Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig is a novel of historical fiction that is based on the author’s own family history. It covers about 40 turbulent years in the country of Burma, now Myanmar, opening in the 1939 at the start of World War II and the threat of Japanese invasion and continuing on through the years of ousting British Colonialism and Burma’s civil war.

Unfortunately I struggled with this book, finding the pace extremely slow and the writing style dense, remote and inaccessible. The story is dark with scenes of torture, rape and violence. I knew very little about Burmese history other than it was a British colony at one time so I did find the political, historical and cultural information interesting but overall found the book overwritten and awkward. I eventually found myself skimming the book, avoiding the story in favor of the history.

Miss Burma has all the ingredients for an excellent novel and it would have been an excellent story if the author had been more focused on the characters. This book has increased my interest in reading more about this country and it’s history. ( )

Some forty years of Burmese history are depicted through the narratives of one family. Benny, a Jewish officer working for the colonial English meets a local girl named Khin, who is part of the Karen people, a much oppressed minority who helped the British during WWII in exchange for a promised land of their own, one of many promises not kept. Though Benny and Khin have a language barrier, they form a life amoung the turmoil of civil war. And though their marriage will have its dalliances, their oldest daughter, Louisa, will go on to be crowned Miss Burma and provide a symbolic hope for the unification of the country, again another lie. The narrative is peppered with interesting characters, including Saw Lay and Lynton, two men integral to the lives of both Khin and Louisa, as well as American CIA operatives and glimpses of famous revolutionary dictators. But most remarkable is the realization that the author is actually writing about her mother, the same Miss Burma, who went on to lead a revolutionary quest for unification for the Karen people. Must have been quite the journey for this author to research the fragments of her mother's life into this remarkable novel.

Lines

Not so much as a touch from Khin. And now, posed with her before the chapel, he was told that they must ritualistically pay off a string of villagers blocking the boulder-strewn path that led to his Buick and by extension their new home, that private sphere created for the very purpose of satisfying their desire for closeness.

Rather it seemed to her that baptism was a desperation to submerge doubt in the rescuing waters of belief, a desperation to wash away aeons of suffering with the promise of salvation.

Another moment passed and, as if from a distance, he looked back at their hands, still clasped uncomfortably. Those hands appeared to be trying to hold on to the difficulty that he and Khin had encountered while apart, and trying to loosen themselves of culpability for having clawed their way through everything

She had done her time as the submissive daughter, as the symbol of integration, assimilation, subjugation: as “Miss Burma,” as “Ne Win’s whore.” She had done her time as the victim of ethnic woundedness, of slander, of the regime’s ruthlessness. Oh, she loved her parents. And she would be very sorry to leave her sisters. But her time in exile was over, and she was ready to stand up actively for those who were oppressed. One could achieve nothing of greatness without risk. ( )

The author tells the story of a family living in Burma (Myanmar) during the volatile period when the British ceded control over the country to the Burmans resulting in war and violence against tribal groups. The story starts with Benny - who is of Indian and Jewish descent - and Khin - a member of the Karen tribe. For Benny it is "love at first sight" and he arranged a marriage with Khin, who is puzzled but receptive. They work through language and cultural barriers and start their married life. They have a child, Louisa, and things go well until World War II encroaches upon their lives. Japan invades and they are forced to flee for their lives. This begins the first of several flights into the jungle, times when Benny is captured and tortured, and times when Khin feels forced to do whatever it takes to survive. Through many ups and downs and political revolutions the family becomes a target and symbol when their oldest daughter, Louisa, enters a beauty pageant and becomes "Miss Burma".
This was a fascinating look at the history of a part of the world most US citizens know little about. But it was a tedious read at time, as lots of philosophizing is done by the characters throughout the story. It is based on the real backstory of her family, and I appreciated the chance to learn more about her people. Those who enjoy international fiction and the nuances of history will find this one of interest. ( )

This book is full of lots of moving parts, and the purpose also gets muddied. On the one hand, Craig highlights an important and forgotten story about the Karen people in Burma. On the other hand, the novel is chock full of plot points that it felt as if I was reading a biography and history book at once. It's just so dense, and at the same time, Craig makes the mystifying choice--several times--to jump ahead in time and reveal a major plot point that we only hear about in an unconvincing dialogue between characters. Louisa is an interesting character, and I am disappointed the novel did not center around her. In short, this is an important history being told, but it relies too heavily on its own veracity to be credible to readers. Some different writing choices would have streamlined the novel and made it more interesting. ( )

Historical fiction about Burma (Myanmar.). VERY INTERESTING. from the 1920's--1980's. When British were in Myanmar & then left with al the different factions trying to win control. snd half not as good as 1st part ( )