Reviews

The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya

kritter513's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

“You might have time and i might have land. You might have ideas and I might have strength. You might have a tomato and I might have a knife, We need each other. We need to say: I honor the things that you respect and I value the things you cherish. I am not better than you. You are not better than me. Nobody is better than anybody else. Nobody is who you think they are at first glance. We need to see beyond the projections we cast onto each other, Each of us is so much grander, more nuanced, and more extraordinary than anybody thinks, including ourselves.”

This book journeys through so much raw, while bringing such light to the struggle to make sense of things and find joy again. Both a hard and beautiful read with much to teach. 

hidrnick's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

lauraksingleton's review against another edition

4.0

Horrifically engaging, I finished it in less than 24 hours.

amydobrzynski's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

baklavopita's review against another edition

4.0

In the last 1990s, I was a wee bit obsessed with the story of the Rawandan genocide. I'm not sure how my background knowledge of the event filled in some gaps that were not fully explored (as seen at the time through the eyes of a five year old.) This memoir, written by a survivor who escaped with her sister to spend years bouncing among refugee camps before ending up in the USA by middle school, is about her personal aftermath and her life that can never be righted. Although it was a bit disjointed at times, bouncing around in time, which is always a touch problematic for me as a reader, I was glued to this book. It's a very accessible read about an historical horror.

l_walkes's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

3.75

justtalkingtomyshelf's review against another edition

5.0

This is a well constructed and very important read. It has made me consider refugees in a new light and with much more compassion.

book_loser's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

5.0

teachocolateandbooks's review against another edition

5.0

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads.

This book was one of those difficult to read books, since Wamariya details her and her sister Claire's travels through war torn countries of Africa. But the language is beautiful.

It was an interesting choice to read given what has been in the news recently.

This is one of those books that I want people to read, but I also don't want to tell you too much of the story. I simply want you to enjoy the book as much as I have.

kcelena's review against another edition

5.0

‘The Girl Who Smiled Beads’ is the incredible, terrible and inspiring story of the Clementine Waymaria’s life. A childhood survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Waymaria and her sister Claire went from refugee camp to refugee camp, lived in seven countries before arriving in Chicago when Clementine was 13, endured more atrocities and suffering than anyone should, and saw even more horrors inflicted on others. There were beatings and rapes, people forced to survive only off maize, terrible illnesses, and a camp crawling with bugs that burrowed into the feet of anyone trying to walk. I am in awe of the strength they showed, particularly her sister, and disgusted at the humanity this world tried to strip away from them – along with so many others. I wish I could make everyone read this book, particularly those who seem unwilling to give today’s refugees understanding and safe harbor. I read this via the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job. Please read this book.