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ywanderingreads's review
4.0
I received this arc in late January and I was really reading this very slowly because I wanted to appreciate each piece of writing. Some of the pieces were also very hard to read. I felt sad. I felt angry and frustrated for those who have given their lives fighting to free themselves from oppression and all the injustice they face. I don’t read poetry but I found a deep appreciation reading the poems from this book especially the cost it took for these writers to publish them.
Two editors, Ko Ko Thett and Brian Haman, compiled together a series of witness poems and essays from different Burmese ethnic groups and backgrounds. This is broken down into three sections: first section is on the Spring Revolution in 2021, the second on movements and events from 2010 to 2020 and the final section covers writings from 1988-2010. I enjoyed reading all the essays and I was surprised to find that I loved quite a few of the poems too. I can feel the emotions through their words and they have definitely made an impact on me. Some of these stories will stay with me for a long time.
Amidst all their frustrations and heartbreaks, there is hope and solidarity. Hope for a better country, hope that future generations will not have to suffer and hope that there will be peace. Yes, the stories are filled with pain but they are also filled with empowering voices of people who will keep fighting even when hope is frail. I am very thankful to the translators for translating these beautifully written proses so we can all read this and understand the severity of what is really going on and making sure their voices are heard loud and clear.
"We have lost more than a thousand lives and there has been immeasuable suffering, yet we don't give up. The people who gave their lives for this aren't simply numbers. Their lost lives will become scratches on the wall as proof that we fought, and are still fighting, back., The scratches will keep us and our voices alive even if we die." - Nandar, A Nightmare You Can't Wake Up From
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve written. I found it hard to put into words how I really feel and I don’t think my review is doing this book any justice. Thank you Ariane from @ethosbooks for providing me with an arc. I strongly recommend everyone to read this and you can download a free copy from their website.
Two editors, Ko Ko Thett and Brian Haman, compiled together a series of witness poems and essays from different Burmese ethnic groups and backgrounds. This is broken down into three sections: first section is on the Spring Revolution in 2021, the second on movements and events from 2010 to 2020 and the final section covers writings from 1988-2010. I enjoyed reading all the essays and I was surprised to find that I loved quite a few of the poems too. I can feel the emotions through their words and they have definitely made an impact on me. Some of these stories will stay with me for a long time.
Amidst all their frustrations and heartbreaks, there is hope and solidarity. Hope for a better country, hope that future generations will not have to suffer and hope that there will be peace. Yes, the stories are filled with pain but they are also filled with empowering voices of people who will keep fighting even when hope is frail. I am very thankful to the translators for translating these beautifully written proses so we can all read this and understand the severity of what is really going on and making sure their voices are heard loud and clear.
"We have lost more than a thousand lives and there has been immeasuable suffering, yet we don't give up. The people who gave their lives for this aren't simply numbers. Their lost lives will become scratches on the wall as proof that we fought, and are still fighting, back., The scratches will keep us and our voices alive even if we die." - Nandar, A Nightmare You Can't Wake Up From
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve written. I found it hard to put into words how I really feel and I don’t think my review is doing this book any justice. Thank you Ariane from @ethosbooks for providing me with an arc. I strongly recommend everyone to read this and you can download a free copy from their website.
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