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The Rent Collector
Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working. Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the bad-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money--a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past.
The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman's journey to save her son and another woman's chance at redemption.
The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman's journey to save her son and another woman's chance at redemption.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 24, 2012
About the author
Camron Wright
12 books741 followersCamron Wright was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has a master’s degree in Writing and Public Relations from Westminster College.
He has owned several successful retail stores in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York.
Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA school at the time, and it proved the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers Choice Award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Letters for Emily has been published in North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and China.
His next book, The Rent Collector, won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was a nominee for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award. The Orphan Keeper won Book of the Year, Gold accolades in Multicultural Fiction from Foreword Reviews, and was winner of Best General Fiction from the Whitney Awards. His newest book, In Times of Rain and War releases in early 2021.
Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, just south of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. He is the proud father of four children, all girls but three.
He has owned several successful retail stores in addition to working with his wife in the fashion industry, designing for the McCall Pattern Company in New York.
Camron began writing to get out of attending MBA school at the time, and it proved the better decision. His first book, Letters for Emily, was a Readers Choice Award winner, as well as a selection of the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. Letters for Emily has been published in North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, and China.
His next book, The Rent Collector, won Best Novel of the Year from the Whitney Awards and was a nominee for the prestigious International DUBLIN Literary Award. The Orphan Keeper won Book of the Year, Gold accolades in Multicultural Fiction from Foreword Reviews, and was winner of Best General Fiction from the Whitney Awards. His newest book, In Times of Rain and War releases in early 2021.
Camron lives with his wife, Alicyn, just south of Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains. He is the proud father of four children, all girls but three.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,813 reviews
April 12, 2013
I honestly do not know if I will finish this book. The premise is really intriguing, but the voice of the character is so out of place it is distracting. The main character speaks like a sassy,educated, middle-aged soccer mom from suburbia, not a destitute woman who has grown up and lived her life in the dumps of Cambodia. I am a bit mystified by the rave reviews this book has gotten.
May 14, 2022
The Rent Collector, Camron Wright
The Rent Collector is the story of a young mother, Sang Ly, struggling to survive by picking through garbage in Cambodia's largest municipal dump. Under threat of eviction by an embittered old drunk who is charged with collecting rents from the poor of Stung Meanchey, Sang Ly embarks on a desperate journey to save her ailing son from a life of ignorance and poverty. It’s a tale of discovery and redemption in which she learns that literature, like hope, is found in the most unexpected places.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه می سال2020میلادی
عنوان: اجاره دهنده؛ نویسنده: کامرون رایت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
داستان «اجاره دهنده» سرگذشت یک مادر جوان به نام «سانگ لی» است که با گردآوری زباله از بزرگترین زباله دان شهر «کامبوج»، در تلاش برای زنده ماندن است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 04/04//1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 23/02/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
The Rent Collector is the story of a young mother, Sang Ly, struggling to survive by picking through garbage in Cambodia's largest municipal dump. Under threat of eviction by an embittered old drunk who is charged with collecting rents from the poor of Stung Meanchey, Sang Ly embarks on a desperate journey to save her ailing son from a life of ignorance and poverty. It’s a tale of discovery and redemption in which she learns that literature, like hope, is found in the most unexpected places.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیستم ماه می سال2020میلادی
عنوان: اجاره دهنده؛ نویسنده: کامرون رایت؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
داستان «اجاره دهنده» سرگذشت یک مادر جوان به نام «سانگ لی» است که با گردآوری زباله از بزرگترین زباله دان شهر «کامبوج»، در تلاش برای زنده ماندن است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 04/04//1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 23/02/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
February 25, 2020
The voice/tone of this book was so WRONG. I felt like I was reading the words of an outsider, somebody trying to Americanize what should have been a Cambodian story. The whole experience felt inauthentic.
And it really bothered me that the author took real people from a documentary and turned them into characters. Their experience didn't need to be artificially enhanced in order for it to be meaningful.
And it really bothered me that the author took real people from a documentary and turned them into characters. Their experience didn't need to be artificially enhanced in order for it to be meaningful.
October 4, 2012
Simply put, this book is a jewel. Another reviewer described it as "cleansing", and I completely agree.
Camron Wright lists Yann Martel's The Life of Pi as one of his favorites (and I like that Wright says he's not smart enough to be a literature snob, heh), and the style is similar, the prose elegant and simple.
The book is fiction, but inspired by Wright's son's time in Cambodia filming a documentary. I am, somewhat to my own dismay, only cursorily familiar with Cambodia and its terrible struggles, but the setting was in no way inaccessible to me - it was lovely and heartbreaking and well-drawn and real.
The first-person, present-tense writing kept me constantly engaged as a reader. The characterizations are subtle and full, and ugh, I feel like I should have some criticism, but I don't. This book could be an explanation of why I love reading, and why it's important.
Read it if you are tired of hopelessness in fiction. Read it if you believe in redemption. Read it if you love beautiful language. Read it if you love classics of literature, poetry and fable. Read it with your head, but understand it with your heart (a paraphrase from the book).
Camron Wright lists Yann Martel's The Life of Pi as one of his favorites (and I like that Wright says he's not smart enough to be a literature snob, heh), and the style is similar, the prose elegant and simple.
The book is fiction, but inspired by Wright's son's time in Cambodia filming a documentary. I am, somewhat to my own dismay, only cursorily familiar with Cambodia and its terrible struggles, but the setting was in no way inaccessible to me - it was lovely and heartbreaking and well-drawn and real.
The first-person, present-tense writing kept me constantly engaged as a reader. The characterizations are subtle and full, and ugh, I feel like I should have some criticism, but I don't. This book could be an explanation of why I love reading, and why it's important.
Read it if you are tired of hopelessness in fiction. Read it if you believe in redemption. Read it if you love beautiful language. Read it if you love classics of literature, poetry and fable. Read it with your head, but understand it with your heart (a paraphrase from the book).
September 26, 2015
Each time I'd see this at the library I'd kinda wince a little, after realizing the cover art and photos in the back of this novel are all pictures taken by the author's son from a documentary he filmed. It's like, I just couldn't bring myself to read an author's fictional work that he himself hadn't felt secure enough with his own words not to embellish them with real photos.
My interest, though, in Cambodia, (strengthened a few decades back by the mesmerizing, can't-miss movie The Killing Fields about the savagery perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970's-'80s) led me back to The Rent Collector (along with its stratospheric GR reader average.) I'm pretty glad I gave it a try, despite my initial misgivings.
As you can readily intuit from the hauntingly picturesque cover, this takes place almost exclusively in a garbage dump (specifically, the largest garbage dump in Cambodia, Stung Meanchey, where thousands of folks both live and make their living--if one could call it that--sifting through the country's detritus). Evoking two stories from India (the nonfiction Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, and, of course, the fictional Q & A--aka "Slumdog Millionaire" by Vikas Swarup), Camron Wright's story is a blend of fact and fiction. He takes real-life dump dwellers Sang Ly and Ki Lim, trying to eke out an existence with their chronically ill son, Nisay, and creates a story of hope that somehow involves their ill-tempered rent collector, a mean and nasty, rice wine-addled wretch of a woman named Sopeap Sin. Sang Ly, desperate for a way out of the dump life, worms her way into Sopeap's good graces when she asks Sopeap (a fallen university professor, we learn) to teach her to read.
Though the story is a tad predictable, and more than a little sappy, it's bound to draw forth a tear or two (or twenty). It's one of those frighteningly bleak stories that endeavor to find the silver lining in the cesspool. You can scoff at the transparency of Wright's intent, or you can go along with it and savor. I chose the latter, and enjoyed this. You just might, too.
My interest, though, in Cambodia, (strengthened a few decades back by the mesmerizing, can't-miss movie The Killing Fields about the savagery perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970's-'80s) led me back to The Rent Collector (along with its stratospheric GR reader average.) I'm pretty glad I gave it a try, despite my initial misgivings.
As you can readily intuit from the hauntingly picturesque cover, this takes place almost exclusively in a garbage dump (specifically, the largest garbage dump in Cambodia, Stung Meanchey, where thousands of folks both live and make their living--if one could call it that--sifting through the country's detritus). Evoking two stories from India (the nonfiction Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo, and, of course, the fictional Q & A--aka "Slumdog Millionaire" by Vikas Swarup), Camron Wright's story is a blend of fact and fiction. He takes real-life dump dwellers Sang Ly and Ki Lim, trying to eke out an existence with their chronically ill son, Nisay, and creates a story of hope that somehow involves their ill-tempered rent collector, a mean and nasty, rice wine-addled wretch of a woman named Sopeap Sin. Sang Ly, desperate for a way out of the dump life, worms her way into Sopeap's good graces when she asks Sopeap (a fallen university professor, we learn) to teach her to read.
