Book Background
I had the privilege of residing in Southeast Asia for four and a half years. During a trip to the Plain of Jars, in Laos, I observed a landscape pierced by bomb craters and walked on paths cleared of unexploded ordnance—all remnants of the Vietnam War. Laos was neutral. It was eye-opening and I was inspired to find out as much as possible about the Vietnam War. Beauty Beneath the Banyan is a product of my curiosity and passion for peace because war...is never really over.
Beauty Beneath the BanyanThree women, three countries, three stories—the destinies of a Thai in prison for murdering her husband, a Cambodian longing for a child and a Hmong refugee are threaded together by the tears leftover from the Vietnam War.
The Vietnam War rages rippling into neighbouring Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. As narrated by a monk, a raven fighter pilot and a soldier, the remnants of war has a devastating impact on those it touches. But history doesn’t stop…its fingers reach into the present day, carrying with it debris from the past. Three women cannot escape the fate a war bestows upon them and fight to carve a future free of suffering. |
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If you enjoyed listening to this chapter, I read excerpts from the entire novel on my YouTube channel. Click here for more! |
Here's what people had to say...
Beauty Beneath the Banyan is a very important book. The stories are factual and taken from the truth. It is well written and raises awareness about the unknown genocide against the Hmong people in the jungles of Laos.
Rebecca Sommer/Sommer Films
One thing is clear: Beauty Beneath the Banyan is a product of careful observation, story-keeping, and passion.
Kao Kalia Yang /The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
Rebecca Sommer/Sommer Films
One thing is clear: Beauty Beneath the Banyan is a product of careful observation, story-keeping, and passion.
Kao Kalia Yang /The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir
Here's what I had to say...
I had the privilege of talking with the incredible Lesley Southwick-Trask; she hosts an online radio program entitled Women Who Lead. A BIG thank you to Lesley for taking the time to speak with me about BBTB.
Click here to listen to our interview.
Click here to listen to our interview.