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zhelana's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
1.0
When I first mentioned I was reading this book, back in November, I think, I had two friends say "ew are you sure?" and "it's so sad what happened with her." Eventually I looked it up, and from there it was impossible to read this book without knowing what happened to her. If you're unaware, she eventually became president of Myanmar and then committed genocide against the Muslim population of that country.
This book is essentially 52 letters, written one a week, about whatever was on her mind as she was held prisoner in her own home. It is strong when it writes about holidays, Burmese culture, and meditation. However, most of the book is her talking about the need for democracy and how cruel the ruling party is to her party, arresting them without trials and keeping them locked in their own houses for years. And honestly, every time I came across one of these chapters where she talks about the need for democracy and how much better her party is than the socialist party, I wish I could reach through the screen of my kindle, slap her, and yell "you hypocrite!" She doesn't describe anything happening to her party under the socialists that is as bad as what she did when she came to power singing the praises of democracy.
Most of the book just made me angry and sad and I think there are probably better ways to learn about Burmese culture and holidays like wiki crawling or looking at anthropology papers. Honestly, I feel a little dirty for having read this book, which I only continued reading after I knew the truth because I said I'm going to read one book from every country and there is not a lot of literature coming out of Myanmar as far as I can tell. I probably could have done better if I had put a little more effort into looking for books but when I chose the book I saw only that she had won the nobel peace prize so I made certain assumptions, and those assumptions turned out to be very wrong.
Do as I say and not as I do, I know, but maybe give this one a pass and read Nelson Mandela's autobiography if you want a nobel lauriate who went on to become president of his nation and did things in a manner befitting that prize.
This book is essentially 52 letters, written one a week, about whatever was on her mind as she was held prisoner in her own home. It is strong when it writes about holidays, Burmese culture, and meditation. However, most of the book is her talking about the need for democracy and how cruel the ruling party is to her party, arresting them without trials and keeping them locked in their own houses for years. And honestly, every time I came across one of these chapters where she talks about the need for democracy and how much better her party is than the socialist party, I wish I could reach through the screen of my kindle, slap her, and yell "you hypocrite!" She doesn't describe anything happening to her party under the socialists that is as bad as what she did when she came to power singing the praises of democracy.
Most of the book just made me angry and sad and I think there are probably better ways to learn about Burmese culture and holidays like wiki crawling or looking at anthropology papers. Honestly, I feel a little dirty for having read this book, which I only continued reading after I knew the truth because I said I'm going to read one book from every country and there is not a lot of literature coming out of Myanmar as far as I can tell. I probably could have done better if I had put a little more effort into looking for books but when I chose the book I saw only that she had won the nobel peace prize so I made certain assumptions, and those assumptions turned out to be very wrong.
Do as I say and not as I do, I know, but maybe give this one a pass and read Nelson Mandela's autobiography if you want a nobel lauriate who went on to become president of his nation and did things in a manner befitting that prize.
pithyretort's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written collection of 3 page essays, each accompanied by a drawing, that illustrate the reality of living as a political activist in Burma. Somehow Aung San Suu Kyi managed to cover topics from British mystery novels to traditions to the mysterious deaths of political prisoners and other injustices she and others faced with just the right balance of interesting and pointed to make each topic equally captivating. I imagine she is exceptionally graceful in person and can see why she is admired by many.
sanitakacuba's review against another edition
4.0
Aung San Suu Kyi is now one of the most debatable personality on global stage. I read the book trying not to engage in judging but to learn a bit more about Myanmar, and I believe that this is appropriate read for exactly that. Book provides a peek into the political nightmare of Myanmar that could help to understand the current situation a bit, and it is also an illustration of Burmese traditions.
nakedsushi's review against another edition
4.0
Letters from Burma is a wonderful collection of letters written by Aung San Suu Kyi about her experiences in Burma. Instead of solely focussing on the politics surrounding Burma and her house arrest, she writes about Burmese people, their culture, and their experiences in this tumultuous time. Her writing style evokes rich pictures of the Burmese country-side while still keeping its humble tone.
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
“Visitors to my country often speak of the friendliness, the hospitality and the sense of humour of the Burmese. Then they ask how it is possible that a brutal, humourless, authoritarian regime could have emerged from such apeople. A comprehensive answer to that question would involve a whole thesis but a short answer might be, one as writer has put it, that Burma is indeed one of those lands of charm and cruelty. I have found more warmth, more wholehearted love, more tenderness, more courage and more caring concern among my people as we hope together, suffer together and struggle together, anywhere else in the world. But those who exude hate and vindictiveness and rave about annihilating and crushing us are also Burmese, our own people”.
