My Gun Was As Tall As Me

Book excerpt: A shocking, unflinching and utterly gripping story of those affected by state oppression in Burma and the physical, emotional and moral consequences for both ordinary Burmese and those from the West attempting to provide aid. Born as the result of a state-sponsored act of violence, Lynch and Leer are the strange, wordless twin sons of Burmese villagers Je Lin and Verlaine. As they and the rest of their community, hiding in the jungle, attempt to survive the increasingly barbaric attacks by government soldiers, their fates are inextricably linked to those of Western NGO workers and lovers, Etaine and Tuvol. Toni Davidson weaves together multiple perspectives to create an extraordinary work of fiction, in turns tragic, horrific, moving and, above all, utterly compelling from first page to last.