What a marvelous book! I learned so much about Cambodia, about Angkor Wat, the wars and conflicts the citizens suffered over the years, about some of the towns and villages, injustices and more. The story, despite being fictional, kept fairly close to history, which the reader will experience mostly through the eyes of Colette, a French expat woman who fell in love with the country and its peoples. Reading this book makes me wish I could visit Cambodia.
The story began in the later years of Colette's life and doubles back and forth from the earlier years of her arrival and marriage to Henri during the French occupation. Colette had lived mostly in Siam Reap. The two time frames stitch the story together from both ends threading an overall experience for the reader from the 1930's to 1995. There is some romance and some illicit bedrooms 'scenes' which a cautious reader may wish to be aware of. Other than that I feel this has been good exposure to seeing 'another' world other than from a 'pampered' one, one may have been brought up in. It's a good multi-cultural encounter.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
February 2023
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
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