- By Aung San Suu Kuu Yi, Letters from Burma
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Is it bad if i said that i actually enjoyed
her letters about burmese culture, buddhist teachings and her perceptive views about burmese in general more than her political works in National League for Democracy (NLD) ? - be it the way tea was done with condensed milk (just like other Southeast Asian Countries), How Monsoon season could be a blessing and a curse at the same time for us - too much rain, the flood will come, too little rain , the farm will not produce much, the water festivals (Thingyan) or even Union Day. I have no idea at all who is Aung San Suu Kyi aside from she’s the face of the Myanmar’s whenever Democracy were mentioned and she has been in and out of house arrest for as long as i can remember & undeniably, she has been through alot fighting for her own country. Here’s where the book gets tricky when you are reading the one that was published ages ago and the person writing it already goes against everything she stands for. (Cough *rohingya* Cough *genocide). But, I am reading Southeast Asia this year and despite her fell from grace, i believe what she has done for Myanmar’s journey to achieve democracy is admirable. She preached about human rights , the unfairness whenever ruling parties tried to charge her of inciting political unrest whenever there’s protest and rally and the abuse of power by the military. A series of poignant letters about her own country - It can be about cultural activities, political treatment/acts and even tradition/religion that practiced by Burmese in places that she did visit. Illustrations done by Heinn Htet - is certainly gorgeous and you almost can see how captivating Myanmar is with the way Aung San Suu Kyi penned her thoughts on these letters. Overall, i would say it gave you a good overview of ‘Myanmar’ - Brief but done in tasteful manner. However, if you want a detailed history of the country, I am not sure this is the book you should go for.
- By Aung San Suu Kuu Yi, Letters from Burma
.
.
Is it bad if i said that i actually enjoyed
her letters about burmese culture, buddhist teachings and her perceptive views about burmese in general more than her political works in National League for Democracy (NLD) ? - be it the way tea was done with condensed milk (just like other Southeast Asian Countries), How Monsoon season could be a blessing and a curse at the same time for us - too much rain, the flood will come, too little rain , the farm will not produce much, the water festivals (Thingyan) or even Union Day. I have no idea at all who is Aung San Suu Kyi aside from she’s the face of the Myanmar’s whenever Democracy were mentioned and she has been in and out of house arrest for as long as i can remember & undeniably, she has been through alot fighting for her own country. Here’s where the book gets tricky when you are reading the one that was published ages ago and the person writing it already goes against everything she stands for. (Cough *rohingya* Cough *genocide). But, I am reading Southeast Asia this year and despite her fell from grace, i believe what she has done for Myanmar’s journey to achieve democracy is admirable. She preached about human rights , the unfairness whenever ruling parties tried to charge her of inciting political unrest whenever there’s protest and rally and the abuse of power by the military. A series of poignant letters about her own country - It can be about cultural activities, political treatment/acts and even tradition/religion that practiced by Burmese in places that she did visit. Illustrations done by Heinn Htet - is certainly gorgeous and you almost can see how captivating Myanmar is with the way Aung San Suu Kyi penned her thoughts on these letters. Overall, i would say it gave you a good overview of ‘Myanmar’ - Brief but done in tasteful manner. However, if you want a detailed history of the country, I am not sure this is the book you should go for.
alexsiddall's review against another edition
4.0
These letters appear to be so simply written, and the style is clear, gentle, conversational. Yet the author's steely determination shines through. Although the subject is Burma, the message is universal. There is plenty here to provoke and uplift regardless of time and place.
skribobby's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a perfect companion to a week in Myanmar. Though it's 20 years old It helped to give me a clearer picture of so many whys of the country. It's a beautifully well rounded series of articles that suu Kyi wrote for a newspaper, making each piece very concise and to the point. I enjoyed not only her breakdown of the government scare tactics and the sufferings of the jailed members of her party, but her writings about the autumn, Burmese fashion, festival culture, and visits to holy monks in bumpy countryside. Above all it helped me to understand more than I could have ever hoped why Aung San suu Kyi has the heart of Myanmar.
readingjas's review against another edition
4.0
The letters that Aung San Suu Kyi wrote to a Japanese newspaper after her first period of house arrest are intelligent and charming and a great insight into many parts of Burmese culture. Covering topics from traditional seasonal and Buddhist festivals, to economics, the law and of course the political situation in Burma, it is a must read for anyone interested in the thoughts and ideas of a modern day heroine.
mediumsquare's review against another edition
3.0
It's difficult to judge a political book on its merits when news of Burma's treatment of the Rohinga peoples continues to confuse those of us who might have supposed that Suu Kyi wouldn't stand for this humanitarian crisis. The question lingered in the back of my mind throughout the book - when she talks about her people, the Burmese people, for whom she suffered indignities and separation from family - is she excluding that group? Why does she remain silent now?
Despite these reservations, her writing style is fluid and nicely depicts life in Burma with its festivals and traditions. The driving current of these letters, however, is very much the mistreatment of her party and supporters at the hands of the reigning SLORC. The meaning of her steadfast words, while true for the Buddhist Burmese, do ring a bit hollow these days.
Despite these reservations, her writing style is fluid and nicely depicts life in Burma with its festivals and traditions. The driving current of these letters, however, is very much the mistreatment of her party and supporters at the hands of the reigning SLORC. The meaning of her steadfast words, while true for the Buddhist Burmese, do ring a bit hollow these days.