Is Loung Ung a Feminist?

Am I the only one that thinks that Loung Ung is a little feminist? I think that through the whole book, she is pushing equal rights for the woman of Cambodia. Which is defiantly, in this book, something that they are far from having. This really did change things in the book, her whole family would of been treated the same as other family's were. Here experiences really changed I think because of her gender. But getting back to her being a feminist, I personally do believe that she is.

Do you think that she is a feminist? And how do you think her experiences changed because of her gender?

Cambodia Culture - Chinese Culture

So while reading the book, and after reading Victoria's posts, I have really noticed the similarities between Chinese culture and Cambodia culture. Now I knew going into reading this book, that India and China had heavily influenced Cambodia culture, but I really did not know how heavy. After reading this book, I really can now see that Chinese and Cambodia culture is almost parallel. If anything, there are a few differences. I guess that this influence is just like Chinese food on America, only on a much larger scale.

Did you know anything about how close these two cultures are before reading the book? Or were you very surprised like I was?

Death = Better reading?

I just realized something very interesting. We as the reader knew about Loung's father's death long before she did. (Well at least at that time.) I think that this really changed the way that I read the book. I knew that when ever Loung referenced her father before she knew he was dead, I knew he was dead. Kinda like inside information. I really did feel a little sad when ever she did this, I can only imagine what it's like not knowing that your father is dead. And having to find out later on when this whole time you thought he was alive.

Did you read the book differently knowing that he was dead?

Loung - Strong?

So it's really no surprise to me that Loung would see herself as a strong person. I think that a lot of people in the book saw themselves as strong to. This lead them to the solider training camp. I feel that they really did have to see themselves as strong people, other wise, I think that they would of not survived the camp. This now brings up a few good questions to mind:

1. What did they need to do to survive?
2. What qualities does here gentle sister have to have for her to be saved?

These to me are really what drives my thinking about the book, let alone what it really means to survive? What are you own personal answers to these questions?

Thoughts on voice.

OK, well it seams very obvious to me that this story is written using the voice of a child. This seamed very interesting to me because I wanted to know why Loung Ung decided to write the book in this voice, and not in a voice of her grown up looking back at the events. I defiantly feel that using this voice really adds personal feeling to the book. This voice allows you to see her problem the exact same way that she originally saw it. I feel that if it had been written any other way. Than it would change the whole feel of the book. What are your thoughts? Do you think that if Loung Ung had written it in a different voice, you would of read and thought of the book differently? Or would you read and think of the book the same as you did?

Meeting the group!

Here is the list of everybody roles in our First They Killed My Father:

• Discussion Director: Marc


• Connector: Victoria


• Illuminator: Josue


• Word Watcher: Ante

And that's the group!