave, and then was forced into marriage and eventually sold to a brothel as a prostitute, where she worked for several years under horrific conditions before finally finding a way out with the assistance of a French aid worker. Somaly goes on to help thousands of other women working a...more
This is a really tough book to read. I trembled while and after i read it. It's so devastatingly powerful that i cried so many times realizing what kind of horror those young girls have to face everyday while i live my daily life in such an ungrateful manner.
Somaly Mam's early life is what i describe as "Series of unfortunate event". Have been lived with an adopted family in short time, she quickly discovered that life has more things for her to deal with. Abusive husband, t...more
Somaly Mam's early life is what i describe as "Series of unfortunate event". Have been lived with an adopted family in short time, she quickly discovered that life has more things for her to deal with. Abusive husband, t...more
Seldom have I been so moved by a single book. The Road of Lost Innocence took me on a journey of shock, heartbreak, outrage and ultimately inspiration as it told the story of Somaly Mam, who was sold into sexual slavery as a child and ultimately escaped to start AFESIP (Agir Pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire), an non-governmental organization dedicated to rescuing sex slaves and eradicating the sex trade in Cambodia, Vietnam and worldwide.
This book rips the bandaid off and shows...more
This book rips the bandaid off and shows...more
I am quoting the review of Angelle Anderson, who so eloquently describes this book:
"Make sure to read some reviews before you begin to read this very upsetting, unsettling, true story. You will never be the same and you will want to donate to her cause. I am including a comment by someone else that I found on-line: Caution: The Road of Lost Innocence is written in a heart-wrenching, raw, unflinching manner and does not shy away from describing some of the horrific abuse that So...more
"Make sure to read some reviews before you begin to read this very upsetting, unsettling, true story. You will never be the same and you will want to donate to her cause. I am including a comment by someone else that I found on-line: Caution: The Road of Lost Innocence is written in a heart-wrenching, raw, unflinching manner and does not shy away from describing some of the horrific abuse that So...more
Arlene
added it
Sold into slavery as a young girl—first as an indentured servant to a surly, violent older man, then, at 16, to a brothel—Mam could have lived a life of misery and defeat. Instead, she found freedom and security while keeping her remarkable spirit intact. This unflinching, searing memoir tells Mam’s story, from her early childhood as an orphan in the mountains of Cambodia to her current role as cofounder and president of the AFESIP (Acting for Women in Distressing Circumstances) and the Somaly M...more
So, caring deeply about women's issues I thought I would absolutely eat this book up! I also think this woman's plight is amazing and her cause incredibly worth while. But the book is not well written. I think she would have benefited having a professional writer write her biography instead of writing her own autobiography. She is not a writer, and also, you know throughout the book that she hates telling her story. She says she is telling it so people will support her cause and so she can stop ...more
Last week I was pleased to attend the Meetup of another group to hear a panel that included Somaly Mam, the internationally acclaimed heroine of Cambodia's brothels. I had the opportunity there to buy her book which she kindly inscribed to our group. Hers is a tale simply told. Somaly narrates her experience in a straightforward manner without a great deal of elaboration, but her dramatic tale does not require much embellishment. This is a "must read" for anyone concerned with the issu...more
Tercekat. Satu kata yang pas untuk menggambarkan perasaan saya saat membaca buku ini. Kisah perdagangan manusia memang sudah sering kita dengar, namun saat dituturkan langsung oleh si korban, sering kali kita akan menggeleng tak percaya, menyimak kekejaman tak terperi yang harus dia tanggung. Saya sampai harus meletakkan buku ini beberapa kali untuk menghela napas.
Somaly Mam (nama yang dia pilih, pemberian bapak angkat baik hati, karena dia tak pernah tahu nama aslinya), hidup sendir...more
Somaly Mam (nama yang dia pilih, pemberian bapak angkat baik hati, karena dia tak pernah tahu nama aslinya), hidup sendir...more
Somaly Mam does not claim to be a good writer; She is uneducated. She was a child prostitute, not of her own free will, in Cambodia. The life she describes is unthinkable.
To date, Somaly has helped more than 3,400 victims of prostitution get back on their feet through the AFESIP that she set up to help victims reintegrate into society.
Somaly herself, even through therapy, never feels clean. She rubs herself raw in showers to relieve herself of the filth she endured li...more
To date, Somaly has helped more than 3,400 victims of prostitution get back on their feet through the AFESIP that she set up to help victims reintegrate into society.
Somaly herself, even through therapy, never feels clean. She rubs herself raw in showers to relieve herself of the filth she endured li...more
Somaly Mam was orphaned during the Pol Pot regime and picked up by a man who sexually abused her and exploited her to fund his alcoholism; when she was 13, he sold her into sexual slavery. This book is about her escape from the network of human trafficking that sees the virginity of children as young as 5 sold for around US10; children who are then later sewn back up and re-sold as virgins for the same price.
