Author Thirii Myo Kyaw Myint, has written a memoir, Names for Light – A Family History, that gives us a story three generations in the making. The book highlights the interpersonal and societal effects of colonialism in Myanmar and dwells upon the ghosts of the past and the hopes of the future from start to finish. The author was born in Myanmar but spent most of her childhood in Bangkok, eventually moving to the U.S. when she was seven years old. The book is mainly focused on her family’s history in Burma and her experience in the U.S.
The unique structure of how the book is written makes it quite a page-turner since there is less to read in the pages, but I still felt as though I had enough information and was surprised how the author could convey so much in so few sentences. Admittedly, in the beginning at times, there was slight confusion about what was happening, and there is vagueness in the writing which actually results in learning more about the historical context. I believe it is what makes this book beautiful and one of a kind.
