I really enjoyed the way this story interwove a family story with the history of Burma from the 1940s-60s. I think this book will be more impactful if you are familiar with the history but you could stop and look things up as you go along too but there are many historical references. 

The way the story was both compelling as a story while critically examining the way race and ethnicity function in Burma, British colonialism, and covert western manipulation of politics was so interesting. 

A challenging but rewarding read.