Though the story is a tad predictable, and more than a little sappy, it's bound to draw forth a tear or two (or twenty). It's one of those frighteningly bleak stories that endeavor to find the silver lining in the cesspool. You can scoff at the transparency of Wright's intent, or you can go along with it and savor. I chose the latter, and enjoyed this. You just might, too.
October 7, 2022
Such a meaningful and memorable story set in Cambodia. Surya, her husband Ki, and baby Nisay live on the edge of Stung Meanchey -- a massive city garbage dump. They make enough money to survive by picking through the garbage day after day. Sopeap is the woman who collects their rent. She seems harsh and unapproachable until one day Surya shows her a book that Ki found while picking. Soon Sopeap (a former college literature professor) is teaching Surya to read. The narrative is filled with stories within the story and reminders of the value of literature to civilization. Filled with hope and heart, this would most certainly be a delightful read aloud in a junior high classroom. Reminded me of another favorite from a few years ago: Everlasting Nora.
Also now available in a Young Reader's edition if The Orphan Keeper.
Also now available in a Young Reader's edition if The Orphan Keeper.
September 9, 2017
I remember reading a review of this book and thinking it sounded fascinating. But for some reason, it just fell flat for me. While I could feel sympathy for the characters, I couldn't connect with them. They seemed less than three dimensional.
Sang Ly dreams of learning to read. She believes being able to read will help her family move up from the dump and her son will be able to get healthy. Sopeap, the rent collector of the title, is a drunk. Formerly a university professor, she was the only character that came close to ringing true. Maybe because if I lived in a dump, I'd certainly have taken to drink as well. She takes on the task of teaching Sang Ly to read.
The other problem, other than flat characters, is that the story is at times pedantic. I felt like I was being hit over the head with “what I should know about literature and why it's important”. I want a book that shows that, doesn't tell me. The writing itself is well done and there are lots of poetic phrases. The fables are especially well written.
The ending was interesting but I felt it raised more questions than it answered concerning the Khmer Rouge and their reasons for killing all educated people.
Now bear in mind, I disliked The Alchemist and people kept it on the bestsellers list for years. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
Sang Ly dreams of learning to read. She believes being able to read will help her family move up from the dump and her son will be able to get healthy. Sopeap, the rent collector of the title, is a drunk. Formerly a university professor, she was the only character that came close to ringing true. Maybe because if I lived in a dump, I'd certainly have taken to drink as well. She takes on the task of teaching Sang Ly to read.
The other problem, other than flat characters, is that the story is at times pedantic. I felt like I was being hit over the head with “what I should know about literature and why it's important”. I want a book that shows that, doesn't tell me. The writing itself is well done and there are lots of poetic phrases. The fables are especially well written.
The ending was interesting but I felt it raised more questions than it answered concerning the Khmer Rouge and their reasons for killing all educated people.
Now bear in mind, I disliked The Alchemist and people kept it on the bestsellers list for years. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
February 16, 2017
I really enjoyed the quotes from literature incorporated into the story. I enjoyed the historical piece, learning about the Khmer Rouge revolution and the genocide that occurred. I also appreciated the friendship between Sang Ly and Sopeap. It was interesting to see Sang Ly see the world differently through literature.
However, I did not feel like the representation of the people living at the dump was accurate or believably portrayed. I felt that the tone and manner of the characters was off. There was something almost blissful about the way these people viewed their homes and their way of life that did not ring true to me. Here were a group of people living in utter abject poverty on the edge of a garbage heap, making their living picking through trash, barely surviving. They were dealing with gangs, starvation, children being sold into prostitution, and health issues. I did not feel that the author was truly connected to and connecting the reader to the extreme poverty and desperateness of the situation. I felt the storyline was an easy enjoyable read that all came together nicely in the end, however it was all hard to swallow.
I have previously read Katherine Boo’s “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” and felt that she did an amazing job in researching and writing that book. She lived in Mumbai among the poorest of the poor who also worked as trash collectors and documented their stories in her nonfictional account. I would highly recommend skipping this book and reading that book instead to get a more accurate rendition of living and social conditions in a slum.
For full review with map, pictures & discussion questions, please see: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=300
However, I did not feel like the representation of the people living at the dump was accurate or believably portrayed. I felt that the tone and manner of the characters was off. There was something almost blissful about the way these people viewed their homes and their way of life that did not ring true to me. Here were a group of people living in utter abject poverty on the edge of a garbage heap, making their living picking through trash, barely surviving. They were dealing with gangs, starvation, children being sold into prostitution, and health issues. I did not feel that the author was truly connected to and connecting the reader to the extreme poverty and desperateness of the situation. I felt the storyline was an easy enjoyable read that all came together nicely in the end, however it was all hard to swallow.
I have previously read Katherine Boo’s “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” and felt that she did an amazing job in researching and writing that book. She lived in Mumbai among the poorest of the poor who also worked as trash collectors and documented their stories in her nonfictional account. I would highly recommend skipping this book and reading that book instead to get a more accurate rendition of living and social conditions in a slum.
For full review with map, pictures & discussion questions, please see: http://www.book-chatter.com/?p=300
Read
September 15, 2017 I almost burst into flames reading this book. And not in a good way.
Never before has a book set me on fire so much so that I stopped people in the grocery store to rant about it. And I'm talking a raging house fire that turns childhood photos to ash, not sweet cozy flames in a winter stone hearth sort of fire.
The GOOD: The story of Sang Ly and the people of Stung Meanchey is a breathtaking example of the power of the human spirit, a microcosm of the suffering/exaltation of life and an acute example of the abject poverty that exists in our world. The idea that The Rent Collector brings life in Stung Meanchey into the book clubs and reading lists of our comfortable Western world is a silver lining on a very dark storm cloud.
The BAD: This book is an excellent example of an author writing the story that he feels he needs to tell, and not honoring the characters or the story that actually exists. My first inclination that there was something horrifically wrong with the story was the voice of Sang Ly.
Sang Ly is a young mother living with her husband and chronically ill baby in the largest municipal dump in Cambodia, Stung Meanchey. We quickly learn that her life is hard, her child is dying and she has little hope for her future. When she figures out that the mean and nasty rent collector can read, she hatches a plan to get the woman to teach her how. Great setting for a novel, wonderful set up for character evolution and the pages are rife with conflict HOWEVER illiterate Sang Ly, telling the story in the present tense and in first person, has the vocabulary of a college educated American soccer mom! I found myself chuckling every time Sang Ly used words such as, "grandeur", "embraced", and "incessant". Not to mention the various American clichés and colloquialisms that tripped off of her tongue. In one instance the character takes the opportunity to explain to the reader what happens to young virgin Cambodian girls impoverished families sell to men, believing they are giving them a better life. Is this reality? Absolutely. Could the character Sang Ly know this? Yup. Would she then be able to tell the reader EXACTLY HOW MUCH IN AMERICAN MONEY THE GIRL IS WORTH? NO!** This woman has never left Cambodia. This woman cannot read. How does she have any clue as to how much American money is valued let alone how it translates to the value in Cambodia! Poor illiterate Sang Ly also gives us the genus and species of the plant 'bitter melon' (mormordica charantia), amazing don't you think? Her vocabulary is only one example of character transgression. In one passage, Sang Ly nearly has a nervous breakdown because she finds a leech on her ankle, which apparently has never happened before in her four years of living in a flaming, often explosive cesspool or during her entire childhood in the rice fields.
In addition to the vast violations in character voice, Camron Wright also takes the time to use the character of the rent collector (Sopeap Sin) to give the reader little lessons on what the author feels makes up literature. This part of the book left me feeling greasy. It was as if Wright was whispering in my ear, "See? Analogy and metaphors about the truth of life is what makes great literature. See how I've used the lives of Sang Ly and Sopeap Sin as metaphors about truth? See how MY book is great literature?" Gross.
In reading this book, I watched opportunities to tell a great story, to transport the readers, to illuminate actual truth leak out and run down the drain. Sang Ly returns with her family to the province she grew up in, a lush tropical jungle set with a different kind of poverty. These chapters, if filled with sensory description and nostalgia bursting off of the pages, had the power to illustrate to the reader our perceptions of life as children versus the reality of our lives as adults. What an incredible contrast through scene illustration this could have been! And yet, Wright chooses to use bland, overused words that conjure two dimensional storybook illustrations.
