Sold for Silver by Janet Lim

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Category: Non-Fiction

Published on Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:27

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A vivid and true account of one's close brush with slavery, Sold for Silver is a beautiful yet poignant read...

It's certainly not one of those sappy stories filled with pity, anger or hatred when it comes to the topic of slavery. This autobiography echoes a voice of pure innocence and a simple mind.

Written by Janet Lim, Sold for Silver really is her tale of how she was sold for $250 when she was only eight. Born in China, Janet lived a life of hardship in the 1930s as a slave working for a rich Singaporean landowner. It was a rude shock for such a child who grew up in a cosy Chinese village.

This book brings you on a journey back in time where things were strikingly different and when life was a bumpy ride. In case you were wondering, Janet managed to escape from her 'owner' and fled to a safer place.

She ended up being a Matron at Singapore's St. Andrew's Mission Hospital and has since migrated to Australia. The thing that strikes me most about Janet's tale is the way she weaves her story with such skill. With not much of a literary background, I must say this book is a good effort on her part. It simply allows you to see things the way she did back then.

Her keen sense of observation works wonders here. You would expect a person who's been through slavery to come out from the experience torn and bitter, blaming everyone. But this was not the case for Janet.

Even in this autobiography of hers, she never gave hint of any bitterness. She talked about her sufferings and enemies with an air of simplicity. She tells it as it is, without trying to exaggerate and wallow in self pity. After reading this book, you'd definitely learn the true meaning of a good life - one that's yours to enjoy with a sense of freedom.