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jessv's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Genocide, and War
vlittle48's review against another edition
3.0
I love the story, and I feel strongly that it is a story that needs to be told. However, the style of the writing wasn't my cup of tea. The story jumped locations and time periods too suddenly, so it felt choppy and almost incomplete. Regardless, I would still recommend reading it.
i_blamebookit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
5.0
funky_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Classism
aj_franklin's review against another edition
4.0
A few months ago, I started growing my collection of ebooks. Upon looking through the books I had already read, I realized that I was reading a lot of the same types of books from the same types of authors. Weirdly enough, these authors were usually white, straight men. I am a black queer woman...So, naturally I decided that I needed to diversify and quickly. I searched up a bunch of authors from different backgrounds, sexualities, genders, etc. All the fun categories. Then I found books by them. I didn't read the synopses to see what they were about. My only qualification was that it had to have a rating of 4 stars or higher for me to add it to my collection.
All this to say, that I had no idea what this book was about before I started reading. The french title is "La fille au sourire de perles" so no, I didn't see the "A Story of War and What Comes After". I thought it might be a cute coming of age story. I was wholly unprepared for everything that happened after opening that book. It felt like I had just been tossed into this dark world of despair, tragedy, and hopelessness without any warning. But, I feel like that's almost what Clemantine Wamariya wanted. For the readers to feel a sense of confusion and disorientation when reading her memoir, because that's what she herself felt. Jumping back and forth through time, no set locations to trace a cohesive journey, it all contributed to the insanity that was war.
I was curious to see how she planned on ending the memoir. She's still a young woman (I looked her up several times while reading this because it felt so unreal) so it's not like her life is anywhere near complete. I knew I probably wouldn't get a happily ever after. Not after everything that had happened. However, when the ending finally did come, I cried. Not because it was any sadder than the other parts of the memoir, but because it hit me that I was right. No one really got their happy ending. I wasn't aware I was doing it, but while I was reading I kept anticipating the break. The point where the family would break down and cry together before retrieving their lost connection like in a movie. It was such a childish hope. So stupid and simplistic. Especially considering everything that I had read. I didn't even realize I was harbouring it until I was confronted with those last story-like pages that lacked an ending. So yes, I cried. Because Clemantine Wamariya showed me the far-reaching, long-term effects of genocide and war and terror when all I wanted was an interesting read.
Anyway, no regrets. I'm very glad I decided to add this to my collection. It isn't something I would've read otherwise. Now, I'm not going to say this book deeply changed me, because I'm always very suspicious of people who say that (I'm cynical, tragically). But I will say this book gave me perspective, and that is an important thing to have. Especially when you're privileged enough to live in a country where you will probably never have to face any of this. So thank you for sharing the pieces of your story Clemantine Wamariya. I deeply appreciated the journey.
All this to say, that I had no idea what this book was about before I started reading. The french title is "La fille au sourire de perles" so no, I didn't see the "A Story of War and What Comes After". I thought it might be a cute coming of age story. I was wholly unprepared for everything that happened after opening that book. It felt like I had just been tossed into this dark world of despair, tragedy, and hopelessness without any warning. But, I feel like that's almost what Clemantine Wamariya wanted. For the readers to feel a sense of confusion and disorientation when reading her memoir, because that's what she herself felt. Jumping back and forth through time, no set locations to trace a cohesive journey, it all contributed to the insanity that was war.
I was curious to see how she planned on ending the memoir. She's still a young woman (I looked her up several times while reading this because it felt so unreal) so it's not like her life is anywhere near complete. I knew I probably wouldn't get a happily ever after. Not after everything that had happened. However, when the ending finally did come, I cried. Not because it was any sadder than the other parts of the memoir, but because it hit me that I was right. No one really got their happy ending. I wasn't aware I was doing it, but while I was reading I kept anticipating the break. The point where the family would break down and cry together before retrieving their lost connection like in a movie. It was such a childish hope. So stupid and simplistic. Especially considering everything that I had read. I didn't even realize I was harbouring it until I was confronted with those last story-like pages that lacked an ending. So yes, I cried. Because Clemantine Wamariya showed me the far-reaching, long-term effects of genocide and war and terror when all I wanted was an interesting read.
Anyway, no regrets. I'm very glad I decided to add this to my collection. It isn't something I would've read otherwise. Now, I'm not going to say this book deeply changed me, because I'm always very suspicious of people who say that (I'm cynical, tragically). But I will say this book gave me perspective, and that is an important thing to have. Especially when you're privileged enough to live in a country where you will probably never have to face any of this. So thank you for sharing the pieces of your story Clemantine Wamariya. I deeply appreciated the journey.
savgonzales's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0