I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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This book gave me a glimpse into a world I knew nothing about. It could have been science fiction, but for the fact that it is based on current day Burma. A beautiful memoir, it entwines history and the present day reflecting a country that makes the news rarely and continues on a course that is Orwellian in its oppression of its people and its surveillance of visitors. Orwell lived here 100 years ago or so, and the impact of this country on him may have been the catalyst for some of his greatest works.
The first thing that you need to know about this book is that the author's name is a pen name. If she had used her real name, she would never be allowed back into Burma (or Myanmar). This memoir of the time the author spent exploring George Orwell's connection to Burma is a fascinating and exotic account of a country that we learn little about from our media or in schools.
The author draws us in by connecting George Orwell's novels to his time spent in the country as a police officer for the British Empire. She deftly uses her own experiences researching the book as a back drop, revealing to us the challenges of travelling in this police state. Ms. Larkin reveals Burma as a country with many challenges, not the least of which is the Orwellian experience of its citizens who worry about police informers and political payback. Dare I say it? Its almost like 1984.
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Katherine Brown has commented on (2) products.
Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin
Katherine Brown, January 3, 2012
This book gave me a glimpse into a world I knew nothing about. It could have been science fiction, but for the fact that it is based on current day Burma. A beautiful memoir, it entwines history and the present day reflecting a country that makes the news rarely and continues on a course that is Orwellian in its oppression of its people and its surveillance of visitors. Orwell lived here 100 years ago or so, and the impact of this country on him may have been the catalyst for some of his greatest works.Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin
Katherine Brown, September 10, 2011
The first thing that you need to know about this book is that the author's name is a pen name. If she had used her real name, she would never be allowed back into Burma (or Myanmar). This memoir of the time the author spent exploring George Orwell's connection to Burma is a fascinating and exotic account of a country that we learn little about from our media or in schools.The author draws us in by connecting George Orwell's novels to his time spent in the country as a police officer for the British Empire. She deftly uses her own experiences researching the book as a back drop, revealing to us the challenges of travelling in this police state. Ms. Larkin reveals Burma as a country with many challenges, not the least of which is the Orwellian experience of its citizens who worry about police informers and political payback. Dare I say it? Its almost like 1984.