The Rent Collector - 5 Stars

                                                              

By Cameron Wright

This is a tale of historical fiction inspired by the documentary, River of Victory.  Set in the biggest dump in Cambodia Kim Li and Sang Ly eke out a living in Stung Meanchey, the municipal garbage dump. They live in a hut that leaks when it rains and offers only the barest protection from the elements.  Additionally, Sang Li tries to find a treatment and cure for their chronically ill son, Nisay. The rent Collector, Sopeap Sin is frequently drunk, sloppy, and nasty.  Sang Ly and Ki Lim search through the Cambodian detritus to try to find things they can use or sell.  In this way they earn their living.  In the dump there are kind and helpful people as well as thieves and gangs.  Sang Li knows that the way to improve their lot in life is through education, and she desperately wants to learn to read.  When Sopeap learns of her desire, she begins teaching her to read and Sang Li learns part of Sopeap’s secret.  At one time she was an English teacher.  During the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Rule all of the rich and educated people were murdered.  Hence, Sopeap kept her education a secret.  However, she began bringing Sang Ly books and teaching her to read.  Sang Li loved to read and could not get enough of the lessons and books.  Sopeap enjoyed teaching her.  With her literacy she was able to find  better treatment for her son, Nisay, from a real doctor and he seemed to improve.   Besides finding someone learned enough to treat him scientifically, Nisay’s parents had to be able to pay for the treatment and medicine. Both were challenges.  (spoiler alert) Eventually, Sopeap’s appearances became less frequent and it became apparent that she was quite ill.  Sang Li knew she had another secret so she followed her one day and saw her visit a large house in an affluent section of Phnom Penh where she left much of the rent she collected from her tenants in the dump.  Sopeap’s story turns out to be one of redemption.  In spite of the extreme poverty in Stung Meanchey there is hope, determination and redemption among its inhabitants. This is an inspirational story, and  I could not put this book down.