The UGLY (Author): On The Rent Collector website, Wright sites his son's documentary of actual people in Stung Meanchey (River Of Victory)as the inspiration and source of his story. In addition to writing events "exactly as I described them," he wove various events into a single incident in order to work with the storyline. Wright also references various books on the history of Cambodia and the reign of the Khmer Rouge.
When asked what is true and what is not true about The Rent Collector, Wright says, "My point is that it get’s a bit murky trying to dissect. Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about true vs. not-true. As Ernest Hemingway is reported to have said, “All good books have one thing in common, they are truer than if they had really happened.” I believe he has a point."
I want to fly to Utah and kick this dude in the shins.
This is the most blatant example of white privilege by an author I have ever come across. Rather than ACTUALLY GOING TO CAMBODIA AND MEETING THESE PEOPLE, he has chosen to steal their story, their voices and conjure his white middle American male version of what he thinks happens in their world so he can pull heartstrings and draw emotion from readers. And he doesn't even do a good job of it! Does he need to be female or Cambodian or even poor to write this story? Hell no. There are legions of amazing authors who write stories vastly different than their own. But he does need to do the work of standing in front of Sang Ly, breathing in the air of Stung Meanchey, looking her in the eyes and trying a mega ton harder to do her story justice, especially if he is going to write lived experiences. Instead he has stolen from them one of their most valuable possessions, their identity, so that he could sell more books.
In all of my research about Wright and the success of The Rent Collector, I have never come across anything that says proceeds from the sale of this book go to assist the people of Stung Meanchey.
The UGLY (the Book World): Are you kidding me Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, University of St. Francis, The Whitney Award, The Great Southwest Book Festival and others who've given praise to The Rent Collector? Are you absolutely kidding me? Did you read the book? Or did you read what the publisher told you to say and hit that magic 'Command' + 'C' and then paste it directly into your comment box? I am astonished and appalled that you have given your seal of approval to a project so rife with errors and blatant disregard for character development. As a reader, your opinion lacks credibility and you are on watch.
(**To the readers of this review: I apologize for the excessive use of all caps, as that isn't the most scholarly way to write. However I must point out that I was indeed yelling at the screen while I typed those words and therefore, it is the most accurate.)
Never before has a book set me on fire so much so that I stopped people in the grocery store to rant about it. And I'm talking a raging house fire that turns childhood photos to ash, not sweet cozy flames in a winter stone hearth sort of fire.
The GOOD: The story of Sang Ly and the people of Stung Meanchey is a breathtaking example of the power of the human spirit, a microcosm of the suffering/exaltation of life and an acute example of the abject poverty that exists in our world. The idea that The Rent Collector brings life in Stung Meanchey into the book clubs and reading lists of our comfortable Western world is a silver lining on a very dark storm cloud.
The BAD: This book is an excellent example of an author writing the story that he feels he needs to tell, and not honoring the characters or the story that actually exists. My first inclination that there was something horrifically wrong with the story was the voice of Sang Ly.
Sang Ly is a young mother living with her husband and chronically ill baby in the largest municipal dump in Cambodia, Stung Meanchey. We quickly learn that her life is hard, her child is dying and she has little hope for her future. When she figures out that the mean and nasty rent collector can read, she hatches a plan to get the woman to teach her how. Great setting for a novel, wonderful set up for character evolution and the pages are rife with conflict HOWEVER illiterate Sang Ly, telling the story in the present tense and in first person, has the vocabulary of a college educated American soccer mom! I found myself chuckling every time Sang Ly used words such as, "grandeur", "embraced", and "incessant". Not to mention the various American clichés and colloquialisms that tripped off of her tongue. In one instance the character takes the opportunity to explain to the reader what happens to young virgin Cambodian girls impoverished families sell to men, believing they are giving them a better life. Is this reality? Absolutely. Could the character Sang Ly know this? Yup. Would she then be able to tell the reader EXACTLY HOW MUCH IN AMERICAN MONEY THE GIRL IS WORTH? NO!** This woman has never left Cambodia. This woman cannot read. How does she have any clue as to how much American money is valued let alone how it translates to the value in Cambodia! Poor illiterate Sang Ly also gives us the genus and species of the plant 'bitter melon' (mormordica charantia), amazing don't you think? Her vocabulary is only one example of character transgression. In one passage, Sang Ly nearly has a nervous breakdown because she finds a leech on her ankle, which apparently has never happened before in her four years of living in a flaming, often explosive cesspool or during her entire childhood in the rice fields.
In addition to the vast violations in character voice, Camron Wright also takes the time to use the character of the rent collector (Sopeap Sin) to give the reader little lessons on what the author feels makes up literature. This part of the book left me feeling greasy. It was as if Wright was whispering in my ear, "See? Analogy and metaphors about the truth of life is what makes great literature. See how I've used the lives of Sang Ly and Sopeap Sin as metaphors about truth? See how MY book is great literature?" Gross.
In reading this book, I watched opportunities to tell a great story, to transport the readers, to illuminate actual truth leak out and run down the drain. Sang Ly returns with her family to the province she grew up in, a lush tropical jungle set with a different kind of poverty. These chapters, if filled with sensory description and nostalgia bursting off of the pages, had the power to illustrate to the reader our perceptions of life as children versus the reality of our lives as adults. What an incredible contrast through scene illustration this could have been! And yet, Wright chooses to use bland, overused words that conjure two dimensional storybook illustrations.
The UGLY (Author): On The Rent Collector website, Wright sites his son's documentary of actual people in Stung Meanchey (River Of Victory)as the inspiration and source of his story. In addition to writing events "exactly as I described them," he wove various events into a single incident in order to work with the storyline. Wright also references various books on the history of Cambodia and the reign of the Khmer Rouge.
When asked what is true and what is not true about The Rent Collector, Wright says, "My point is that it get’s a bit murky trying to dissect. Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about true vs. not-true. As Ernest Hemingway is reported to have said, “All good books have one thing in common, they are truer than if they had really happened.” I believe he has a point."
I want to fly to Utah and kick this dude in the shins.
This is the most blatant example of white privilege by an author I have ever come across. Rather than ACTUALLY GOING TO CAMBODIA AND MEETING THESE PEOPLE, he has chosen to steal their story, their voices and conjure his white middle American male version of what he thinks happens in their world so he can pull heartstrings and draw emotion from readers. And he doesn't even do a good job of it! Does he need to be female or Cambodian or even poor to write this story? Hell no. There are legions of amazing authors who write stories vastly different than their own. But he does need to do the work of standing in front of Sang Ly, breathing in the air of Stung Meanchey, looking her in the eyes and trying a mega ton harder to do her story justice, especially if he is going to write lived experiences. Instead he has stolen from them one of their most valuable possessions, their identity, so that he could sell more books.
In all of my research about Wright and the success of The Rent Collector, I have never come across anything that says proceeds from the sale of this book go to assist the people of Stung Meanchey.
The UGLY (the Book World): Are you kidding me Booklist, Publisher's Weekly, University of St. Francis, The Whitney Award, The Great Southwest Book Festival and others who've given praise to The Rent Collector? Are you absolutely kidding me? Did you read the book? Or did you read what the publisher told you to say and hit that magic 'Command' + 'C' and then paste it directly into your comment box? I am astonished and appalled that you have given your seal of approval to a project so rife with errors and blatant disregard for character development. As a reader, your opinion lacks credibility and you are on watch.
(**To the readers of this review: I apologize for the excessive use of all caps, as that isn't the most scholarly way to write. However I must point out that I was indeed yelling at the screen while I typed those words and therefore, it is the most accurate.)
August 31, 2021
3.5 stars.
I do have mixed feelings about this book.
I loved the concept and its development.
Although I did enjoy a great part of the book, and especially the writing, I think that this book would have been perfect and more believable if it was written in third person, because I had a problem believing in the main character.
For someone classified as illiterate, she was quite eloquent and had a great vocabulary.
The storyline was quite engaging but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the characters just because they did not sound authentic.
I loved the book references here. It made me want to re-read Moby-Dick, a book that I loved during my teens (but it was a translated version - I wonder if I will appreciate the English version just as much).
There are some sweet messages within the pages, especially when it comes to hope, but I did think that the author was a bit preachy and perhaps pretentious.
I thought that the relationship between the main character and the rent collector was smartly developed, without being overly dramatic, and the true identity of the rent collector was a great twist.
As for the ending, I must confess that I was deeply touched. That was sad and at the same time beautiful.
I wished that there were more details about Cambodian culture, religion and food. Not once I felt that I was anywhere near Asia.
This book is a work of fiction inspired by real stories. There is a documentary that was produced by the author’s son. I have not watched it and I wonder how much of the testimonies were translated into fiction.
I do have mixed feelings about this book.
I loved the concept and its development.
