Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

My Travel Memoir

Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Travel memoir set in 2009, where I go searching for traces of my literary hero, the French writer Marguerite Duras, in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Table of Contents - Chapters 1 to 28

Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

My Hanoi Taxi Driver

Jan Cornall
·
April 26, 2023
My Hanoi Taxi Driver

Welcome to my travel memoir! Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Wisp of Mother's Absence

Jan Cornall
·
May 3, 2023
The Wisp of Mother's Absence

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Guava Seller.

Jan Cornall
·
May 10, 2023
The Guava Seller.

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Fire and Ritual.

Jan Cornall
·
May 24, 2023
Fire and Ritual.

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Writing is All Around Us

Jan Cornall
·
May 31, 2023
Writing is All Around Us

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Salty Chicken and Bamboo Shoot Broth

Jan Cornall
·
June 7, 2023
Salty Chicken and Bamboo Shoot Broth

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Sailing on the Marguerite

Jan Cornall
·
June 21, 2023
Sailing on the Marguerite

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

A Splish-Splash Extravaganza

Jan Cornall
·
June 28, 2023
A Splish-Splash Extravaganza

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footstep…

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Rainbow Hotel, Saigon

Jan Cornall
·
July 5, 2023
The Rainbow Hotel, Saigon

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Goddess of the Sea

Jan Cornall
·
July 13, 2023
The Goddess of the Sea

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Scent of Roasted Peanuts

Jan Cornall
·
July 19, 2023
The Scent of Roasted Peanuts

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

All My Sacred Thoughts

Jan Cornall
·
July 26, 2023
All My Sacred Thoughts

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

It's a Boat Jam!

Jan Cornall
·
August 2, 2023
It's a Boat Jam!

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Deep in the Mekong Delta

Jan Cornall
·
August 9, 2023
Deep in the Mekong Delta

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Girl on the Ferry

Jan Cornall
·
August 16, 2023
The Girl on the Ferry

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Sadec Sighting

Jan Cornall
·
August 29, 2023
Sadec Sighting

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

On the River After Dark

Jan Cornall
·
September 6, 2023
On the River After Dark

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Cambodge: A Mystical Vision of Shangri-la

Jan Cornall
·
September 12, 2023
Cambodge: A Mystical Vision of Shangri-la

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Tuk Tuk Riding in Phnom Penh

Jan Cornall
·
September 20, 2023
Tuk Tuk Riding in Phnom Penh

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Heat, Torpor, Aircon

Jan Cornall
·
September 27, 2023
Heat, Torpor, Aircon

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

The Sweetness of an Afternoon Nap

Jan Cornall
·
October 10, 2023
The Sweetness of an Afternoon Nap

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Another Small Patch of Blue Sky

Jan Cornall
·
October 18, 2023
Another Small Patch of Blue Sky

Dear Readers, WELCOME new subscribers, it’s lovely to see you here. At the moment I’m mostly posting excerpts from my new travel memoir and we are on the home run, about six more chaps to go.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

MD's Children of the Plains

Jan Cornall
·
October 24, 2023
MD's Children of the Plains

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Back with a Breakthrough!

Jan Cornall
·
December 1, 2023
Back with a Breakthrough!

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Prey Nop: ricefields, lagoons and foaming seas

Jan Cornall
·
December 5, 2023
Prey Nop: ricefields, lagoons and foaming seas

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

Read full story
Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Life is but a dream

Jan Cornall
·
December 9, 2023
Life is but a dream

Dear Friends We are almost there — after this, only one more episode to go! Let me know in the comments how you enjoy the ‘denouement’. (One of my fave words!) It’s been a long journey to get to this place, given that this book began way back in 2009. But who’s counting? Not me. I’m just marvelling that I’ve managed to hang in there all this tim…

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Looking for Duras, Finding my Mother: a Mekong Journey

Half a Kilo of Happiness

Jan Cornall
·
December 13, 2023
Half a Kilo of Happiness

Looking for Duras weaves three strands of memoir into one: my lifelong infatuation with the French writer Marguerite Duras, a journey through Vietnam and Cambodia tracing her footsteps, and a musing on mothers and melancholy.

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