Cleveland Arts Prize: Loung Ung / literature

Published: Sunday, June 24, 2012,

By Donald Rosenberg, The Plain Dealer

 

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerLocal author Loung Ung sits in her home office in Shaker Heights.

Life is good for Loung Ung. With her husband, Shaker Heights native Mark Priemer, the acclaimed Cambodian-born author is a partner in Cleveland's Bar Cento and Market Garden Brewery.

But things weren't always so sweet for Ung. She grew up in a war-ravaged country taken over by the Khmer Rouge, Maoist-inspired communists who killed millions of Cambodians, including Ung's parents, two sisters and many relatives.

Ung was 10 when she escaped to Thailand with her older brother and sister-in-law. A church group later helped them move to Vermont, where Ung began learning English and keeping a diary.

Over the years, her writings led to a trilogy about her experiences in Cambodia and the United States that has garnered wide acclaim. For her achievement, Ung is winner of the Mid-Career Award in literature from the 2012 Cleveland Arts Prize.

"It's quite an honor, considering that my good friends Thrity Umrigar, Sarah Willis and Paula McLain are former winners," says Ung on a sunny day in her Shaker Heights condo. "I love Cleveland, and I love the arts, and what's better than the Cleveland Arts Prize?"

The last book in Ung's trilogy, "Lulu in the Sky," was published in April. Its title is "a combination of me and [the Beatles'] 'Lucy in the Sky (With Diamonds),' and looking down on peace," she says.

Her first book, "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers," chronicles the rise of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot and the devastation he wreaked on the country.

"What drove me to get it published was my anger at what happened," says Ung. "When he died, the rest of the world heard what he said and did for love. The first book came out of me because I wanted to vomit these words and cut down his legacy."

Ung was inspired to write her second book, "Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites With the Sister She Left Behind," partly to counter claims of peace then-President George W. Bush made in a 2003 speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln before a banner reading "Mission Accomplished."

But Ung also wanted to recount her meeting with her older sister after a 15-year separation. Ung has been back to Cambodia 30 times to share joyful times with surviving family members and their children, and, as a longtime activist, to raise money for a campaign opposing landmines.

"Lulu in the Sky" is Ung's tale of healing and family love.

"The No. 1 question I get asked is, 'How are you? Are you OK?,' " she says. "The third book says I'm doing really well and finding my double happiness."

Which means?

"The double happiness is for readers to find out," Ung says.

And don't even try asking the vivacious author her age. Since she doesn't know when she was born (it was around 1970), Ung changes her birthday every year.

Now that Ung's done with her trilogy, she has several projects on the burner.

"I'm going to fiction!" she announces, with what can only be termed glee.