Reviews

Holiday in Cambodia by Laura Jean McKay

jouljet's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

sarah_dietrich's review against another edition

4.0

Holiday in Cambodia is a collection of short stories written by Australian author Laura Jean McKay. All the stories are set in Cambodia & each one gives a glimpse into a different part of Cambodian life. These stories are dark, raw and confrontational. Many stories deal with Cambodian life in the aftermath of the civil war. The stories also examine the way that Western culture clashes with Cambodian. This has definitely made me want to learn more about Cambodia.

misshclose's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

3.25

kwbat12's review against another edition

4.0

I stumbled across this while looking for a holiday read, and then didn't put it down all day. It was incredibly interesting, a series of short stories or vignettes about holidays in Cambodia or Cambodian times. It did past, present, and even (I think) a future, which was something I had never encountered before. There were things about Khmer culture, Khmer Rouge, present day bar girls, ghosts, fortune, and a host of nods to pieces of the Cambodia that I know and love. Some stories were sad, some funny, some unusual, and all of them well written. The words were well chosen, succinct. I recommend this to anyone who knows Cambodia in one way or another; it was interesting, and a quick read.

angelajuniper's review against another edition

4.0

Laura Jean McKay is a fabulous young Australian author whose personality and experience spill from the pages of this short story collection. I met Laura when she ran a Short Story Workshop at the Wheeler Center in Melbourne. She is approachable and kind as a teacher, not to mention knowledgeable in her approach to creative writing.

The stories in this book focus on Cambodia and it's goings-on, whether it be in the lives of locals, tourists or those who find themselves in this complicated land for charity/ work commitments. I would have given it five stars but I found that I didn't connect emotionally with many of the stories as some of the points being made seemed slightly weak and could have been further developed.

Overall, a proud addition to Australian Short Story writing.

abby_shsh's review against another edition

5.0

I feel that the highest praise I can give a book of short stories as wonderful and eclectic as this is that I wish they were all a bit longer to give me the chance to delve closer into these character's lives. With no story alike, and a heady mix of genres and topics (genocide/colonial France/sex work/foreign aid workers) filling up the pages it is a quietly mesmerising read.

viragohaus's review against another edition

4.0

Conversations tinged with memories of Cambodia's catastrophic past - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/conversations-tinged-with-memories-of-cambodias-catastrophic-past/story-fn9n8gph-1226754955727#sthash.qipqMvnV.dpuf

wtb_michael's review against another edition

4.0

A collection of short stories thematically linked by their setting (Cambodia). The writing is incisive and precise, and some stories are hugely affecting (the first in particular will stay with you). It's strongest when dealing with the interaction between the West and Cambodia, but it's all very compelling.