A Blessing over Ashes : The Remarkable Odyssey of My Unlikely Brother

Rating:
Summary: An amazing book for so many different reasons.
Review: As a former refugee who came to the United States at age 8, I understand a few of the main character's experiences, i.e growing up "different" in America. Luckily there are many other experiences in his amazing life which are completely foreign to me, living through the killing fields of Cambodia, adoption into a loving American family, financially supporting his long lost Cambodian family, etc... This is an amazing book for so many different reasons. It gives the reader an honest and intimate look at a unique and rich life very different form their own. I gained insight on some of my contemporaries by reading this book. It is a testimony of one brother's love for another. Finally, this book illustrates a character of the American people that is sometimes forgotten. Americans, as a whole, are a generous people. I've recommended this book to so many friends, especially those with an interest in understanding people with experiences different from their own.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing book for so many different reasons.
Review: As a former refugee who came to the United States at age 8, I understand a few of the main character's experiences, i.e growing up "different" in America. Luckily there are many other experiences in his amazing life which are completely foreign to me, living through the killing fields of Cambodia, adoption into a loving American family, financially supporting his long lost Cambodian family, etc... This is an amazing book for so many different reasons. It gives the reader an honest and intimate look at a unique and rich life very different form their own. I gained insight on some of my contemporaries by reading this book. It is a testimony of one brother's love for another. Finally, this book illustrates a character of the American people that is sometimes forgotten. Americans, as a whole, are a generous people. I've recommended this book to so many friends, especially those with an interest in understanding people with experiences different from their own.

Rating:
Summary: Exquisite Combination of Truth and Compassion
Review: Biographies written by journalists often offer rare treats. This one is no exception. Adam Fifield takes the extraordinary circumstances that brought a young Cambodian boy into his family and tells us how they became true brothers. This book will open your heart and your mind and stay with you for a long, wonderful time.

Rating:
Summary: IT IS A GOOD BOOK
Review: I did not really under stand the book very well. But was also some what exciting. Soeuth is a boy who lost his parents in cambodia, and went to america for twelve years before he found his family. He also lived with the fifelds for the twelve years. So take my word it is a good book if you like some violence.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting
Review: I particularly recommend "A Blessing Over Ashes" for anyone interesed in 20th Century Southeast Asian history, as it puts a painfully personal face on the wars in Cambodia. But even for those who know little about this era, I would recommend it as a compelling story of one person's experiences as a member of two very different families. It is a story of personal identity, and it is a story of our common humanity. Are we defined by race? Blood? Experience? Where, in the end, does Soeuth belong? How can he reconcile his divergent experiences as a Cambodian and as an American? Much of this book is tough going. Soeuth and Adam's visits to the ghostly "re-education centers" are almost unbearably sad, and reminded me of some of the observations Philip Gourevitch makes of Rwanda in his work on another place, another genocide, another year, "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families." "A Blessing Over Ashes," is as honest a book as I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Can't Put It Down
Review: I read this book during vacation on Cape Cod-and finished it in about two days. It is so rich, so insightful, I loved it. Loved reading about the author and his brothers growing up in Vermont....what a colorful tapestry. I have never read Adam Fifield before (only read about him in Good Housekeeping Magazine) but am so impressed by his gift for the craft of writing. What a beautiful builder of phrases and sentences. This book should win a Pulitzer prize.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended: very moving and well written
Review: I really enjoyed reading "A Blessing Over Ashes". It was unlike any book that I have read, and broadened my vision considerably. The stories from the early chapters were very moving and written in a beautiful voice. I read the chapter about catching fish with bare hands in a Vermont stream to my 4 year old daughter, who laughed with delight right along with me. Those later stories about the Cambodian slave camps were horrifying, fascinating and nearly moved me to tears. I feel after finishing the book like I was part of the family, albeit one very different from my own.

Rating:
Summary: A Blessing Over Ashes Book Review
Review: I really enjoyed the book A Blessing Over Ashes because it was a different kind of book that I normally would not read. The book was very informative and I learned a lot about Cambodia that I never knew before. People should read this book if they like to read about other countries, or if they like to read true stories. A Blessing Over Ashes is the story of a Cambodian boy trying to escape his war torn country. He eventually finds his way to America to live with a family that treats him like their own son. I was fasinated reading about the journey that Soeuth the main charactor had to endure in order to finally get to America. How the Fifield family accepts Soeuth into their family is inspirational. To me, this book represented a mix of a series of journey and a survival. Soeuth has to survive in a country engulfed in hatred and war. His escape took immense courage and I admired Soeuth for his determination. I hope others will consider reading A Blessing Over Ashes so that they, too, may experience the sheer determation and courage of a young Cambodian boy who will inspire them as he did me.

Rating:
Summary: Painfully enticing
Review: I think this book paints various emotions upon the reader whilst exposing the truth about a little boy from Cambodia, even if it was from his foster brother's point of view. There are a lot of specific pieces in this book which may create disturbing images in the reader's mind's eye, but I myself find this book of interest. However, I only gave this book four stars because I feel it could have gone into depth in a psycological sense, and this would have enticed me even more. My point will rest at this... this is an exquisite book!

Rating:
Summary: AN EYE OPENER
Review: I was awaken to the real life problems that people have gone through. Before I started this book I didn't have a real understanding of the crisis in Cambodia. Adam did an excelent job on explaining the things that seouth went through. I was amazed at the detail of seouths journey that Adam included. At the same time it was serious Adam was able to throw in funny stories about there childhood. Adam included many experiances that his family went through with there adopted brother from Cambodia. This was a great book and I would recomend it to anyone who enjoys a true real life story.