Although I did enjoy a great part of the book, and especially the writing, I think that this book would have been perfect and more believable if it was written in third person, because I had a problem believing in the main character.
For someone classified as illiterate, she was quite eloquent and had a great vocabulary.
The storyline was quite engaging but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with the characters just because they did not sound authentic.
I loved the book references here. It made me want to re-read Moby-Dick, a book that I loved during my teens (but it was a translated version - I wonder if I will appreciate the English version just as much).
There are some sweet messages within the pages, especially when it comes to hope, but I did think that the author was a bit preachy and perhaps pretentious.
I thought that the relationship between the main character and the rent collector was smartly developed, without being overly dramatic, and the true identity of the rent collector was a great twist.
As for the ending, I must confess that I was deeply touched. That was sad and at the same time beautiful.
I wished that there were more details about Cambodian culture, religion and food. Not once I felt that I was anywhere near Asia.
This book is a work of fiction inspired by real stories. There is a documentary that was produced by the author’s son. I have not watched it and I wonder how much of the testimonies were translated into fiction.
December 10, 2012
Enter to win a copy on my blog:
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....
Fabulous! Absolutely wonderful. This is one of my favorite reads this year.
I chose The Rent Collector as my pick for my local book group. Every single person who read it loved it. That hasn't happened before at book group. If you are part of a book group this should definitely make your list of books to read. I had 2 copies of this book. One is literally falling apart because it has been read by so many people and the other was claimed by middle school teacher who wanted to share it with teachers at her school.
One would think it would be a depressing story....Sang Ly lives in a Cambodian dump along with her husband and ailing son where they scavenge for anything of value to survive. So not the case!
The Rent Collector has such a great message about hope and happiness amid struggles and trials. It is a truly inspiring story and one that made me grateful for all that I have been blessed with.
Get yourself a copy of this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it!
Content: Clean
Source: Review copy from Publisher
http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....
Fabulous! Absolutely wonderful. This is one of my favorite reads this year.
I chose The Rent Collector as my pick for my local book group. Every single person who read it loved it. That hasn't happened before at book group. If you are part of a book group this should definitely make your list of books to read. I had 2 copies of this book. One is literally falling apart because it has been read by so many people and the other was claimed by middle school teacher who wanted to share it with teachers at her school.
One would think it would be a depressing story....Sang Ly lives in a Cambodian dump along with her husband and ailing son where they scavenge for anything of value to survive. So not the case!
The Rent Collector has such a great message about hope and happiness amid struggles and trials. It is a truly inspiring story and one that made me grateful for all that I have been blessed with.
Get yourself a copy of this one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it!
Content: Clean
Source: Review copy from Publisher
October 29, 2012
When I received this book in the mail, I stared at the cover for several minutes trying to wrap my brain around the truth behind this fictionalized account of Sang Ly's life.
My nine-year-old daughter saw the cover of the book and I explained to her that it was a large dump where people put all of their garbage and that those shacks were houses where people lived. It was very hard for her to comprehend what I was telling her.
Why would they live in the dump?
Why can't they just come and live here (in the U.S.)?
It was a priceless opportunity for her to see how blessed we truly are.
I loved this book! Amazing storyline, characters that I feel I know, heart-wrenching anguish as well as joy in simple things--these are all feelings I experienced while reading The Rent Collector. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE. Sang Ly's story is an incredible gift that will open your eyes and help you see just how much one person can change the world. It was so neat to witness Sang Ly learning to read and how that changed everything for her and her family. Being able to peek into a part of the world so foreign to my imagination is something that I feel has enriched my life and broadened my perspective yet a little more.
My nine-year-old daughter saw the cover of the book and I explained to her that it was a large dump where people put all of their garbage and that those shacks were houses where people lived. It was very hard for her to comprehend what I was telling her.
Why would they live in the dump?
Why can't they just come and live here (in the U.S.)?
It was a priceless opportunity for her to see how blessed we truly are.
I loved this book! Amazing storyline, characters that I feel I know, heart-wrenching anguish as well as joy in simple things--these are all feelings I experienced while reading The Rent Collector. I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE. Sang Ly's story is an incredible gift that will open your eyes and help you see just how much one person can change the world. It was so neat to witness Sang Ly learning to read and how that changed everything for her and her family. Being able to peek into a part of the world so foreign to my imagination is something that I feel has enriched my life and broadened my perspective yet a little more.
February 4, 2021
2013 F.A.B. Bookclub pick # I.❤️. F.A.B.
January 17, 2016
2.5 stars
I know most of my friends will disagree with my rating, but I have to give my honest review. And if you have a happy experience reading this book, I am truly glad for you. I thought the book had a lot of great things going for it, but in the end, it didn't win me over.
I think the best parts of the book were the pictures and the factual details of life in a garbage dump. I was simultaneously horrified and entranced by these poor characters' plight. But the further I got into the story, the less interesting and believable it was, sadly. (I do want to look into the documentary the author mentions, though.)
You'd think I of all people would resonate with the theme of literature having the power to transform lives, but it just felt like a false setup to me. The characters went from having lots of potential to seeming really two-dimensional, especially the Rent Collector herself, who turned from a fascinating, mysterious, complex woman into someone kind of pitiful and maudlin.
My overall takeaway is that there are some really interesting themes in the book, but I just didn't feel like Camron Wright had the chops to pull it off. I never really believed him in Sang Ly's voice. Maybe it would have worked better for me if he had written in 3rd person instead of trying to get into her head.
I was also kind of fascinated and yet put off by Wright's taking real people and picking them up out of their lives and dropping them into a totally fictional scenario. How would I feel if someone did that to my life? It may be a cool literary technique, but it is also kind of insulting to the subject. I wonder what the reaction of the people "represented" in this story would be when they hear about themselves.... It reminds me of the end of the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," when Pee Wee is gathered with friends to watch the movie of his life--as portrayed by Chuck Norris and Morgan Fairchild. And his bike has somehow become an awesome motorcycle! Maybe the moral is that we all could use a fiction writer to spice up our otherwise boring and unimportant lives! Sorry, just had to poke a little fun.
On a serious note, if you are interested in Cambodian history, you might like to try To Destroy You Is No Loss: The Odyssey of a Cambodian Family, which was a life-changing book for me when I read it years ago.
I know most of my friends will disagree with my rating, but I have to give my honest review. And if you have a happy experience reading this book, I am truly glad for you. I thought the book had a lot of great things going for it, but in the end, it didn't win me over.
I think the best parts of the book were the pictures and the factual details of life in a garbage dump. I was simultaneously horrified and entranced by these poor characters' plight. But the further I got into the story, the less interesting and believable it was, sadly. (I do want to look into the documentary the author mentions, though.)
You'd think I of all people would resonate with the theme of literature having the power to transform lives, but it just felt like a false setup to me. The characters went from having lots of potential to seeming really two-dimensional, especially the Rent Collector herself, who turned from a fascinating, mysterious, complex woman into someone kind of pitiful and maudlin.
My overall takeaway is that there are some really interesting themes in the book, but I just didn't feel like Camron Wright had the chops to pull it off. I never really believed him in Sang Ly's voice. Maybe it would have worked better for me if he had written in 3rd person instead of trying to get into her head.
I was also kind of fascinated and yet put off by Wright's taking real people and picking them up out of their lives and dropping them into a totally fictional scenario. How would I feel if someone did that to my life? It may be a cool literary technique, but it is also kind of insulting to the subject. I wonder what the reaction of the people "represented" in this story would be when they hear about themselves.... It reminds me of the end of the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure," when Pee Wee is gathered with friends to watch the movie of his life--as portrayed by Chuck Norris and Morgan Fairchild. And his bike has somehow become an awesome motorcycle! Maybe the moral is that we all could use a fiction writer to spice up our otherwise boring and unimportant lives! Sorry, just had to poke a little fun.
On a serious note, if you are interested in Cambodian history, you might like to try To Destroy You Is No Loss: The Odyssey of a Cambodian Family, which was a life-changing book for me when I read it years ago.
March 10, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up.
This is a fictionalized account of a real family who live on the Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal dump in Cambodia. Sang Ly and her husband Ki Lin are pickers at the dump, scavenging recyclables to sell to earn a meager living for themselves and their chronically ill son, Nisay. They live in a one room cardboard hut with only a tarp for a door. For this they must pay rent to the Rent Collector, a miserable, drunken old woman. At some point Sang Ly learns that the Rent Collector, whose name is Sopeap Sin, can read. She begs her to teach her to read, so she can make life better for herself and her family. Thus starts a remarkable journey for both women. Their lives become enriched through literacy and literature, as Sopeap passes her knowledge to Sang. But Sang’s overriding concern is the failing health of her son, which also takes her on a literal journey for a cure.
