Cambodia's Curse

ExPenhMan · Post by **ExPenhMan** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 8:45 pm

phuketrichard wrote:fuck!!!l that was my first stop when hit PP?
how about the one down by the Palace?
the road that ran off of Riverside?

I don't know if the owner of the 172 shop moved, but some kindly full-time resident might know. But on the second one, if you're referring to the one at Sothearos and 178, I'm pretty sure it's still open.

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 9:06 pm

Bohr's on 172 closed quite a while ago. He still has a shop on Sothearous, just opposite where it was originally. That book would be $3 there.

Lex · Post by **Lex** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 9:12 pm

asp wrote:Hi John,
Thanks for the friendly warning but I've read some negative reviews already and I accept that there will be errors. Has anyone written a historical review from that UNTAC times and post election that is free from errors?

I am especially interested im this book because blame is laid not only at the feet of foreigners and Khmer krahom, but also former king Sihanouk and the culture in general. I certainly don't anticipate believing all his claims but I have lived for almost 20 years rurally and have a decent grasp of the current reality. If nothing else it will be a relief to read an opus devoid of politically correct white guilt.

I have read Cambodia's Curse and HE's Cambodia recently (purchased them from the Riverside vendors in PP).

No sure about the errors, but Cambodia's Curse flows a little better and gives a better overview while HE's Cambodia gives a in-depth blow by blow account of the Khmer political situation through 2013. Both are very much worth reading for anyone interested in modern Cambodia, though I would recommend Cambodia's Curse first, as the other gets a little dry at times.

takeoman · Post by **takeoman** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 10:49 am

Got my copy from Bohrs, was $4. I'm with Master Bingham as regards the quality of the work, the following quote serves to ndicate that the author is careless to say the least. "In Cambodia a few months after Saigon fell,Communist insurgents known as the Khmer Rouge overthrew Lon Nol". My old history professor would have something to say about errors like that.

asp · Post by **asp** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:06 am

I haven't read the book obviously, but online critics have pointed out errors. My primary interest in the book is his notion of Khmer character and the historical development thereof. I am aware that it is a negative assessment but then so is mine.

Samouth · Post by **Samouth** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:20 am

I just started reading this book. I haven't read most of it yet, just only the preface of the book. I personally think that it is a very interesting book as the author came to Cambodia himself and worked closely with those Cambodian refugees. I don't know how much it is as i took it from my office.

TheGrinchSR · Post by **TheGrinchSR** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 12:08 pm

phuketrichard wrote:fuck!!!l that was my first stop when hit PP?
how about the one down by the Palace?
the road that ran off of Riverside?

The one down by the Palace (next to Wat Onaloum) has moved across the street - it's also Bohr's Books like the one on 172. Sadly, it's gone right downhill and is nowhere near as good as the two previous stores. D's on 178 is worth a look but expensive. The going rate for a photocopy on riverside seems to be "whatever I can get away with" but I found bargaining down to $4 non-problematic (given that it's a $1 photocopy that seems about fair).

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 12:28 pm

Here's the first line of the book:

Decades ago, when Prime Minister HE was only 32 years old, Cambodia's King anointed him with a richly symbolic title: Samdech

Since he was born in 1951/52, that would put the date around 1983 or 1984. There was no king at the time, and Sihanouk at the time was busy in FUNCINPEC fighting against the Phnom Penh government, there is no way in hell he would have been interested or able to anoint the PRK's foreign minister a Samdech.

That's just the first line FFS.

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/a ... 66,00.html

Elizabeth Becker wrote:Further clouding his book are frequent errors. He describes the United Nations' 1993 peacekeeping operation as an "occupation," and then compares it unfavorably to the Allied occupation of Germany. He claims it is "rare to see Cambodians laugh." He confuses the Hindu faith with the Hindi language. He has China invading Vietnam in 1989, rather than in 1979. And why does he make the exaggerated claim that Cambodians are "the most abused people in the world"?

http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Cam ... 375195.php

asp · Post by **asp** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 12:58 pm

As I have said I have read negative reviews mostly critiques of historical inaccuracies, none of which hit

upon themes that interest me. Here's a highly critical review by a Khmerican,
Sambath Meas. Not for the time challenged, it's long.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1096 ... ia-s-curse

According to Ms.Meas Brinkly's conclusion is that
"Brinkley sees no hope for Cambodia. He sees no courageous and adept leaders rising out of this small kingdom. All he sees are fools looking out for themselves."

I am truly sorry to be in agreement with him, such a conclusion is a burden in which I find no solace.

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Tue Mar 29, 2016 2:43 pm

That's a very short review, I think this is the one you meant to post:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/163547304

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