The Rent Collector by Camron Wright

5 / 5 Stars!!
Every so often I come across a book that truly inspires me.  A book that causes me to rethink my priorities.  One that makes me take a look around and realize that I have it pretty dang good.  The Rent Collector is one such book.

This book tells the story of a family who lives at a dump in Cambodia, making it day to day by selling material they have picked from the garbage pile.  It chronicles one woman's journey of learning to read in hopes of creating a better life for her son.  In pursuit of her goal, Sang Ly develops an unlikely and profound relationship with her teacher, the rent collector.

I sometimes feel that the word "amazing" is used too often.  One only has to watch American Idol to hear the words brilliant, amazing, beautiful, and unbelievable, oh I'd say about 300 times in a 2-hour episode.  However, this book is one of the most touching and poignant books I have encountered in a while.  These are just a few of the quotes that illustrate the beauty of The Rent Collector.

"Life will not always be so hard or cruel.  Our difficulties are but a moment."

"When you find your purpose--and you will find your purpose--never let go.  Peace is a product of both patience and persistence."

"They knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it."

"Grandfather had a saying:  If you know a lot, know enough to make people respect you.  If you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you."

"In Cambodia, it's unfortunately common for husbands both to drink and to beat their wives.  Other families are abandoned, left to fend for themselves.  Instead, my husband runs through the city for the better part of the night to make sure that his wife and son are safe."

"It doesn't matter where you live, Sang Ly, it is how you live." 

It would be easy for a book with this kind of subject matter to become depressing and gloomy.  Instead, Camron Wright does the opposite, inserting bits of humor and wit throughout to give it a much more light-hearted feel.  I loved how, even in a dump in Cambodia, a husband and wife still bargain over who will bathe the baby that night.  Or that it becomes a competition among caddy women to see who can make the best temporary shelter on the sidelines of the garbage heap.  I found myself both laughing out loud and brought to tears in this book--not an easy feat.

Read this book--you'll be glad you did.