Many of the characters in the book are actual people. Their photos are in the back of the book. The author was inspired to write this book after his son did a documentary on the Stung Meanchey and Sang Ly and her family. (www.RiverOfVictory.com) At times the characters seem too good, too perfect. But their sunny dispositions are in direct contrast to the miserable conditions in which they live. The dump almost becomes another character in the story.
The story is at its best when Sang and Sopeap are discussing books. Then the story becomes an ode to the power of literacy and literature; how learning to read can change someone’s life; how literature can transport the reader to different places and give meaning to your life. In this case, since Sang lives at a dump, anything that can transport her somewhere else and bring beauty into her life is desperately needed.
The book is beautifully written and flows well. You definitely get a feel for life at the dump, and although the ending has a fairy tale quality to it, it is very satisfying. I would love to know more about Sang and Ki’s life after the story ends, but as a whole, the book is great just the way it is.
A definite recommend.
This is a fictionalized account of a real family who live on the Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal dump in Cambodia. Sang Ly and her husband Ki Lin are pickers at the dump, scavenging recyclables to sell to earn a meager living for themselves and their chronically ill son, Nisay. They live in a one room cardboard hut with only a tarp for a door. For this they must pay rent to the Rent Collector, a miserable, drunken old woman. At some point Sang Ly learns that the Rent Collector, whose name is Sopeap Sin, can read. She begs her to teach her to read, so she can make life better for herself and her family. Thus starts a remarkable journey for both women. Their lives become enriched through literacy and literature, as Sopeap passes her knowledge to Sang. But Sang’s overriding concern is the failing health of her son, which also takes her on a literal journey for a cure.
Many of the characters in the book are actual people. Their photos are in the back of the book. The author was inspired to write this book after his son did a documentary on the Stung Meanchey and Sang Ly and her family. (www.RiverOfVictory.com) At times the characters seem too good, too perfect. But their sunny dispositions are in direct contrast to the miserable conditions in which they live. The dump almost becomes another character in the story.
The story is at its best when Sang and Sopeap are discussing books. Then the story becomes an ode to the power of literacy and literature; how learning to read can change someone’s life; how literature can transport the reader to different places and give meaning to your life. In this case, since Sang lives at a dump, anything that can transport her somewhere else and bring beauty into her life is desperately needed.
The book is beautifully written and flows well. You definitely get a feel for life at the dump, and although the ending has a fairy tale quality to it, it is very satisfying. I would love to know more about Sang and Ki’s life after the story ends, but as a whole, the book is great just the way it is.
A definite recommend.
October 23, 2015
I would like to read a book about life in Cambodia. A different book. One that doesn't sound American.
March 11, 2023
The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright is a bok that takes places in Cambodia. In a poor district known as the dump. Sang Ly’s son is sick and she feels it is where they live, their poverty, the dump. Sang Ly decides if she learns to read she can get her family out. This goes through their lives as she learns to read from the woman known as the rent collector.
The book didn’t grab me as the summary and name of the book did. Sang Ly is a strong character. The rest of the book seemed to just follow her instead of mold into her and lifting the book.
The book didn’t grab me as the summary and name of the book did. Sang Ly is a strong character. The rest of the book seemed to just follow her instead of mold into her and lifting the book.
May 11, 2020
3.5 Stars.
This book has me conflicted. On the one hand I loved the message the book was delivering.....A feel good story about the redemptive power of reading. Books and stories connect people. We readers all know that. That message came across loud and clear.
I loved how books and stories were characters in their own right. This book read like a fairy tale(not necessarily a good thing)- much like the Cambodian version of Cinderella which was one of the stories told in the book.
The story revolves around Sang Ly and her family living by a dump in Cambodia. They earn money by scavenging for materials that can be sold. Sang Ly feels that learning to read would be their ticket out. The trouble though was that her voice did not ring true to me- she sounded more American than Cambodian.
The tone of the book annoyed me as well as it was too preachy. There were lots of lessons the author wished to relay but he relayed them in such a way that felt sermon like at times. Much as Sang Ly was learning from Sopeap Sin, we were as well.
This book did make me interested in reading more about Cambodia and learning more about Khmer Rouge.
Overall, the book did have a lovely message about the power of books, and looking beneath the surface of a person’s life.
This book has me conflicted. On the one hand I loved the message the book was delivering.....A feel good story about the redemptive power of reading. Books and stories connect people. We readers all know that. That message came across loud and clear.
I loved how books and stories were characters in their own right. This book read like a fairy tale(not necessarily a good thing)- much like the Cambodian version of Cinderella which was one of the stories told in the book.
The story revolves around Sang Ly and her family living by a dump in Cambodia. They earn money by scavenging for materials that can be sold. Sang Ly feels that learning to read would be their ticket out. The trouble though was that her voice did not ring true to me- she sounded more American than Cambodian.
The tone of the book annoyed me as well as it was too preachy. There were lots of lessons the author wished to relay but he relayed them in such a way that felt sermon like at times. Much as Sang Ly was learning from Sopeap Sin, we were as well.
This book did make me interested in reading more about Cambodia and learning more about Khmer Rouge.
Overall, the book did have a lovely message about the power of books, and looking beneath the surface of a person’s life.
October 17, 2017
A beautiful story about love and war and literature and healing. So thought-provoking! Wonderful book club selection!!! Highly recommend this book to all my Goodreads friends!
December 20, 2013
"I have been quiet today because fear in my heart has been fighting with frustration in my brain, leaving little energy for my mouth. Halfway through the day, my brain declared itself the winner and started to work out a plan. Grandfather loved luck, but I am tired and can no longer wait around for its arrival." pg. 26
"And then I realize I must be dreaming. I bite my lip -- it hurts. I glance around the room -- it's our home at the dump. surely, if I were dreaming, I'd be living in a place nicer than this." pg. 28
"Believing is not enough, Sang Ly. If you want to resurrect hope, doing is the most important." pg. 33
"Sometimes broken things deserve to be repaired." pg. 36
"How can a woman raising her child in a place choking with trash answer that question and have her reply make any sense? both at the dump and in my home tonight, I'm careful where I step." pg. 51
"But literature is unique. To understand literature, you read it with your head, but you interpret it with your heart. The two are forced to work together -- and, quite frankly, they often don't get along." pg. 57
"I'm questioning if you are ready. Everyone loves adventure, Sang Ly, when they know how the story ends. In life, however, our own endings are never as perfect." pg. 58
"As she reads it again, I watch the whisper of her lips, the moving of her eyes, and teh rhythmic nodding of her head. Her fingers curl around the pages, embracing them, and I promise to read more diligently and with more passion from this moment forward." pg. 70
"'One of the first lessons that I hope you grasp is that woven into meaningful literature, so tightly that it can't be separated, is a telling lesson, even in stories as short as this one.'
'Always?' I ask.
'Always!' she confirms. 'Good stories teach!'" pg. 83
"'People only go to the places they have visited first in their minds,' she says, uttering the phrase as if secrets to the universe have just been shared. 'Perhaps that is how learning can help you. However, first you musst see it, feel it, and then believe it. When you do, where it takes you may surprise.'" pg. 87
"I gesture toward the floor and then sit at her side. i take a breath, grasp her hand, and explain as best I can why her own daughter is Stung Meanchey's most recent kidnapper. Of course, I've never been in this actual situation before, so when I finish and she says nothing, I don't know what it means.
I wait. She continues to think.
'Thank you,' she finally answers.
'For what?'
