Reviews

Tears Of The Desert: One Woman's True Story Of Surviving The Horrors Of Darfur by Halima Bashir

vishmi731's review against another edition

emotional

4.0

brandon_c's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad

5.0

jgverrero's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.75

I went into this one hoping to gain more clarity, but it's more of an eye-witness account. There isn't mention of a timeline either, so I think it's purposefully meant to be taken as a personal testimony.

When a memoir or essays are simplistic in this way, I think it's meant to be a stepping stone for a reader to dive deeper in the matter. But I do think that the lack of information in "Tears of the Desert" almost feels unfair to what's happening in Sudan. Although, I'm still glad I read it.

I have a hard time recommending this one. I think it's an emotional and gutting, but because there is very little it leaves the reader with a flat message. There is probably a more well-rounded memoir.

hybrid_mobile's review against another edition

5.0

It's crazy how much I'm learning from reading these memoirs...and how many atrocious occurrences are happening around the world.

cransell's review against another edition

4.0

This was another Early Reviewer book, and it took me a while to want to start it. A memoir about the genocide in Darfur isn't exactly a light and easy read. I'm glad I read it though. It was well-written and accessible, and definitely brought the conflict home. I think like lots of people, I knew sort of generally that "bad" things were happening in Darfur, but I have a much better understanding of what is going on now.

neo1's review against another edition

4.0

I am giving this four stars instead of five because the end seemed rushed although had I had to live through the experiences Bashir had to I might want to rush the end of my memoir, too. I found her meeting with George Bush interesting, but wished she'd explore his administration's lack of concern in Darfur during his presidency. I guess she gave him the benefit of the doubt and accepted that he was busy starting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

ieshii's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad

5.0

malyn_maylyn's review against another edition

4.0

This was a beautiful book. Bashir is one of the rather rare memoirists who are true writers - her story was gripping and the way she told it was very well done. It was extremely difficult emotionally, but a story that needs to be told. And I liked the way she analyzed her own Zaghawa culture, the things that are wonderful and those that aren't, bringing it to life. I now want to go and investigate and learn more about the genocide, and find other perspectives as well.

cmjustice's review against another edition

4.0

Very moving narrative of an insane experience. Well written.

noreenceedee's review against another edition

5.0

Eye-opening and brutal account of the horrors of the Darfur genocide, told by a brave woman who, against all odds, lived to tell her story.