The Road to Rangoon by Lucy Cruickshanks

The story and descriptiveness including the harsh reality of life under a military regime was meticulously told. It was the actual harshness of real life that made me read this book slowly. It was not a book that could be read quickly. You had to take it in small doses.

Set in military Myanmaar, Michael Atwood is the British ambassador's son who goes missing. Michael is friendly and who you are friendly with becomes of vital importance in a situation like this because when he does go missing, he could be used as a pawn amongst the various groups fighting for dominance. Michael himself is innocent of these machinations and the crowd he falls in with is a mixed bunch.

We have strong characters in this book the chief of which is a young woman, fighting for survival not just for herself - pitting herself between smugglers and the military which is corrupt, but she is fighting for the survival of her parents whom she believes are alive but in prison. All her efforts are made with the intention of collecting enough money, to grease the palms of all the officials who will be needed to free her only surviving family.

Heartbreakingly sad as you do realise where this is going, the story is also very descriptive not just of the regime and its methods but also the sheer beauty of Myanmaar.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley.