by Emma Larkin
A while back I read Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin and found myself absolutely captivated by the country and people. Despite one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world, Larkin captured a spirit among the people, an awareness that there was goodness in the world and it would one day come to Burma. I found myself thinking often about the country after reading the book and avidly following the news of the apparent rise of democracy in the country.
The fact is that the struggle for democracy was a very long time in coming and in this book, a follow up to George Orwell, Larkin details the increasingly active protests against the ruling junta in the 2000's and the horrifying crackdown against the true heart of the country, the Monastery's. She frames this with the utter devastation of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008 and the even more devastating aftermath. The descriptions of how the government refused international aid but provided little of their own, stole money and supplies that were accepted, forced villagers to return to nonexistent villages...and then reported happy recovery stories in the official paper. It simply defies understanding. Despite my awareness of what had happened, my horror grew as I turned each page. The spirit demonstrated by the Burmese people in the previous books was gone. They seemed truly defeated by the wrath of nature and of their own government. Never have I encountered a more perfectly titled book. It is an utterly absorbing and heartbreaking read.
But today, perhaps, things are under repair in Burma? The continuing stories and new open borders seem to suggest that there is real change underway. I find myself very much hoping Larkin will share her deep insight into this country and write another book telling the continuing story of Myanmar (Burma). If she does, I will most definitely read it.
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