Some books I read in 2024, and movies I saw

I didn't keep track of what I read but here are some happy memories of 2024...

It was super fun to read a fiction book set in the place I live. I mainly picked it up for the Khmer history and third-culture themes, so I was taken by surprise when it turned out to be a fun story set in a familiar place. 

The Koh Ker Conspiracy: An Archaeological Thriller 

by Caleb Andrew (Author) 

And speaking of third culture themes, I often read books about Third Culture Kids. Usually they are written by and for Americans...but now finally one for Aussies!

Thongs or Flip Flops?: Australian kids overseas and what comes next Paperback – June 14, 2024

by Tanya Crossman (Author), Kath Williams (Author)

If you've seen the movie Killing Fields, this book acts sort of like the real version of it, by the actual people who its about. Lots more detail of those days April 17th 1979 and onwards until Sydney was trucked out. And then the long years that followed.

The Death and Life of Dith Pran

                                  

by Sydney H. Schanberg 

I listened to an interview with Elizabeth Becker on Shadows of Utopia  (https://www.shadowsofutopia.com/), then re read the chapter in her book, then went to see the movie!

From August 12, my Instagram:

First time to go to the cinema by myself,
first time to watch a film in French.

Based on Elizabeth Becker's account of her trip into Cambodia the year my husband was probably born.

I love how the elephant metaphor from chapter 11 appears in the movie but in a different form. I probably wouldn't have got it if I hadn't just reread the chapter.

I was glad to see most of the cinema was filled with young Khmer adults.

I'm unsure if they were there on purpose to learn their history, or because its fun seeing a movie and this one was only $2. ( The normal ticket price for movies is $3 or $4. )

The movie was mostly in French, a little Khmer and with English subtitles.

Thanks @rithypanh and @ehb47

#meetingwithpolpot
#siemreap2024
#rendezvousavecpolpot

Edited · 18w


I'm still reading to my children! It is a blurry line between life and learning, is the reading time school time or just fun? These days Christian biographies and historical fiction are are favourites, as well as Nancy Drew.  We've spent a lot of time in the 1700 and 1800s this year, on the sea in ships.

I took my children to see some movies including The Wild Robot, Garfield, Despicable Me 4, Moana 2, Kung Fu Panda 4