Stay Alive, My Son: The Gripping True Story of One Man's Courageous Escape from the Terror of Cam...
A harrowing account of life in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and particularly the evacuations of Phnom Penh, written by an engineer for the Min...
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reviews
Aug 20, 2009
Audrey L
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This is a hard to find book. My mom borrowed it from a woman who bought it on her trip to Cambodia. This is one of the best books I've read from an adults point of view what happened during the takeover of Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge (the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, the totalitarian ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot)
The Khmer Rouge subjected Cambodia to a radical social reform process that was aimed at creating a purely More...
The Khmer Rouge subjected Cambodia to a radical social reform process that was aimed at creating a purely More...
Mar 12, 2011
Alesa
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Pin Yathay was a government engineer when Pol Pot's regime took over Cambodia. He describes being marched with all the other residents of Phnom Penh, the capital city, to the fields to labor. This is his true story, told with simplicity and a sort of beauty. I bought this book in Cambodia, and it helped explain what we saw during visits to The Killing Fields and S-21, the Khmer Rouge's torture center. Although it's educational, it also just leaves you numb inside, wondering about our species
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Oct 17, 2009
Indi
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This and "First They Killed My Father" are the two best-written books I have read regarding the tragedies and atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Having just completed a personal and harrowing viewing of the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, this is to be the final book I read on this era in Cambodian history, I think. I have read enough and seen enough, so unless something "new" comes out that is definitive, I think I'll now let this era pass as a sh
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Feb 06, 2011
Saxon
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The best Khmer Rouge memoir I've read so far. Unlike the child protagonists in "First They Killed My Father" and "When Broken Glass Floats," both of which were still quite good if slightly less satisfying, the protagonist in this book is a married man with kids. As a result, you get a much more nuanced account of what happened, along with the added weight of his being responsible for children. The writing is crisp and clear, the story structured to slowly ratchet up tension.
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Feb 01, 2012
Camille
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Bought this book while in Cambodia. Read it shortly after coming home and I am very glad that it was written to help us heal old wounds and hopefully not repeat this episode in history. Even though circumstances can be incredibly and unbelievable difficult and horrible people still survive and have such a strong drive to live and pursue freedom.
I am not going to say this was an easy book to read even though it didn't take me very long. I will remember it for a long time.
I am not going to say this was an easy book to read even though it didn't take me very long. I will remember it for a long time.
Jan 04, 2011
Osho
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Many narratives of the Khmer Rouge time in Cambodia are retroactive accounts by then-children. Pin Yathay was an adult with a family in April, 1975, which gives his account a different focus and flavor than, say Him's When Broken Glass Floats or Ung's First They Killed My Father. For example, Pin's analysis of events includes his understanding of the political climate of Cambodia at the time of the Khmer Rouge takeover. In addition, as an adult he is responsible not just for himself and his exte
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Sep 11, 2010
Lian
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i quote this (page 140)"you must keep your feelings pure. Don't worry about me. My death is a deliverance. But you, you must get out. Act ignorant, do not speak, do not grouse, do not argue, stay alive, my son. Stay alive to escape. escape, to stay alive"
...the last word from a father to his son during the conflict. i couldn't say anything..just cry..imagine
...the last word from a father to his son during the conflict. i couldn't say anything..just cry..imagine
Sep 18, 2010
A. Adlilah
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One could really be petrified and bless-full to be living in a modern world without terror as described in this book. When I read this book, I need a time off because of how scared I was with what happen during the Khmer Rouge regime. In some ways, this book broke my heart in ways I could not imagine. It was a great read.
Feb 26, 2011
Leigh
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This book, about Pol Pot's war against his own people, is painful in the extreme. It would be of interest mainly to people interested in learning more about that war or to people going to visit Cambodia. I read it for the latter reason and was glad that I did.
Jul 30, 2009
Milton G.
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 25, 2009
Stacy
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What a book to make you appreciate even your worst day! His story was amazing and I realized I really knew nothing about the genocide in Cambodia.
Nov 28, 2011
Travis
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A sad and relentless story of horror and suffering during the reign of the Khmer Rouge. This is the story of a family trying to stay together and alive in conditions of horrid brutality. It is also about how far people will go to escape from oppression. Yathay's story is frightening and sad and striking in that it shows the relentless and mindless brutality of the KR. Also, what makes this book interesting is that it deals with a single family and life on the ground as opposed to big picture pol
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Apr 07, 2008
I read this book to get an understanding of what people went through during this time, what I got out of it was the utmost respect for my parents. Unlike, 'First They Killed My Father,' this book is written from a perspective of an adult with a family, just like the circumstances of my parents. Not only does he talk about the horrific experience, but he also talks about the political events that took place, and also the culture. Amazing and inspiring book!
Aug 30, 2008
Pat
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The horrors of what happened in Cambodia during the Pathet Lao rule continue to provide books of memoirs by people who were lucky enough to live through the time and to be able to write about it after they escaped. This is another such memoir. In the process, the author lost most of his family and barely managed to reach Thailand. The book is well-written, but I guess I'm getting a bit bored with this litany of brutality and loss.
Sep 14, 2011
Bob
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35 years after the genocide took place it is still hard to comprehend the brutality of the Khmer Rouge. This truly is a harrowing story. God only knows how Pin Yathay mustered the strength to live through this ordeal and tell the tale to the world. He lost everything but his life. Highly recommended.
Brilliant! God only knows how Pin managed to survive. What a harrowing tale!
Brilliant! God only knows how Pin managed to survive. What a harrowing tale!
Jan 05, 2011
Angela
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Definitely a must-read for someone who wants to learn more about the plight of the Cambodian people under the Khmer Rouge. I read this after reading "First They Killed My Father" and I appreciated the perspective of an adult who had been persecuted (the other book I appreciated for the perspective of a child and a female). It's still hard to comprehend the incomprehensible events.
Jun 14, 2008
Anu
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It was interesting reading this book immediately after 'First They Killed My Father'. Both stories are about the Cambodian holocaust (1975 - 1979), but one is from the perspective of a five year old child, and the other of an adult who is a husband and father of three. Both had the same goal: to survive. But their approaches were so drastically different.
Jun 24, 2008
Emily
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Very good. Interesting to see the Khmer Rouge from the perspective of an adult. This book opened my eyes to the hell that way too many people in this world have lived through and continue to live.
Mar 07, 2008
Gwen
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This is the book my teacher gave me when she thought I should research Cambodia for a major project. I've been fascinated and horrified by the events of the 1970s and our reaction to it ever since.
Nov 09, 2008
Lindakeim
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This is one of the best books I've ever read. Terribly sad, yet heroid and inspiring. Really makes you appreciate the peaceful and free society in which we live.
Dec 17, 2009
exciting.
educational and worth reading.
well researched
and cunning work of literature.
educational and worth reading.
well researched
and cunning work of literature.
