Heartbreaking and inspiring is how I would describe Mae Bunseng Taing's Under the Naga Tail: A True Story of Survival, Bravery, and Escape from the Cambodian Genocide.
James Taing tells the story of the Cambodian genocide as seen through his father, Mae Taing's eyes. This is his fathers journey from the beginning in his home country to the end where America becomes his home. This wasn't a weekend journey. This was years of tragedy, of being in a fight state the entire time. The writing is so well done, so graphic that I not only could see what was happening, I could smell it. I could feel the hunger, the fear, and the hopelessness. My heart ached for the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. The amount of hated involved was sickening. But within the hate is Mae's love of family that somehow pushes him forward in moments that many would and did crumble
A parallel to Mae's story was the dedication it took for James to tell the story. I could feel the commitment he had to his father to get this story right. It reminded me of the commitment Mae had to his father throughout the family journey to survival.
I would recommend Under the Naga Trail to readers interested in historical stories of human dedication and strength.
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