Somaly details the Cambodian culture of obedience and silence that fosters ...more
Somaly details the Cambodian culture of obedience and silence that fosters ...more
A biography that was epic and graphic. This novel gave a true in-sight to the experiences that many girls who are abducted or lured into the awful world of prostitution. Feelings of hopelessness and despair and the constant sexual assaults and degradation Somaly faced, were enough to make the reader feel anger and resentment to all those who to took advantage of her and those who allowed for this type of atrocity to occur. I truly admire Somaly for using her life experiences to fight those who b...more
This is the story of Somaly Mam, a Phnong woman from Cambodia who was sold to a brothel as a child by her "Grandfather". The book is not only about her time as a sex slave, but also about how she got away and the way that she began to free and protect women and girls (as young as 5)who had been products of the sex trafficing trade.
There are some poignant memories, small examples of deep relationships and the way that she and other girls have been impacted in life. There wa...more
There are some poignant memories, small examples of deep relationships and the way that she and other girls have been impacted in life. There wa...more
The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine by Somaly Mam is a beautifully distressing story of how Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery and brothels, found her way out, and in time, went back to save other girls and women. While it is a quick and simple read, it is inspiring and very poignant. At times, the vivid stories from Somaly’s life (as well as other girls from the brothels) are heart-wrenching, but they need to be heard in order to stop human-trafficking and sex...more
Evan
rated it
It's pretty damned hard to read this and not cry. The book is about the trafficking of young girls in the Southeast Asian sex trade, most specifically in Cambodia, and it is told from the perspective of someone who was a young victim of that trade, Somaly Mam, a true heroine who has started homes throughout the region to help girls rescued from sex slavery to reclaim their lives. The book describes harrowing, Hell-on-Earth stuff that is going on on a massive scale, right now. It's one of those b...more
Somaly Mam tells her story in The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine. In this shocking memoir Somaly tells of her own experiences as a sex slave. After her escape she returns to try and save many of the girls who were left behind. The story tells of her efforts to lead them into a new life. Somaly ends up sacrificing much of her personal life to continue her goals of making a better life for abused girls in Cambodia and still works against many difficult roadblocks tod...more
Being new to the amazon, they recommended me this book and on a whim with money leftover from my gift card i bought it.
That was one of the best whims i have acted upon.
This book is moving, powerful and inspiration. Folks if you have not read this book you probably should. It's a major eye opener to the world outside your own.
It's no secret that the sex trade and slavery exist. We all know that sex sells but its one thing to know something exists and act...more
That was one of the best whims i have acted upon.
This book is moving, powerful and inspiration. Folks if you have not read this book you probably should. It's a major eye opener to the world outside your own.
It's no secret that the sex trade and slavery exist. We all know that sex sells but its one thing to know something exists and act...more
To be clear, the 5 stars goes to Somaly Mam herself more so than to the actual literary appeal of this book. (I mean, she's a humanitarian, not a writer.) That said, I just did not come away from this book the same person as before. To describe Mam's compassion, courage, and tenacity as "inspiring" is simply an understatement. She also unabashedly admits her vulnerabilities in her work, which makes her heroism all the more dynamic and tangible. The atrocities she unearths in her s...more
Maureen
rated it
A simple yet powerful story of a woman who was sold into sexual slavery as a child and managed to not only extricate herself from an impossible situation, but also to dedicate her life to rescuing other children and young women, this book will knock your socks off. From humble beginnings in the forests of Cambodia, Mam experienced a terrible life. As a child, she was sold to a man whom she referred to as "grandfather," who beat her and forced her to submit to him sexually. When his ...more
I'm exhausted so this might come out a little... modernisty?
This was the first (and possibly last - the next one is on global warming) sociology book I've actually finished. This is also probably one of the most influentail of the books that I have been exposed to in this class. Sex trafficking is worse than both abortions and illegal immigration. It mentally destroys children who can be as young as five. It needs to be solved. However, there is no real way to solve it. Create and en...more
This was the first (and possibly last - the next one is on global warming) sociology book I've actually finished. This is also probably one of the most influentail of the books that I have been exposed to in this class. Sex trafficking is worse than both abortions and illegal immigration. It mentally destroys children who can be as young as five. It needs to be solved. However, there is no real way to solve it. Create and en...more
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“Sometimes you can learn, even from a bad experience. By coping you become stronger. The pain does not go away, but it becomes manageable.”
—
45 people liked it
“I strongly believe that love is the answer and that it can mend even the deepest unseen wounds. Love can heal, love can console, love can strengthen, and yes, love can make change.”
—
30 people liked it
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