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alittlegreyfish's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this. So interesting. A really intimate memoir where the author unpacks her childhood as a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and her process of adaption and culture shock when she moved to America and what it means to survive not only such horror but how it changes the lens in which you view everything around you and the relations with others. I did struggle at the beginning with the fact that it jumped back and forth between her time in Africa and her time in America (which was maybe more jarring b/c I did the audiobook). I LOVED the ending of the narration where the author herself speaks about the process of writing this memoir.
I also found the language beautiful.
"I’m excited for you to feel everything, every word. And for you to be aware that every word in this text matters, yes, and when you feel it, you feel which words that will heal, which words that hurt, and also which words that helps us evolve."
I also found the language beautiful.
"I’m excited for you to feel everything, every word. And for you to be aware that every word in this text matters, yes, and when you feel it, you feel which words that will heal, which words that hurt, and also which words that helps us evolve."
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
3.0
I would have preferred Clemantine to read the audiobook herself. She speaks at the end of it, and it transforms the text. Robin Miles is an eloquent speaker, but this book didn't need to be read in such a clean manner.
towering_tbr's review against another edition
3.0
I always feel terrible rating memoirs because I feel like I'm rating their life. That's not the case. I'm rating how they told their story. I didn't know much about the Rwandan genocide and felt she needed to include some background. Additionally, I felt the writing was mediocre and disjointing because of all the time jumps. I found the actual story of her leaving Rwanda and everything that happens quite compelling. But at the end she focuses a lot of her PTSD, anger, and speaking engagements which I was less interested in, especially because it seemed chaotically put together. Overall, it was illuminating but I could probably find something more informative than this book.
mariafernandagama's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very powerful story, one that is worth telling and certainly worth listening to. The writing is very sensitive and beautiful, even though the subject is so terrible. It's very toucinhg to see somebody lay their hearts open for the world to see like this young woman did.
My only criticism about this is the editing/pacing, and it's something I'm not sure was entirely the author's doing or if it was an editor's interference. Either way, I felt sometimes the changea between places and times too abrupt and that sadly, it took some of the strenght of the carefully chosen words and constructed paragraphs. I understand the idea behind trying to tell everything in fragments, in tiny beads, I just think maybe the order of things got a little messy. But nonetheless, this is a great book, and it's worth reading.
My only criticism about this is the editing/pacing, and it's something I'm not sure was entirely the author's doing or if it was an editor's interference. Either way, I felt sometimes the changea between places and times too abrupt and that sadly, it took some of the strenght of the carefully chosen words and constructed paragraphs. I understand the idea behind trying to tell everything in fragments, in tiny beads, I just think maybe the order of things got a little messy. But nonetheless, this is a great book, and it's worth reading.
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, my god. I knew I wanted to read this book the second I got the ARC of it. I can't believe it took me this long to read it. I mean, is it possible to give a book a hundred stars? A thousand? A million?
I want to say that Clemantine and her sister, Claire, deserve so much, but that would be antithetical to Wamariya's experiences: who is she to have come from so little and now have so much? Why her? Why does she deserve this more than others? Really, she doesn't deserve more than anyone else in her position just because she knew how to survive better than them.
UGH THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Wamariya is so evocative and a masterful storyteller--the true horror being that this was indeed her life, as well as so many others. She's careful in what she shares, careful about her rage and anger and upset. She weaves in stories and experiences and the frustrations and wants and needs of her as a six year old to her as a freshman. She must reconcile her privileged hardships alongside the times in which she lived as a refugee, in which her sister married a refugee worker as a means to escape, in which she's lost and alone and has nobody to reach out to.
It's evocative, provocative, chilling, terrifying, reclamative, truthful, honest. It's everything a memoir should be, and a reminder of everything that shouldn't be. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It takes no prisoners, and you will be glad for it.
Review cross-listed here!
I want to say that Clemantine and her sister, Claire, deserve so much, but that would be antithetical to Wamariya's experiences: who is she to have come from so little and now have so much? Why her? Why does she deserve this more than others? Really, she doesn't deserve more than anyone else in her position just because she knew how to survive better than them.
UGH THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Wamariya is so evocative and a masterful storyteller--the true horror being that this was indeed her life, as well as so many others. She's careful in what she shares, careful about her rage and anger and upset. She weaves in stories and experiences and the frustrations and wants and needs of her as a six year old to her as a freshman. She must reconcile her privileged hardships alongside the times in which she lived as a refugee, in which her sister married a refugee worker as a means to escape, in which she's lost and alone and has nobody to reach out to.
It's evocative, provocative, chilling, terrifying, reclamative, truthful, honest. It's everything a memoir should be, and a reminder of everything that shouldn't be. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It takes no prisoners, and you will be glad for it.
Review cross-listed here!
acourtofathalarandwhitethorn's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the balance between the war and her life now. It was such a raw and real portrayal of how trauma impacts people.
leer_amor's review against another edition
4.0
This was my second book for the Read More Diverse Non-fiction
2024 challenge and it was so much more than I anticipated. This is a heartbreaking story of a young girl whose life was torn apart by wer and genoc!de and her strength and resiliance. Some of the writing flow and stylistic choices didnt entirely resonate with me but the story itself is so important and relevent.
ekb523's review against another edition
5.0
I have read a couple of books about the genocide in Rwanda, but I have never read one with such a unique perspective into the refugee experience. Clemantine allows you to enter into her inner thoughts and experiences and reading this book felt like an intimate experience. I feel like I'm leaving this book having a far more nuanced understanding of the mental/emotional refugee experience and how that impacts the way she (and other refugees) perceive and interact with the world.
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
The Girl Who Smiled Beads is the next, Escape from Camp 14! You don't want to miss this book. A truly must read.
Instantly, I was hooked by Clemantine's voice. Her story is a strong one. Yet, it is not without sorrow. Imagine being in a refugee camp and being thankful for "flour". A simple ingredient but it can be used to help make so many foods or once a month getting half a vitamin or a dried biscuit. If you have food and a home; then, you are "rich" in abundance.
However, this book is not about sorrow or even triumph. It is about being a survivor. Back to Clemantine. Her voice really resonated with me. Thus, the reason I enjoyed this book.
Instantly, I was hooked by Clemantine's voice. Her story is a strong one. Yet, it is not without sorrow. Imagine being in a refugee camp and being thankful for "flour". A simple ingredient but it can be used to help make so many foods or once a month getting half a vitamin or a dried biscuit. If you have food and a home; then, you are "rich" in abundance.
However, this book is not about sorrow or even triumph. It is about being a survivor. Back to Clemantine. Her voice really resonated with me. Thus, the reason I enjoyed this book.