My Life According To My Destiny

by Vanny Vorng

My Life According To My Destiny is a story about a man from his childhood up to the present time. It entails his struggle to survive many brutal events in Cambodia from the Coup d’ Etat of 1970, the fall of the Khmer Republic in 1975, and the end of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. The Khmer Rouge Communist Party of Cambodia purged the cities and countryside of intellectuals, rival politicians, monks and teachers. The extremeness of this group leads to a country that has no religion, no free market, no schools, no families, and a closed border. Citizens attempt to hide their old lives from ears outside the walls while food becomes dangerously scarce in the so called Agrarian Utopia.
His memoir describes the events of each conflict as they unfold, where each time he somehow manages to survive and tell the story. After the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1979, he found a way to provide for his family’s needs. Vanny and his family realized they would be better off leaving the land they called home for so many years. He led his family and friends to the refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines. After that, they were transported to America to start a new life. Upon arriving in America he managed to put himself through college while taking care of a family.

318 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2015

About the author

Born in Cambodia, Vanny Vorng lived through the cruelties of the Khmer Rouge Regime. He lived through the change of three different regimes, some deadly, and was old enough to realize what was really happening to his country. With his family he escaped Cambodia and went through refugee camps in both Thailand and the Philippines. After coming to America in 1981, he graduated with a B.A. in History and minor in Political Science in 1991 from Sam Houston State University. To more accurately tell his story Mr. Vorng intensely studied Cambodian History and politics so that he might better understand motivations behind the rulers’ actions.
A learned man, he is fluent in English, French, and Cambodian, his native tongue. Mr. Vorng is no stranger to hard work and has had experience in commercial building as well as home construction, farm work, and rice field production. He later went on to gain experience as an entrepreneur and a business owner in diverse markets such as wholesale/retail, and the food service industry. He is an active member of the community serving as a volunteer for the Texas Cambodian community, and he has participated in multiple fund raisers benefiting the community in and around the Houston area. Looking back on his life he believes the time is now right for his story to be told and for everyone to learn from what he has been through.

Reviews

[Charissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I first want to say that this sharing of a life story that had so much pain and devastation is commendable and love that it ended on a high note. But...I marked this as a 1 star because the writing was very poorly written and I would have rather gone to my local senior citizen community to listen to this than read it. Many of the statements throughout the book were repetitive and the flow of the story was not very intact. I think my biggest complaint is that it seems as though the writer has a bias towards any and every one that is a "light skinned" Cambodian and most of the time (if not all), this information was not even necessary to put in writing. Definitely not continuing to the second book.

[Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad there is a book that features the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. The Cambodian holocaust is a topic that, in my opinion, doesn't get taught enough. We have a very close family friend who survived the Khmer holocaust by escaping through Thailand and eventually came to the United States. Having read this book, I now have a greater appreciation for his life and everything he had to overcome. Vanny Vorng's memoir is not for the faint of heart; however, it is a book that I recommend to any compassionate person. To have a life turned completely upside down on its head and to have to live in a way that puts a person in constant fear, is devastating to even hear about. It's tragic to hear about the sheer numbers of victims murdered by the Khmer and in a way, its even more tragic that many people don't even know about this event. I highly recommend anyone to pick up this book and read it. Like I said, Vanny Vorng's book became personal to me because of my Cambodian friends. It's a very touching read.

I received this book in a giveaway sponsored by Goodreads. Please pick it up and give it a read. It's worth it.

