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ali_justali's review against another edition
5.0
I like to think of myself as a tough girl but from beginning to end this book had me bawling in tears.
blen_'s review against another edition
5.0
This story didn't leave my mind for months after I first read it because I was blown away by how strong Immaculée was while going through something so horrific. I'm glad she decided to share her story and gave voice to the survivors of the genocide. I can't even comprehend how she was able to stay so strong and forgive the people who ripped her world apart. This book left me speechless.
referencegrrrl's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of how Immaculee and 7 other women were hidden in a Hutu pastor's closet-sized bathroom for 91 days as blood-hungry machete-wielding killers searched for them.
Over the course of three months, almost every member of her entire family, along with 1 million other Tutsi people, were brutally murdered by one-time Hutu friends and neighbors. The new Hutu government passed out rifles, machetes, and grenades, as well as as drugs and alchohol to feed their bloodlust. "They are cockroaches and snakes and must be killed! A baby snake is still a snake and must also be killed!" These are the reports Immaculee heard over the radio while trapped in the pastor's bathroom. A devout Catholic with no where else to turn, Immaculee began to pray. She prayed endlessly, and connected with God in such a way that she believed no harm would come to her. Her visions told her to make the pastor move a piece of furniture in front of the bathroom door to hide the doorway. Her visions told her to learn the English language while she huddled in the bathroom starving to death and enduring illness and disease. As they eventually attempted an escape to a French refugee camp, her visions empowered her to stare down the men who were hunting her and miraculously allowed her to pass.
Throughout most of the book, she is driven to survive because of her faith in God - she believes He has a purpose for her and He will see to her survival to fulfill that purpose. But near the end, she begins referring to the events unfolding around her as the result of positive thinking. As our book club discussed, was it God clearing the path for her, or was it the power of positive thinking that made her more receptive to what was right in front of her?
Overall, a heartfelt, graphic story about how one woman survived one of the most tragic, yet least talked-about events in our world's history.
Over the course of three months, almost every member of her entire family, along with 1 million other Tutsi people, were brutally murdered by one-time Hutu friends and neighbors. The new Hutu government passed out rifles, machetes, and grenades, as well as as drugs and alchohol to feed their bloodlust. "They are cockroaches and snakes and must be killed! A baby snake is still a snake and must also be killed!" These are the reports Immaculee heard over the radio while trapped in the pastor's bathroom. A devout Catholic with no where else to turn, Immaculee began to pray. She prayed endlessly, and connected with God in such a way that she believed no harm would come to her. Her visions told her to make the pastor move a piece of furniture in front of the bathroom door to hide the doorway. Her visions told her to learn the English language while she huddled in the bathroom starving to death and enduring illness and disease. As they eventually attempted an escape to a French refugee camp, her visions empowered her to stare down the men who were hunting her and miraculously allowed her to pass.
Throughout most of the book, she is driven to survive because of her faith in God - she believes He has a purpose for her and He will see to her survival to fulfill that purpose. But near the end, she begins referring to the events unfolding around her as the result of positive thinking. As our book club discussed, was it God clearing the path for her, or was it the power of positive thinking that made her more receptive to what was right in front of her?
Overall, a heartfelt, graphic story about how one woman survived one of the most tragic, yet least talked-about events in our world's history.
emiged's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how to review a book so indescribable. It is a hopeful and honest and forgiving account of one of the world's most brutal events in the last 15 years. This book is remarkable for its simple, plain language describing the Rwandan genocide and for the unbelievably hopeful tone throughout. It's humbling to read the story of a woman who overcame that very understandable, very human desire for revenge through her faith. I imagine in the same situation I would have descended into madness or bitter hatred.
It raised all sorts of uncomfortable, soul-searching questions in my mind - would my faith sustain me through such terrifying experiences? would I have the courage or even the desire to pray to feel love for those who had brutally murdered my family and friends and were trying to kill me as well, much less offer them forgiveness? how can I hold on to my petty grudges when this woman freely forgave far worse?
This book has given me a lot to ponder and reflect on in my own life.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
It raised all sorts of uncomfortable, soul-searching questions in my mind - would my faith sustain me through such terrifying experiences? would I have the courage or even the desire to pray to feel love for those who had brutally murdered my family and friends and were trying to kill me as well, much less offer them forgiveness? how can I hold on to my petty grudges when this woman freely forgave far worse?
This book has given me a lot to ponder and reflect on in my own life.
For more book reviews, visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
natgundie's review against another edition
The Rwandan genocide in 1994 was absolutely horrific, dehumanizing, and devastating. This was terribly hard to read. I can’t imagine living through it. Immaculee’s message of relying on faith in God is amazing. I’m blown away by Immaculee’s strength to forgive. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.
karinarob's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, and Racism
snazzyblueberry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5