Finding George Orwell in Burma by Emma Larkin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Finding George Orwell in Burma
Book Review: A sensitive look at totalitarianism, but without the context of the current
Summary: 3 Stars
According to Larkin, Burma (Myanmar) currently is, and has been for long, infested with "government informants." No one is safe to speak freely anywhere -- stories of innocent citizens getting arrested from teahouses or off street corners for simply bad-mouthing the government is abound.
So looking for George Orwell in Burma is only natural. Not only because the current Burma resembles the state in Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, but also because Orwell, Larkin suspects, may have come up with the material for the story during his stint in Burma as an Imperial Police.
The book follows along the steps of Orwell in Burma. Larkin visits locations where Orwell was stationed and ponders over the reasons why Orwell wrote what he did, and contrasts Orwell's circumstances to the current Burma. The result is a sensitive contemplation on totalitarian power. It was exciting to read along this unusual travelogue.
However the book is not without drawbacks. The lack of explanation on the current power structure of Burma and how it came to be came to a mystery to me. While it is in no sense a requirement to include such content, to me neglecting to do so appeared as an opportunity missed. Why not go a step further and provide context of Burma's current regime? For instance the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi is described without background on Aung San Suu Kyi and her deceased father. Wouldn't the readers' understanding of totalitarianism deepen with such explanation? It was just a step away.
As such the book remains an exquisite literary essay. I wish it had been more.
Book Review: Commendable
Summary: 5 Stars
Finding George Orwell in Burma is brilliantly written. It is an amazing look on the inside of a forgotten country whose people are torturously isolated and restricted on so many levels. Emma Larkin conducted outstandingly thorough research for this book, and I can't imagine that anything was missed. The parallels between George Orwell's works and the political situations in the history of Burma are jaw-dropping. I feel that Myanmar is a forgotten nation that many overlook, and this book brings to the attention that its people need help, and they need it soon. The current regime is a group of repulsive, greedy, power-hungry monsters, and it greatly saddens me that the international community has let this go on for so long, with very little being done. This book is a real eye-opener, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in anything from human rights to English Literature. My heart goes out to the people of Myanmar.Book Review: Orwell in Burma
Summary: 4 Stars
This sad account of life in Burma by a writer who knows the country well is intriguing in its examination of how Orwell's experiences in Burma influenced his writing. The book is less successful in its attempt to convey the "Orwellian" aspects of life under the present day Myanmar government, primarily because, for fear of reprisals, so few people could actually tell the author much beyond what she could see for herself: a muzzled press, an omnipresent secret police, the rewriting of history, a poor standard of living, and so on. The parallels to 1984 are convincing, however. The book is also partly a travelogue, and in this it is least successful, I think; the author does not have the same sharp eye for the telling detail that one finds in a writer like Paul Theroux. I kept thinking of his Dark Star Safari as I read this book; the style of writing in Finding George Orwell in Burma is more muted and careful-- and thus less compelling-- than Theroux's account of contemporary Africa. This is perhaps inevitable, given the political situation in Burma.Book Review: An Amazing Surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
I was on a book shopping trip about a month ago and saw this on the New Voices section of the bookstore shelf. I decided to buy it because the title appealed to me and I had just seen a documentary about the lake dwelling people of Burma (see the cover photo). I was amazed by this book and would highly recommend this to most readers.
"Larkin" is a wonderful writing. Her style is strong. She presents the story of present day Burma by weaving the present, the past and the views of George Orwell. She uses her own journalism in the country (under stealth) as well as scholarly research to present a depiction that was often shocking and usually quite sad.
It is hard for Americans sometimes to really understand and believe that a world like 1984 could exist in modern society but this book certainly paints a picture of what other parts of the world must deal with everyday.
This is a thought provoking work whether you approach it as literay criticism, socialology or editoral. Again, I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to going back and reading 1984 in light of what I have read here.
Book Review: book review
Summary: 4 Stars
Great book. The book was able to weave into a wonderful tapestry, the writings of Orwell, the current status of Burma and how it is being reflected in some other countries such as Zimbabwe.