Friday, September 19, 2008

Book Spotlight: The Road to Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam


I just received my review copy of this book on Wednesday, but the publisher asked us to post about the book this week. I can't wait to read it.
About the Book: A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.

A riveting, raw, and beautiful memoir of tragedy and hope

Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Somaly Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was twelve years old. For the next decade she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex trade of Southeast Asia. Trapped in this dangerous and desperate world, she suffered the brutality and horrors of human trafficking—rape, torture, deprivation—until she managed to escape with the help of a French aid worker. Emboldened by her newfound freedom, education, and security, Somaly blossomed but remained haunted by the girls in the brothels she left behind.
Written in exquisite, spare, unflinching prose, The Road of Lost Innocence recounts the experiences of her early life and tells the story of her awakening as an activist and her harrowing and brave fight against the powerful and corrupt forces that steal the lives of these girls. She has orchestrated raids on brothels and rescued sex workers, some as young as five and six; she has built shelters, started schools, and founded an organization that has so far saved more than four thousand women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Her memoir will leave you awestruck by her tenacity and courage and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.

To learn more about how you can help fight human trafficking, visit the foundation’s website: www.somaly.org.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow.

M. said...

This is a horrifying reality of our world and noone should feel they have the luxury to shut their eyes about it. Bravo to this woman for her bravery and outstanding work, and I am so relieved that slowly, slowly, industrialized countries that supply a large part of the customers for this dreadful trade are waking up to their responsibility and handing out criminal sentences for their citizens who commit acts elsewhere in the world that would not be tolerated at home.

M. said...

Holy run-on sentence, Batman!

Sorry. Just re-read my previous post.

RebekahC said...

This book sounds really eye opening. I'm going to have to look for it. Not a light ready by any means, but appears to be a good one from the sounds of it.

Thanks for the blurb.

RebekahC
www.readysetreadreviews.blogspot.com

Jen (momx3lovesbooks) said...

This is going on my book wishlist. Thanks for posting it!

Lenore Appelhans said...

We do need more such activists. Wishlist added.

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