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26th out of 30 books
—
3 voters
Letters from Burma
In these unforgettable letters, Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world's most inspiring figures, reaches out beyond Burma's borders to paint a vivid and poignant picture of her native land. She celebrates the courageous army officers, academics, and everyday people who have supported the National League for Democracy, often at great risk to their own lives. She reveals how sta...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
April 14th 2010
by Penguin Books
(first published 1995)
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‘Letters From Burma’ is a collection of beautifully written letters which touches all the topics related to Myanmar (Burma) ranging from daily activities of a Burmese such as tea-shop sitting, traditional festivals such as Thingyan(Water Festival/Burmese New Year) to serious topics like SLORC (the State Law and Order Restoration Council)’s abuses and frequent harassments on pro-democracy activists and NLD members (including a brief biography of the members of the NLD executive committee). These...more
La Birmania, oggi conosciuta con il nome di Myanmar - è soggetta a un regime spietato e autoritario. Aung San Suu Kyi, premio Nobel per la pace nel 1991, è stata la protagonista assoluta, il leader ideale del partito che ha tentato per lungo tempo di riportare la democrazia e i diritti civili nel paese. Questa donna tenace e coraggiosa ha subito, a causa delle sue idee, profonde umiliazioni, come l'arresto, la detenzione, l'allontanamento dalla famiglia, senza mai arrendersi alla violenza e alla...more
As Fergal Keane wrote, "this is a book to be savoured and cherished. It is of course extremely well-written, but more than that, it offers us a privileged encounter with one of the most remarkable leaders of the world".
Aung San Suu Kyi has always drawn my admiration and the book gives me an opportunity to get to know her inner thoughts and political views. I especially like articles which evolve from her everyday life and end with critiquing the regime. I am extrememly impressed by her Buddhist...more
Aung San Suu Kyi has always drawn my admiration and the book gives me an opportunity to get to know her inner thoughts and political views. I especially like articles which evolve from her everyday life and end with critiquing the regime. I am extrememly impressed by her Buddhist...more
i really enjoyed this book and found it exceptionally insightful into a life lived in direct opposition to the established government and also life lived under and non-democratic government, both lives focused on the fight to gain democracy. what struck me the most was when she spoke about fairly commonplace events that took place in her own and others' lives. things that happened seemed normal to them, sometimes laughable. in contrast to this, when she speaks about her work with her party, one...more
Aung San Suu Kyi's Letters From Burma is a great place to start if you're looking to be introduced to what life was like during her house arrest, the beauty of her country and it's people. A quick read, and a hard one. I loved the beautiful prose, there's gentleness in her writing and so much light depicted in friendliness, the peoples sense of humour and hospitality. I mostly enjoyed the letters about Burmese traditions, from how to take tea, the annual Water Festival and others like this but f...more
Kristen and Lauren purchased this at the Nobel Peace Prize museum last December. I have good friends who've recently returned from teaching at the US Embassy in Myamar (Burma), so their travel stories have peaked my interest. Each chapter is a short essay about a particular piece of Burmese culture, written in an easy to read style--very upbeat,considering the author was under house arrest for years, unable to travel to England to see her dying husband or children.
The letters that Aung San Suu Kyi wrote to a Japanese newspaper after her first period of house arrest are intelligent and charming and a great insight into many parts of Burmese culture. Covering topics from traditional seasonal and Buddhist festivals, to economics, the law and of course the political situation in Burma, it is a must read for anyone interested in the thoughts and ideas of a modern day heroine.
I can't believe I finished reading this book. It includes different aspects about life in Burma 15 years ago. The parts about culture and religion are very interesting. But this book is still too political for me. And to me it seems to be talking about the same thing over and over again. Yes the junta is hateful but the book doesn't explain why things are happening very well.
Aung San Suu Kyi writes with natural charm and grace, simplicity made poetry by her unstrained honesty and patience. Reminded me very much of Gandhi's writing style - perhaps both share in being steeled to a purpose seemingly much larger than they, thus requiring no flambouyance of expression or 'prose-posing.' A quick but momentous read.
i read this after reading The River of Lost Footsteps, and it gave me further insight into the politics and culture in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is a great writer, poetic at times, and always delivering her point home. A great book to learn more about Burma and the ideology of a peaceful resistance.
A set of introductory essays on life in Burma. Serene detail of daily life, water festivals, Buddhist ceremonies, peacocks, military police assaulting innocent people. Life passes on. At the time of this writing, her life and work was a symbol, synonymous with the nascent Burmese peoples' hopes for democratization and the peace and security to do as they chose.
