The Road of Lost Innocence

The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine

By: Somaly Mam

Narrated by: Tanya Eby Sirois

Born in a village deep in the Cambodian forest, Mam was sold into sexual slavery by her grandfather when she was 12 years old. For the next decade, she was shuttled through the brothels that make up the sprawling sex-trade industry 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, Mam 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 Mam's 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.

Mam 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 3,400 women and children in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Her memoir, an international best seller, will leave you awestruck by the tenacity and courage of this modern-day heroine and will renew your faith in the power of an individual to bring about change.

©2008 Somaly Mam (P)2008 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This moving, disturbing tale is not one of redemption but a cry for justice and support for women's plight everywhere." ( Publishers Weekly)

A beautifully told tale of suffering

After reading "Half The Sky", I wanted to find a narrative tale to better place the faces of the trafficked women in the world. Somaly Mam's book gave me everything I needed to connect with a world I do not understand. I cried, I raged, and I felt honored to be allowed this small window into lives that hold much more suffering than mine.

Reality

The narrative is almost as if I was there so clear and explicit that you get to feel their sadness

Eye Opening Story

An excellent read that really makes you think about how good you have it in life.

Well worth the listen

One of the most honest, straightforward books I have ever read/listened to. It may make you squeamish at points, and even horrified, but I feel it was worth hearing because of how important it is to know the truth. It's not a total downer either, there is much inspiration. Narrator was fantastic and made a great story even better.

Heartbreaking and inspiring!

I listened to this book almost straight through. Hard to hear what men will do.