'For helping a mother to feel like she has raised her child right." pg. 89
"'Literature is a cake with many toys baked inside -- and even if you find them all, if you don't enjoy the path that leads you to them, it will be a hollow accomplishment. There was a playwright named Heller, American, I believe, who summed it up this way. He said, 'They knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it.'" pg. 90
"'Sang Ly, we are literature -- our lives, our hopes, our desires, our despairs, our passions, our strengths, our weaknesses. Stories express our longing not only to make a difference today but to see what is possible for tomorrow. Literature has been called a handbook for the art of being human. So, yes. it will do that.'" pg. 93
"'If you are certain you are facing evil,' she says, 'and not ignorance, you must, if you can, destroy it before it destroys you!'" pg. 103
"'Fight ignorance with words. Fight evil with your knife.'" pg. 103
"'It seems, quite simply, that as human beings, we are born to hope.'" pg. 125
"'Sang Ly, the desire to believe, to look forward to better days, to want them, to expect them -- it seems to be engrained in our being. Whether we like it or not, hope is written so deeply into our hearts that we just can't help ourselves, no matter how hard we try otherwise.'" pg. 125
"Literature's lessons repeat because they echo from deeper places. They touch a chord in our soul because they're notes we've already heard played. Plots repeat because, from the birth of man, they explore the reasons for our being. Stories teach us to not give up hope because there are times in our own journey when we mustn't give up hope. They teach endurance because in our lives we are meant to endure. They carry messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that reach beyond the page." pg. 127
"It seems that if we take these stories too literally, if we expect our personal lives to always end with a handsome prince, most of us will close our books with shattered dreams. Yet, on the other hand -- and this is the part that frustrates -- if we don't take the meaning of these stories literally, if we treat these tales as simply entertainment, we miss the deepest, most life-changing aspects of the stories. We miss teh entire reason they even exist." pg. 128
"I think if I had to put up with me, I'd drink also." pg. 134
"Grandfather had a saying: If you know a lot, know enough to make people respect you. If you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you." pg. 152
"I wasn't sure if life was offering me a second chance or slapping me in the face. Sometimes the two can be confusing." pg. 157
"But I can't be dreaming because surely in a dream, such pain and panic would have caused me to wake up screaming -- and Ki would console me and tell me that everything is fine." pg. 165
"In Cambodia, it's unfortunately common for husbands both to drink and to beat their wives. other amilies are abandoned, left to fend for themselves. Instead, my husband runs through the city for the better part of the night to make sure that his wife and son are safe." pg. 166
"'Because I distance myslef from heaven and then complain that heaven is distant.'" pg. 174
"There is a Cambodian proverb Grandfather loved that says, For news of the heart, watch the face. At this moment, I think it would be more apt to say, For news of a mother's heart, watch her child's face. Nisay is terrified and my heart weeps." pg. 197
"Grandfather, where is the balance between humbly accepting our life's trials and pleeading toward heaven for help, begging for a better tomorrow?" pg. 198
"It is a simple notion -- accepting that Nisay is going to be fine -- but it's a hope that I've kept caged in my heart for too long. When I finally crack open the door to the pssibility, gratitude rushes past so quickly to reach the sunshine, there is nothing I can do to stop it." pg. 207
"What my teacher despised were readers who flipped to the last chapter, read the ending, then turned back to begin their stories with smug and wicked smiles dripping from their faces." pg. 211
"I remember Sopeap -- my Sopeap -- once saying that heartbreaking news, unlike rice wine, does not get any better with age." pg. 238
"And then I realize I must be dreaming. I bite my lip -- it hurts. I glance around the room -- it's our home at the dump. surely, if I were dreaming, I'd be living in a place nicer than this." pg. 28
"Believing is not enough, Sang Ly. If you want to resurrect hope, doing is the most important." pg. 33
"Sometimes broken things deserve to be repaired." pg. 36
"How can a woman raising her child in a place choking with trash answer that question and have her reply make any sense? both at the dump and in my home tonight, I'm careful where I step." pg. 51
"But literature is unique. To understand literature, you read it with your head, but you interpret it with your heart. The two are forced to work together -- and, quite frankly, they often don't get along." pg. 57
"I'm questioning if you are ready. Everyone loves adventure, Sang Ly, when they know how the story ends. In life, however, our own endings are never as perfect." pg. 58
"As she reads it again, I watch the whisper of her lips, the moving of her eyes, and teh rhythmic nodding of her head. Her fingers curl around the pages, embracing them, and I promise to read more diligently and with more passion from this moment forward." pg. 70
"'One of the first lessons that I hope you grasp is that woven into meaningful literature, so tightly that it can't be separated, is a telling lesson, even in stories as short as this one.'
'Always?' I ask.
'Always!' she confirms. 'Good stories teach!'" pg. 83
"'People only go to the places they have visited first in their minds,' she says, uttering the phrase as if secrets to the universe have just been shared. 'Perhaps that is how learning can help you. However, first you musst see it, feel it, and then believe it. When you do, where it takes you may surprise.'" pg. 87
"I gesture toward the floor and then sit at her side. i take a breath, grasp her hand, and explain as best I can why her own daughter is Stung Meanchey's most recent kidnapper. Of course, I've never been in this actual situation before, so when I finish and she says nothing, I don't know what it means.
I wait. She continues to think.
'Thank you,' she finally answers.
'For what?'
'For helping a mother to feel like she has raised her child right." pg. 89
"'Literature is a cake with many toys baked inside -- and even if you find them all, if you don't enjoy the path that leads you to them, it will be a hollow accomplishment. There was a playwright named Heller, American, I believe, who summed it up this way. He said, 'They knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it.'" pg. 90
"'Sang Ly, we are literature -- our lives, our hopes, our desires, our despairs, our passions, our strengths, our weaknesses. Stories express our longing not only to make a difference today but to see what is possible for tomorrow. Literature has been called a handbook for the art of being human. So, yes. it will do that.'" pg. 93
"'If you are certain you are facing evil,' she says, 'and not ignorance, you must, if you can, destroy it before it destroys you!'" pg. 103
"'Fight ignorance with words. Fight evil with your knife.'" pg. 103
"'It seems, quite simply, that as human beings, we are born to hope.'" pg. 125
"'Sang Ly, the desire to believe, to look forward to better days, to want them, to expect them -- it seems to be engrained in our being. Whether we like it or not, hope is written so deeply into our hearts that we just can't help ourselves, no matter how hard we try otherwise.'" pg. 125
"Literature's lessons repeat because they echo from deeper places. They touch a chord in our soul because they're notes we've already heard played. Plots repeat because, from the birth of man, they explore the reasons for our being. Stories teach us to not give up hope because there are times in our own journey when we mustn't give up hope. They teach endurance because in our lives we are meant to endure. They carry messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that reach beyond the page." pg. 127
"It seems that if we take these stories too literally, if we expect our personal lives to always end with a handsome prince, most of us will close our books with shattered dreams. Yet, on the other hand -- and this is the part that frustrates -- if we don't take the meaning of these stories literally, if we treat these tales as simply entertainment, we miss the deepest, most life-changing aspects of the stories. We miss teh entire reason they even exist." pg. 128
"I think if I had to put up with me, I'd drink also." pg. 134
"Grandfather had a saying: If you know a lot, know enough to make people respect you. If you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you." pg. 152
"I wasn't sure if life was offering me a second chance or slapping me in the face. Sometimes the two can be confusing." pg. 157
"But I can't be dreaming because surely in a dream, such pain and panic would have caused me to wake up screaming -- and Ki would console me and tell me that everything is fine." pg. 165
"In Cambodia, it's unfortunately common for husbands both to drink and to beat their wives. other amilies are abandoned, left to fend for themselves. Instead, my husband runs through the city for the better part of the night to make sure that his wife and son are safe." pg. 166
"'Because I distance myslef from heaven and then complain that heaven is distant.'" pg. 174
"There is a Cambodian proverb Grandfather loved that says, For news of the heart, watch the face. At this moment, I think it would be more apt to say, For news of a mother's heart, watch her child's face. Nisay is terrified and my heart weeps." pg. 197
"Grandfather, where is the balance between humbly accepting our life's trials and pleeading toward heaven for help, begging for a better tomorrow?" pg. 198
"It is a simple notion -- accepting that Nisay is going to be fine -- but it's a hope that I've kept caged in my heart for too long. When I finally crack open the door to the pssibility, gratitude rushes past so quickly to reach the sunshine, there is nothing I can do to stop it." pg. 207
"What my teacher despised were readers who flipped to the last chapter, read the ending, then turned back to begin their stories with smug and wicked smiles dripping from their faces." pg. 211
"I remember Sopeap -- my Sopeap -- once saying that heartbreaking news, unlike rice wine, does not get any better with age." pg. 238
April 4, 2016
This book was a frustrating read for me. I thought the setting of living in a Cambodian dump was an interesting premise, particularly after reading (and loving) the book "Behind the Beautiful Forevers." Unfortunately, this story felt incredibly unrealistic. The protagonist (as has been noted by other readers) definitely sounded like a middle class white woman. The line where she basically said, "I have been told that university students study garbology..." made me roll my eyes. Where would a destitute, Cambodian woman hear anything like that and how would she even understand what was meant by it?! And why would she want to study "literature" in the dump instead of using her newfound reading skills to find herself a better job?? I felt that there were a lot of plot threads that were left hanging. I wish the book would have focused more on the Rent Collector's own life, which was by far the most compelling part of the book. The whole ending of this book (the wild goose chase) was almost laughable. I would really like to understand Stung Meachy (the dump) better and may seek out the documentary, "River of Victory." I definitely would not recommend this book.
