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paigecarpenter_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
itsmejennigee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
My reading list has randomly come up a bit heavy lately, and this one continues that trend. Yet, I have the privilege of being separate from the experiences mentioned within the story. I have the ability to say that I understand without actually knowing. And this comes even after having talks like this with a former roommate whose story mirrors Clemantine’s closely as a Congolese refugee also in Chicago.
.
I’m quite happy that generational trauma and other PTSD is being more commonly discussed as well as understood, but I’m still saddened to see that there is such a lack of resources—even for someone with her status. I cannot imagine a day that she will not be touched by her past or her experiences, and I’m grateful that she was able to make it through all that she did to tell her story, but the cost of all the others who died… Why are we, humanity, so fixated on forcing others to think/act/do as we do? Where is the appreciation is differences that can compliment each other rather than fight for prowess?
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Please, find organizations like the Human Library (@humanlibraryorganization) and speak to—genuinely listen to and digest—people sharing stories unlike your own. It’s only through hearing experiences we could not have ourselves that we could even begin to bridge the numerous gaps in communication that cause so much strife and death around the world.
.
I’m quite happy that generational trauma and other PTSD is being more commonly discussed as well as understood, but I’m still saddened to see that there is such a lack of resources—even for someone with her status. I cannot imagine a day that she will not be touched by her past or her experiences, and I’m grateful that she was able to make it through all that she did to tell her story, but the cost of all the others who died… Why are we, humanity, so fixated on forcing others to think/act/do as we do? Where is the appreciation is differences that can compliment each other rather than fight for prowess?
.
Please, find organizations like the Human Library (@humanlibraryorganization) and speak to—genuinely listen to and digest—people sharing stories unlike your own. It’s only through hearing experiences we could not have ourselves that we could even begin to bridge the numerous gaps in communication that cause so much strife and death around the world.
audjfield13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting but I don’t think this was it. I’ve had the physical book on my shelf for a while but I’m so glad I decided to listen to the audiobook instead. Robin Miles is an absolute masterclass is narration and she gave so much depth and nuance to this already powerful story.
While this book is about the Rwandan genocide, not too much detail is provided about the genocide itself; there are plenty of books I’m sure you can read to learn more about it. Of course the author contextualizes it and what happened, but the majority of the book is about the impact of the conflict on her life and the subsequent journey, through many countries, refugee camps, bus rides, generous families and friends, evil guards and immigration police, and ultimately, her life in America. I appreciated in particular Clemantine’s exploration of her feelings of anger, lack of safety, need for survival, and fears of abandonment, and the deconstruction of the role of “refugee” she was meant to play, both on the Oprah show and other instances of tokenization.
I flagged many moments in this book and I can’t wait to go though and annotate them in my physical copy. Obviously there are many trigger warnings for this book but I highly recommend reading, with caution!
While this book is about the Rwandan genocide, not too much detail is provided about the genocide itself; there are plenty of books I’m sure you can read to learn more about it. Of course the author contextualizes it and what happened, but the majority of the book is about the impact of the conflict on her life and the subsequent journey, through many countries, refugee camps, bus rides, generous families and friends, evil guards and immigration police, and ultimately, her life in America. I appreciated in particular Clemantine’s exploration of her feelings of anger, lack of safety, need for survival, and fears of abandonment, and the deconstruction of the role of “refugee” she was meant to play, both on the Oprah show and other instances of tokenization.
I flagged many moments in this book and I can’t wait to go though and annotate them in my physical copy. Obviously there are many trigger warnings for this book but I highly recommend reading, with caution!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Infidelity
nahamiel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
danicapage's review against another edition
It is always hard to write reviews on non-fiction, particularly when it’s a biography/memoir and of somebody who experienced so much pain and suffering.
I would recommend it—we have the biggest refugee crisis in all of history right now and we have very distorted and simple views of who they should be and how they should act. I would recommend people read this to understand that. For subject matter and perspective e, I’d give it a 5.
I think this is a very needed book.
I didn’t always love the writing choices, which seems petty to say.
I’ll leave it unrated as I’m not sure how to rate a boom such as this one.
I would recommend it—we have the biggest refugee crisis in all of history right now and we have very distorted and simple views of who they should be and how they should act. I would recommend people read this to understand that. For subject matter and perspective e, I’d give it a 5.
I think this is a very needed book.
I didn’t always love the writing choices, which seems petty to say.
I’ll leave it unrated as I’m not sure how to rate a boom such as this one.
grimviolins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
nancidrum's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to review a biography like this. I know there was a "helping" writer working on this with Clemantine, but still the language in the book is just so descriptive and real and yet English is not her native language. Clemantine knocked me out with how smart, resistant, brave and bold she was in such extreme circumstances. At just age 6, Clemantine and her older sister are forced to flee their middle-income home when genocide comes to her home country of Rwanda. The story moves between their journey of survival through their country and neighboring countries and also the story of her later life in America. At first I wondered why she chose to relate her story by moving back and forth from the past to more current times, but as the short book progressed I found it to be quite effective. Clemantine writes with brutal honesty and openness. At the end of the book, I felt I knew her inner workings. It is not at all an "everyone feel sorry for me and isn't my story the worst you've heard" kind of memoir. Clemantine is, if anything, extremely humble. She is just struggling with figuring out how to live her new life, while honoring those in her past life.
It tore my heart open in places, but I am so glad I read it and highly recommend it, especially if you'd like to read a real account of the genocide in Rwanda.
It tore my heart open in places, but I am so glad I read it and highly recommend it, especially if you'd like to read a real account of the genocide in Rwanda.
reillya's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
berthe33's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful memoir...a MUST read!
We no longer need to imagine the horrors of the Rwandan genocide; Clementine Wamariya has set it out for us in an astonishingly brutal examination of a life in constant upheaval as a six year old. And all of these experiences formed the amazing woman she has become today, even as she fights with the conflicts she still keeps inside. The writing grabbed me from the first page there was an immediacy and flow to this story; the back and forth from Africa to the U.S. worked well here. The break from despair in Africa (although sometimes joy)melds well with the hope in Chicago (although sometimes despair). A perfect book club selection!
We no longer need to imagine the horrors of the Rwandan genocide; Clementine Wamariya has set it out for us in an astonishingly brutal examination of a life in constant upheaval as a six year old. And all of these experiences formed the amazing woman she has become today, even as she fights with the conflicts she still keeps inside. The writing grabbed me from the first page there was an immediacy and flow to this story; the back and forth from Africa to the U.S. worked well here. The break from despair in Africa (although sometimes joy)melds well with the hope in Chicago (although sometimes despair). A perfect book club selection!