I am watching the almost surreal process of reform in Burma with interest. Ms. Suu Kyi holds a seat in the Burmese parliament. We'll see...more
I am watching the almost surreal process of reform in Burma with interest. Ms. Suu Kyi holds a seat in the Burmese parliament. We'll see...more
This was a terrific and moving collection of essays from the perspective of the "goddess of Burma." Any who will read it will instinctively feel driven to support the country's desire and need for a just and stable government.
Aung San Suu Kyi is a wonderful writer and illustrates in simple and poetic language the incredible sacrifices, including death, the people of Burma are making for democracy. I never realized how much I take freedom for granted until I read this book. Her perseverance, deep compassion and love of democracy are truly inspiring.
The letters were really well written but on some very odd topics. I thought this book was ok, but would not read it again or necessarily recommend as a great pick.
Beautifully simple in its language, but without sacrificing the depth of Aung San Suu Kyi's insights and experiences in Myanmarese politics.
Letters From Burma is a collection of beautiful, poetic yet simple orchestrated insights of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The mainstream media has elevated Daw ASSK on a pedestal while these handwritten letters provide us with her personal and daily thoughts- bridging the gap between her pedestal-ised politician image and her compassionate, earthly human ways.
I am very impressed by her love for Burma and her faith in the Buddhist teachings.
Being a Buddhist myself, I have been inspired by Daw to apply a...more
I am very impressed by her love for Burma and her faith in the Buddhist teachings.
Being a Buddhist myself, I have been inspired by Daw to apply a...more
Letters written to a Japanese Newspaper. Inteesting reading, although written while she was 'free' so not very up to date.
Aung San Suu Kyi possesses a beautiful ability to describe her thoughts, her surroundings, and the situations in Burma. Burma comes alive through her letters, and one can almost see and hear the sights and sounds she describes so eloquently. She covers a wide range of topics, and the social, economical and political problems happening in Burma then (when the letters were written during a brief interlude of freedom) resonates just as strongly now. The difficulties faced by the Burmese people are...more
A public figure I truly admire~
She's inspirational.
read this for about 5 hours straight! great way to dip one's toe into Myanmar's history and present. enjoyed thoroughly.
Book club read
Very good
Letters from Burma is a wonderful collection of letters written by Aung San Suu Kyi about her experiences in Burma. Instead of solely focussing on the politics surrounding Burma and her house arrest, she writes about Burmese people, their culture, and their experiences in this tumultuous time. Her writing style evokes rich pictures of the Burmese country-side while still keeping its humble tone.
Saya sangat menikmati tulisan Aung San Suu Kyi di dalam buku ini. Berisi tulisan-tulisan pendek yang dimuat sebuah surat kabar di Jepang. Yang mengesankan dari tulisannya adalah tidak satu kalipun ia mengeluh. Padahal sudah berapa tahun ia berada dalam "house arrest". We feel your pain, Bu Aung San Suu Kyi. Keep fighting. Heroes are not born as heroes, they are people like you, me, and us.
Beautiful. ASSK is a very good writer! Poetic and detailed in the nuances (tea ceremonies, the roadtrip, a monk etc), yet she always ends the vignette in something big (politics, democracy, freedom, the people, the country, etc). Beautifully written and very visual. (She wrote this after being released from house arrest for the first time back).
These letters appear to be so simply written, and the style is clear, gentle, conversational. Yet the author's steely determination shines through. Although the subject is Burma, the message is universal. There is plenty here to provoke and uplift regardless of time and place.
Apr 21, 2008
Christina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in world politics, current events, strong women leaders, Burma/Myanmar, etc.
Yay, I finally finished another book after a long dry spell! :) This would be a good thing to put in your "To Read" shelf. It is lyrical, very informative, poignant, and just beautifully written. She is one of my heroes, and this book makes it clear why...
Nov 20, 2012
Sheena
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
autobiographies-memoirs-biographies
This book needs to be read before or after "Freedom from Fear", it varies for certain people. Either way, you must have both. No words. She's too strong.
Letters from Burma was a blissful look into the life of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
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Myanmar opposition leader, daughter of Aung San (a martyred national hero of independent Burma) and Khin Kyi (a prominent Burmese diplomat), and winner in 1991 of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Aung San Suu Kyi was two years old when her father, then the de facto prime minister of what would shortly become independent Burma, was assassinated. She attended schools in Burma until 1960, when her mother wa...more
More about Aung San Suu Kyi...
Aung San Suu Kyi was two years old when her father, then the de facto prime minister of what would shortly become independent Burma, was assassinated. She attended schools in Burma until 1960, when her mother wa...more
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“To view the opposition as dangerous is to misunderstand the basic concepts of democracy. To oppress the opposition is to assault the very foundation of democracy.”
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