January 29, 2018
This beautifully written, poignant, and unforgettable novel is a story of perseverance and hope amidst the squalor and filth of the dump outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. With it’s lovable characters and real sense of place, the author, Cameron Wright, shows that kindness and dignity can still be found in the harshest of places. I would give this novel ten stars if I could.
July 29, 2015
I had to read this book as a summer reading assignment for school; and at first, I really did try to make myself like it (I've actually waited to digest this book for a month to see maybe if my feelings towards it would change -- they didn't). Although I didn't find too many issues with Camron Wright's writing itself, I found he is in no position to write a book and voice people of poverty -- particularly women -- as a cis, straight, white, mormon (catholic?), man. He was a literal representation of white supremacy and "westernizes" the novel. Throughout Sang Ly -- initially an illiterate woman in poverty -- didn't understand words like "pander" contextually (which would make sense), but struggled with words such as "maniacal" and "ardent". She, her family, and the rest of the community in Stung Meanch are paragons of the human struggle white people believe they are entitled to fix, regardless if their ancestors were the initial aggravators who caused or intensified the issues at hand.
Worst of all this novel was an open dialogue of the importance and impact of literature, but at the same time he is using literature as a device to white wash history. He meekly refers to Cambodian culture and fails to capture the true voice of women in poverty: mainly because his only source of information was from a documentary his son (akin to the description of Camron Wright seen above) produced. I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me that the author was profiting off of a book this ethically incorrect.
Perhaps the book wouldn't have bothered me -- or at least as much -- if it was written in third person or as a western doctor that was seen reoccurring in the novel. Many white people need to learn that writing like this is objectifying and wrong; these authors are taking the legitimate voices of people who need to be heard and replacing them with their own (something that white people love to do). I truthfully wonder how big of a success this novel would have actually been if people were more socially aware.
Worst of all this novel was an open dialogue of the importance and impact of literature, but at the same time he is using literature as a device to white wash history. He meekly refers to Cambodian culture and fails to capture the true voice of women in poverty: mainly because his only source of information was from a documentary his son (akin to the description of Camron Wright seen above) produced. I would be lying if I said it didn't bother me that the author was profiting off of a book this ethically incorrect.
Perhaps the book wouldn't have bothered me -- or at least as much -- if it was written in third person or as a western doctor that was seen reoccurring in the novel. Many white people need to learn that writing like this is objectifying and wrong; these authors are taking the legitimate voices of people who need to be heard and replacing them with their own (something that white people love to do). I truthfully wonder how big of a success this novel would have actually been if people were more socially aware.
November 24, 2012
3.5 It is hard to believe that families live on the edge of the largest trash heap in Cambodia, in shacks that have as doors only tarp. They also have to pay rent for this dubious privilege, and are evicted if they cannot. Their job is to collect recyclables or other worthy garbage and exchange this for money. Sang Ly is one such character, living in this situation with her sick son and husband. Her dream is to get her family out of there, to a better house where they can all thrive. She believes that if she can learn to read it will help lead her out of their current situation. The Rent Collector, is perceived as cruel and a drunkard to boot, but as Sang Ly soon learns there is much more to her than what appears on the surface. Loved these two characters, loved the fact that Sang Ly never gives up hope and that Sopeap, the Rent Collector, has a whole back story that slowly emerges. It was totally unexpected to find the many ways literature, stories and hope are portrayed, in a situation as untenable as this. The story flowed well, my only criticism is the teaching, using these folk tales and metaphors became a little too constant for my taste. It did not , however, ruin for me the wonderful tone of this novel, nor the message that it conveyed. Hope can exist anywhere if one does not give up, I think that is important.
September 21, 2012
Loved...LOVED this book. One of my all-time favorites for sure. I loved her characters, and I was shocked to read that her characters are from her son's documentary about this very dump. Even though the author did a great job describing the conditions there, I was still blown over to see the photo's at the end showing just how the people would dig in the trash ~ and to actually SEE the mountains made it "real" for me. It is incredible that even though these people really do live like this, they are able to find beauty and love and happiness in their life. This will be a "must read" for my children.
I loved the smaller "tales" or "fables" told by Sopeap and thought that they were very beautifully written. I need to find out whether or not Camron Wright wrote the words that came from the 1st book that was found on their "lucky day". It was such a tender moment when it was read to Nisay. There were so many morals and lessons learned in this book ~ and I will recommend it to anyone and everyone.
I loved the smaller "tales" or "fables" told by Sopeap and thought that they were very beautifully written. I need to find out whether or not Camron Wright wrote the words that came from the 1st book that was found on their "lucky day". It was such a tender moment when it was read to Nisay. There were so many morals and lessons learned in this book ~ and I will recommend it to anyone and everyone.
July 30, 2012
4.5/5 stars! Wowza! This book was fabulous! It's poetry! Based on the true story of Ki Lim and Sang Ly who live with their sickly son, Nisay, in a municipal waste dump in Cambodia. Life is a daily struggle as they collect trash to trade for money so they can eat barely enough food and pay rent to their cranky rent collector. The dump is a dangerous place with the danger of gangs, combustible piles of trash, and the big dump trucks who don't care if you get in their way. Sang Ly longs for a better life for her family. Redemption comes in many forms in this book where people are not who they seem and it's not where you are but who you are that really matters. And my favorite character in the story is the infamous rent collector, Sopeap Sin. You have to read this book for her! I can't go in depth without being super spoilery! Nothing worse than spoilers! The main thing that I LOVED about this book was the love of reading and literature! Knowledge is power! This books main theme is hope and anyone can rise from the ashes even in the dumps of Cambodia! I say again-read this book! You won't be sorry! :D
Notable quotables which you feel free to skip but they are amazing and I want to remember them- :)
"Sang Ly, we are literature-our lives, our hopes, our desires, our despairs, our passions, our strengths, our weaknesses. Stories express our longing not only to make a difference today but to see what is possible for tomorrow. Literature has been called a handbook for the art of being human." -pg.93
""The girl's name is different and her circumstance will vary. However, the story's message is the same. She is Ye Xian in China, Tattercoats in England, Aschenputtel in Germany, Critheanach in Scotland, Nyasha in Africa, Cinderella in North America-which story is probably the most well-known-and the list goes on and on." She can see by my face that my tired brain is working hard to process her comments and so she decides to make it easier for me. "Sang Ly, the desire to believe, to look forward to better days, to want them, to expect them-it seems to be engrained in our being. Whether we like it or not, hope is written so deeply in our hearts that we just can't help ourselves, no matter how hard we try otherwise. We love the story because we are Sarann or Tattercoats or Cinderella. We all struggle with the same problems and doubts. We long for the day when we'll get our own reward. We all harbor hope-"" -pg. 126
"I'm suggesting writers can't help themselves," she says. "Our trials, our troubles, our demons, our angels-we reenact them because these stories explain our lives. Literature's lessons repeat because they echo from deeper places. They touch a chord in our soul because they're notes we've already heard played. Plots repeat because, from the birth of man, they explore the reasons for our being. Stories teach us to not give up hope because there are times in our own journey when we mustn't give up hope. They teach endurance because in our lives we are meant to endure. They carry messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that reach beyond the page." -Pg. 127
"The poet Hunt said, 'There are two worlds: the world that we can measure with line and rule, and the world that we feel with our hearts and imagination.'" -pg. 175
"I am here today to tell you of a fable. After I finish, some of you may whisper that it is not true. You may say that my words are made up, that my story is nothing but a myth-and you may be right. But as a wise and great teacher once explained so patiently, all good stories-stories that touch your soul, stories that change your nature, stories that cause you to become a better person from their telling-these stories always contain truth." -pg.265
Love Begins by Joni Buehner
If I were the trees...I would turn my leaves to gold and scatter them toward the sky so they would circle about your head and fall in piles at your feet...so you might know wonder.
If I were the mountains...I would crumble down and lift you up so you could see all of my secret places, where the rivers flow and the animals run wild...so you might know freedom.
If I were the ocean...I would raise you onto my gentle waves and carry you across the seas to swim with the whales and the dolphins in the moonlit waters...so you might know peace.
If I were the stars...I would sparkle like never before and fall from the sky as gentle rain, so that you would always look towards heaven and know that you can reach the stars.
If I were the moon...I would scoop you up and sail you through the sky and show you the Earth below in all its wonder and beauty, so you might know that all the Earth is at your command.
If I were the sun...I would warm and glow like never before and light the sky with orange and pink, so you would gaze upward and always know the glory of heaven.
But I am me...and since I am the one who loves you, I will wrap you in my arms and kiss you and love you with all of my heart, and this I will do until...the mountains crumble down...and the oceans dry up...and the stars fall from the sky...and the sun and moon burn out...And that is forever.
Notable quotables which you feel free to skip but they are amazing and I want to remember them- :)
"Sang Ly, we are literature-our lives, our hopes, our desires, our despairs, our passions, our strengths, our weaknesses. Stories express our longing not only to make a difference today but to see what is possible for tomorrow. Literature has been called a handbook for the art of being human." -pg.93
""The girl's name is different and her circumstance will vary. However, the story's message is the same. She is Ye Xian in China, Tattercoats in England, Aschenputtel in Germany, Critheanach in Scotland, Nyasha in Africa, Cinderella in North America-which story is probably the most well-known-and the list goes on and on." She can see by my face that my tired brain is working hard to process her comments and so she decides to make it easier for me. "Sang Ly, the desire to believe, to look forward to better days, to want them, to expect them-it seems to be engrained in our being. Whether we like it or not, hope is written so deeply in our hearts that we just can't help ourselves, no matter how hard we try otherwise. We love the story because we are Sarann or Tattercoats or Cinderella. We all struggle with the same problems and doubts. We long for the day when we'll get our own reward. We all harbor hope-"" -pg. 126
"I'm suggesting writers can't help themselves," she says. "Our trials, our troubles, our demons, our angels-we reenact them because these stories explain our lives. Literature's lessons repeat because they echo from deeper places. They touch a chord in our soul because they're notes we've already heard played. Plots repeat because, from the birth of man, they explore the reasons for our being. Stories teach us to not give up hope because there are times in our own journey when we mustn't give up hope. They teach endurance because in our lives we are meant to endure. They carry messages that are older than the words themselves, messages that reach beyond the page." -Pg. 127
"The poet Hunt said, 'There are two worlds: the world that we can measure with line and rule, and the world that we feel with our hearts and imagination.'" -pg. 175
"I am here today to tell you of a fable. After I finish, some of you may whisper that it is not true. You may say that my words are made up, that my story is nothing but a myth-and you may be right. But as a wise and great teacher once explained so patiently, all good stories-stories that touch your soul, stories that change your nature, stories that cause you to become a better person from their telling-these stories always contain truth." -pg.265
Love Begins by Joni Buehner
If I were the trees...I would turn my leaves to gold and scatter them toward the sky so they would circle about your head and fall in piles at your feet...so you might know wonder.
If I were the mountains...I would crumble down and lift you up so you could see all of my secret places, where the rivers flow and the animals run wild...so you might know freedom.
If I were the ocean...I would raise you onto my gentle waves and carry you across the seas to swim with the whales and the dolphins in the moonlit waters...so you might know peace.
If I were the stars...I would sparkle like never before and fall from the sky as gentle rain, so that you would always look towards heaven and know that you can reach the stars.
If I were the moon...I would scoop you up and sail you through the sky and show you the Earth below in all its wonder and beauty, so you might know that all the Earth is at your command.
If I were the sun...I would warm and glow like never before and light the sky with orange and pink, so you would gaze upward and always know the glory of heaven.
But I am me...and since I am the one who loves you, I will wrap you in my arms and kiss you and love you with all of my heart, and this I will do until...the mountains crumble down...and the oceans dry up...and the stars fall from the sky...and the sun and moon burn out...And that is forever.
November 10, 2012
It is simply AMAZING!!! One of my top favorite books of all time. Considering how many books that I have read in my lifetime, that should convey how much I love this book! This is a gripping story that filled me with gratitude for my many blessings as I began to read of the struggles in Cambodia. Then, as the story progresses I am filled with a sense of wonder at the hope and determination of the women who survive at Stung Meanchey, the largest waste dump in all of Cambodia. This story tells of friendship, love, hard work, sacrifice, survival, discovery, forgiveness, kindness, teaching, learning and HOPE.
Truly this book has moved me and changed me. I am a different person after reading this book...It is a must read for ALL!
-Excerpt from The Rent Collector:
"...To convey true love, Sang Ly, you whisper..." She waits for me to fill in the answer. "Words." "What words? What would you say to him?" "I guess I would say, I love you." "Three words, Sang Ly, three simple words that communicate more, mean more, than worldly riches. Words provide a voice to our deepest feelings. I tell you, words have started and stopped wars. Words have won and lost great kingdoms. Even Buddha said, 'Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.' Do you understand?"
The words from this book have influenced me!
Truly this book has moved me and changed me. I am a different person after reading this book...It is a must read for ALL!
-Excerpt from The Rent Collector:
"...To convey true love, Sang Ly, you whisper..." She waits for me to fill in the answer. "Words." "What words? What would you say to him?" "I guess I would say, I love you." "Three words, Sang Ly, three simple words that communicate more, mean more, than worldly riches. Words provide a voice to our deepest feelings. I tell you, words have started and stopped wars. Words have won and lost great kingdoms. Even Buddha said, 'Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.' Do you understand?"
The words from this book have influenced me!
June 10, 2013
Oh my. At first I did not like this book and almost put it down. Something, however, pushed me on, and I'm glad it did. I just finished this deeply moving, heartfelt book. Did I like the book? Sometimes. Did I like the writing? Sometimes it startled and distracted me. But overall I think the net effect was to make me think--that's what this author does best. He doesn't intend to make us content but to make us think, but maybe that is how we truly LIVE. Truly one of the best books I have read.
SPOILER ALERT
Later: I wonder if the style of writing is what makes this book work. The point where I, and apparently others, are tempted to give up the book is also a turning point in Sang Li's life. The wretchedness of her situation and then the hope and the good things that keep her moving forward. The single incident that pivots the whole book. Then the more educated tone--a promise that she moves out of the dump or a reminder that the story is fictional intended to make us think? A discordance or a lead into the idea that not all stories end as they should or as expected. Maybe the Cinderella story ends a bit differently--and is that right or wrong? Maybe more right than the initial hope?
SPOILER ALERT
Later: I wonder if the style of writing is what makes this book work. The point where I, and apparently others, are tempted to give up the book is also a turning point in Sang Li's life. The wretchedness of her situation and then the hope and the good things that keep her moving forward. The single incident that pivots the whole book. Then the more educated tone--a promise that she moves out of the dump or a reminder that the story is fictional intended to make us think? A discordance or a lead into the idea that not all stories end as they should or as expected. Maybe the Cinderella story ends a bit differently--and is that right or wrong? Maybe more right than the initial hope?
January 4, 2015
I wasn't sure I would be able to enjoy this book based on the fact I knew it was about a family living in a Cambodian dump. After reading the 1st chapter, I googled Stung Meanchey, & it broke my heart to see pictures of people living in those conditions. I was so inspired by this deeply moving novel, and the hope which it brought. It is quite the opposite of depressing, it is a beautiful story of hope, & the gift of literacy. I would give it 4.5 stars, & I will recommend this book to others!
November 14, 2013
The Rent Collector belongs to many genres. The story gives the reader a basic history of Cambodia and life under the dictatorship of Pol Pot. What the reader needs to know is that Cambodia has been a country void of hope and joy for a very long time. When the Khmer Rouge declared victory, the country welcomed the end of civil war, not understanding the cost of peace. Although the book does not mention it, Pol Pot is viewed by many to be the Cambodian equivalent of Hitler. His reign lasted four years. Estimates vary, but at least 2.2 million people died in Cambodia, including intellectuals, teachers, and anyone that could be found to be literate.
It is not common to find a literate adult Cambodia today. Living conditions are often dangerous and disease and malnutrition rampant. Even knowing these things about Cambodia, I still struggled with the idea of living in a dump. I think the story is in the strength of the people who live day to day in Cambodia. I struggled with the literature part of the story. It was an interesting concept to add but it felt contrived. The last story didn't pack the punch to end it.
The real story was how to find happiness and joy wherever you are. The secondary story of literacy, although relevant, didn't do much for me. The other secondary story of the book - redemption, forgiveness, and survival carried me through to the end. I am deeply interested in viewing the author's son's documentary on living in a Cambodia Dump.
It is not common to find a literate adult Cambodia today. Living conditions are often dangerous and disease and malnutrition rampant. Even knowing these things about Cambodia, I still struggled with the idea of living in a dump. I think the story is in the strength of the people who live day to day in Cambodia. I struggled with the literature part of the story. It was an interesting concept to add but it felt contrived. The last story didn't pack the punch to end it.
The real story was how to find happiness and joy wherever you are. The secondary story of literacy, although relevant, didn't do much for me. The other secondary story of the book - redemption, forgiveness, and survival carried me through to the end. I am deeply interested in viewing the author's son's documentary on living in a Cambodia Dump.
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