[Collyn R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanny Vorng's memoirs are a must read for anyone interested in the Cambodian Genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge. As a student enrolled at Sam Houston State University I have completed my world and American history courses and this topic was completely glossed over if not completely ignored. This story opened my eyes to those events and I hope it can do the same for others, as no history should be forgotten, and in particular Vanny's story is inspiring and fascinating. It details his journey through hell, an ordeal that he survived through a combination of cleverness and determination. This is a story about family, survival, and the American Dream.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway several years ago and finally just got around to reading it. It tells the story of a man who survived the Killing Fields, the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the late 1970s. I didn’t know much about the events that took place there before I read this book, since it’s not really discussed in history classes or in the media (though it should be).
The author did a great job of telling his story. The story jumped around at times, but it was still easy to understand what was going on. I liked all of the background info on what led up to the Khmer Rouge taking over the country, and how he showed how life can go from being normal to being devastating fairly quickly.
The story of the author’s life after coming to the United States is quite amusing as well.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaways, and I'm glad I did as I probably would not have come across the book otherwise. It is a gruesome, yet touching memoir. Vorng does a great job of painting the horrors the average person experienced during Pol Pot's reign in Cambodia. However, it ends on a hopeful note as Vorng continues his story through his successes in the United States. I highly recommend it for people interested in learning more about the reality of the Khmer Rouge. However, Vorng's amazing story could have benefited from a better editor to improve the flow and reduce some of the repetitiveness.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

* I won this book from a GoodReads giveaway *
DNF
I had have tried to start this book several times......I just can’t get into it. Not what I would normally read.

[Grant Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exciting and emotional journey about surviving Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, discovering the American dream, and what it means to be alive and to be following your destiny—it is about compassion and love, cruelty and hate, and everything in between. When I began reading the book, I had little background on Cambodian history and had never even heard of the Khmer Rouge or the resulting genocide, a fact I now feel ashamed of admitting. The Cambodian people suffered greatly for years under the Khmer Rouge and yet, from my experience, their history remains largely untaught. This book does an excellent job of blending the personal narrative with a broader history of Cambodia before, during, and after the Khmer Rouge; it is history brought to life. This history is part of what made the book so captivating to me—it dropped me in the middle of a place I knew nothing about and refused to let me out until my education was complete. The book is also a personal journey, however, one that leaves you in utter awe of the human spirit. I was able to finish the book in three days, only able to put it down when other responsibilities called. Also, I couldn’t help but wonder throughout the book how easily it could be made into a film—it definitely has the action, comedy, and emotion to fill a hit two-hour movie. I highly recommend this book!

[Joni Haynes]

This true story lost context at times...and jumped, sometimes in the same sentence, from one year to another...forward and backward. There was too much use of "I decided" and/or "we decided". All that said, I have to say this book was very compelling...actually hard to put down. The narration would lead one to believe that it actually wasn't all that bad...but then the horror of it all hits the reader! I actually knew very little about Cambodia...only what I heard and saw on movies. But, now I have a better understanding, and will follow up to learn more about a country I only previously thought of in context with the Viet Nam war. I very much wish Vanny and his family only good things, and can't wait to read the rest of the story, in his next (upcoming?) book. I would like to thank him for providing this reader with a much more comprehensive look at something I knew very little about!

[Georgia hillstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book I put it on my list to buy, but was lucky enough to win it in a goodreads giveaway. I would highly recommend this book. This is a book that should be made into a movie, lest we forget the bitter cruel war in Southeast Asia. Anyone who has had family from that era needs to read t his book to become informed. As I had family and friends killed in the area he was writing about this was very personal to me. I have family still suffering form the effects of that was as is Vanny. I have sent this book, also recommended to many people. A roller coast book to be sure with emotional turmoil and then finally a little bit of happiness gained. Once I started to read I could not put book down, I was emotionally invested. I liked that it was in order of event happening did not flip back and forth. Please all of you goodread people take time to read this book. You will be a little more thankful for what you have.

[Barbara Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I won this book from Goodreads, it did not color my opinion of it in any way, shape or form. I would highly recommend this book. It was a fast read. I felt like I was along side of the author in his frightening, breathtaking experiences in Cambodia. This book shows you the good and the bad in the author's life. Having some very distant relatives slaughtered in the Nazi Holocaust, I cried when reading some parts of the book for the inhumanity of man, and the randomness of survival. The killing fields were Cambodia's ovens, the rice paddies were the forced labor camps. There is also joy in this book that brought smiles to my face. So without giving the story away, I can only say that I loved reading this book about a dark part of Cambodia's history that also contains a true heartwarming American story. Vanny Vorng, may you and yours have joy forever, you deserve it. Now, Goodreads fans, go buy and read this book.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stands apart from the other Cambodian Survivor stories. The author frames the genocide with the events that led up to it and the forces that let it happen. Without sacrificing the emotional effect Mr. Vorng brings in all of Southeast Asia's response to Pol Pot's reign. Old enough to have learned Cambodian history and clearly remember what was taking place at those times.
The book's organization is chronological, starting right after Cambodia gained independence from France he takes us through Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge reign, the Vietnamese invasion and occupation. His story fits within that framework.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in inspiring stories, the insights of genocide survivors, or in the history of Southeast Asia around the time of the Vietnam War.

[BONNIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I knew some about PolPot and The Killing Fields but Vanny gives the history of the Cambodian Holocaust and what lead up to it. He wrote in such a way to make me feel as if I was there with him experiencing what he was. I have never felt such emotion reading a book before. I shared with my kids some of the things from the book so they understand how fortunate they are to have been born in our great country.
I was lucky enough to have won this book in a giveaway and cannot wait for the second one. I have been truly touched by his story and wish Vanny and his family all the best!

[Mike M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanny Vorng’s memoir My Life According To My Destiny truly lives up to it’s title and beyond; a memoir rich in historical context with an emotional and powerful undertone. The concept of the family is extremely important, and his story helps to put things in perspective as an American college student who has never been exposed to this material before. I would find parts shocking and others extremely cathartic, definitely something I would recommend to fellow readers. Vanny’s writing style makes it seem as if you are in his shoes during such a chaotic time under the reign of the Khmer Rouge. Looking forward to some other reads from this author.

[Paul Cleveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal read. From cover to cover I was unable to put it down. This book is more than just a memoir, it is a story full of strong emotion, struggles to survive, and redemption all alongside a very detailed explanation of the political arena surrounding the atrocities of the Killing Fields. Everything from the survival aspect to author's coming to America makes for a truly inspiring story. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Cambodia, or is looking to be inspired by a story of dedication to ones family and friends in the face of great adversity.

[Tony Tem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanny's life story is wonderfully recaptured in "My Life According to My Destiny," a very fitting title since the book is all about fulfilling his destiny to find peace and happiness. It is a heartbreaking, exciting (and even funny) look into to the human experience with Cambodia's Khmer Rouge serving as a backdrop. The book is also a great source of history regarding Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge. Even if you are familiar with the subject, you are bound to learn something new. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but most of all you'll be happy you read about Vanny's struggle.

[Jeremy McPhail · Rating 5 out of 5]

An underdog story, does not even being to describe the events of Vanny Vorng's life. Placed in the heart of Cambodia during the rise of The Khmer Rouge, the fall of The Khmer Republic, Vanny's accounts of the events and his life tear into you. There are times when you think the worst has come, only to find that there is more darkness. The trials and tribulations of Vanny, make you want him to succeed, to find a glimmer of hope and his story reminds us, that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

[Pam Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring story of family, friends, and survival amidst the horror of war and loss. While the war stories are brutal and without a doubt genocide the back story of those who braved this massacre to love and help each other is amazing. The comfort and food and lessons these heroes teach are something we can all carry with us. The author's accomplishments and saving of lives of strangers, friends, and family are beyond what anyone who hasn't lived through it can imagine. A good read.

[Robert Mcclanahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes you through a twist of excitement, sadness, joy and relief as the author looks upon his past. I was surprised at how little i knew about Cambodian genocide that was never discussed in our american public schools. In all the book was a great read and i had a hard time putting it down.

[Vickie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that you wrote it from your view as a child. Every word is full of emotion. I could almost live this book as I read, and it made me cry; it made me angry; it made me want to scream with the suffering. I knew about the 'killing fields', but your words laid out the awful truth of what happened. I am happy that you and your family made it to the United States and won the lottery!

[Michelle Carrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written from the perspective of a child. An emotional rollercoaster that takes us through the life of said boy from Cambodia all the way the way to the US. Though, it is not all sunshine and laughter. This is written during the dark times of the communist regime.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting look into Vanny life. A must read for anyone looking to learn about what it was like growing up and surviving the Khmer Rouge. In full disclosure I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC Disclosure: I received this free from Goodreads hoping I would review it.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a first person account of life in Cambodia after the Viet Nam war. It's a testament to perseverance and faith in family. I recommend this book in a big way.