Customer Reviews

A Prayer for Burma

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A Prayer for Burma is the account of a Burmese-American who travels back to Burma (now Myanmar). In the opening, he says, " . . . returning to my motherland, just as an estranged son would to the mother he left behind, I hoped to get a better understanding of this colorful cultural mandala that was" part "of my identity." He then takes us along on his fascinating travels, sharing what he sees, what he thinks and what he feels. While this description might sound fairly direct and simple, the process and product are anything but. The author struggles to understand what any foreigner might, but he also struggles to settle feelings that only a foreigner who looks like the locals might need to do. And he willingly opens himself through his honest writing so that we benefit from his struggles, his defeats and his triumphs. Having just returned from Myanmar I can say that many of his insights still seemed valid in late 2004 and proved helpful during my trip. The scare about the planes, however, is somewhat dated, though I'd still stick with the private airlines (the government airline does tend to slam into the ground a bit too often). One thing to keep in mind while reading the book is that there is no such thing as The Burmese. The experience of different tribes can be vastly different. Hence, don't generalize beyond what is written about any particular person. Yes, everyone wants more freedom, but the most oppressed groups have it harder, see fewer opportunities and are likely to give very different responses when asked about things.

Even if you have no interest whatsoever in Burma, you still need to read this book. This is a book for people who love beautiful writing. It's about exploring personal identity; it's about culture, about being human, about revisitng and reflecting on one's past, on roots, on time and on what it means to exist on this complex planet of ours.

But if you do have an interest in Burma, then you'll get quite a bonus with this book. Mr. Wong takes you with him as he walks the street's of today's Rangoon gone modern and reflects on the Rangoon gone mad of the 80s and the movement for democracy.

Employing a rapier wit and self-deprecating humor throughout, Mr. Wong will have you laughing and yet realizing at the same time the poignant sadness of the kalaidescopic Burmese culture--sad, beautiful, joyful, and endearing all at the same time. A Prayer for Burma is a sensitive, extended essay on what it means to be multicultural, intelligent, and human.

Read it; you'll be glad you did.

This is a very engaging book, full of lots of quirky humor and insights into Burma as it is now. The author's role as an expat returning to Burma as a visitor give him a rare perspective, understanding local culture and language, yet feeling an outsider and being treated as one. It is more up to date than most literature on Burma, being based on visits during the last 2-3 years. Highly recommended.

Kenneath Wong's beautiful writing style and metaphor of being 'ghost' inspire me in many ways. His book shows vivid scence of unique culture of Burma in which its people are struggled to live under politically deprived condition. With much admiration to his writing, I also want to pray that this unique golden land and its people be escaped from the shadow of military uniforms and oppression.

A Prayer For Burma is the personal reflections of Burmese expatriate Kenneth Wong upon returning to his homeland after living in the U.S. for more than a decade. Offering an informative assessment of Burmese life and culture from inside-out perspective, enhanced with bittersweet memories and reflections of this politically and socially troubled nation, A Prayer For Burma is very highly recommended reading.

I read this book shortly before going Burma. While he has some obvious insights (He's Burmese and he's actually been there), his writing is quite weak and his sense of adventure is pathetic. He spends most of the time complaining about the heat and discomfort and no time at all challenging himself or doing any real journalism. He comes across like a spoiled American who doesn't want to leave his hotel room unless he's on a guided tour. Burma does not exactly jump off the pages of this book.

The book is not a total wash, however. When he is describing his friends and speaking about Burmese literature and culture there are some wonderful things the reader can learn about Burma. The book would've been much more successful if the writer had made it less of a personal journey (I had a more interesting time in Burma, but I wouldn't write a book about it), and focused more on educating the reader about his culture. Having identity issues is a good topic and a sign of the times, but it didn't work for me in this book.

Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin is a much better read.

It seems that several reviewers turn to this book as way to inform themselves about Burma before a trip. And there is valuable cultural information in the book that makes it good for this purpose. However, the book truly shines as a memoir that explores the meaning of identity and how culture, geography, and personality shape an individual. The writer's perspective is unique as he brings his heritage as a native of Burma, a person of Chinese decent, and an American to the mix in an attempt to explore how these identities meld together in sometimes immutable ways. A great read for anyone interested in Sociology, or simply looking to see Buddha and Shakespeare brought together at last.