Reviews

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya

busymorning's review against another edition

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5.0

This is heartbreaking and heavy. I finished it in two days.

Clemantine has a way with words, not for a moment did my mind drift while reading this.

There are some paragraphs and lines in this that are worth noting and remembering for later.

Please read this.

murphys_bee's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

I have very mixed feelings about this book. It felt more like a diary entry that shouldn't have been made public. 

kriedesel's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the best books I’ve read.

alli_grunk's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

debi246's review against another edition

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4.0

This is one of those books that I just want to talk to someone about. I have questions about things that were alluded to but not explicitly stated. There were certain discussions that seem to me, as someone at a distance and not having gone through any of these horrors, as contradictions. There was so much to process that I need other perspectives and interpretations. Definitely a book that keeps you thinking.

csunshine17's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

4.5

hhearl's review against another edition

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5.0

So much honesty and vulnerability about her past and present experiences. Loved every minute of it. It’s given me much to work on in myself as a counselor.

kahale's review against another edition

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4.0

A refugee from Rwanda tells of all stories in order to survive with her sister and family. Very eye opening.

melonpea's review against another edition

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4.0

"It's truly impossible to hold all the single experiences of suffering in the world in your mind at the same time. The human brain can't handle that much pain".

btodd12's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Devastating & heartbreaking memoir telling the story of a young girl fleeing the Rwandan genocide with her older sister. Wamariya’s story highlights the disdainful treatment of refugees in a number of countries on her journey throughout Africa before finally coming to the U.S. Her candor about her experience at Princeton was especially insightful.