Reviews

This is an extremely disturbing read, obviously. It should be read with caution. I also have some reservations about the way the book was structured, which is why I've knocked off a star. But it's also the result of some determined, careful, and sensitive work undertaken over a long period of time by someone who really took the care to do a cautious and thoughtful investigation into an event that's difficult to think about, let alone dwell on. There's some really important thinking here about what can lead perfectly ordinary people to unthinkable acts, all the levels at which there need to be interventions that can cause people to suddenly turn on their neighbours. Jean is careful never to glamourize the lives of the killers, but neither does he excuse them by painting them as simply monsters. Be aware what you're getting into, but if you can bring yourself to do it, it's worth it. I never knew very much about this period in history, and this was an awful but thought-provoking way to find out more. I'm glad, though, that I read it after the previous work in the series.

sbenzell's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this book for one of Fettweis' international relations courses in undergrad. I don't know to what extent it was intentional or necessary, but the readings for his courses juxtaposed cold realist style analyses of conflicts with works like this one and "WAR IS A FORCE THAT GIVES US MEANING". What was Fettweis trying to say? To me the implication was clear - no matter how rational the tools and organization of war may be, war itself needs irrationality. It needs individuals to buy into the myth of the war, the intoxication of the conflict.

Machete Season is a jarring exploration of one such incident. Some in the prison Jean talked to a remorseful, some are not. All were swept up in the moment. The testimonies of forrays into swamps are particularly visceral.

A year after I read this a friend of mine, Dan, joined the peace corp and worked many years in Rawanda. I asked him about the banana liquor notably featured in the book - it seemed delicious. His experience was more mixed.

As horrible as all of this sounds, to Fettweis (and people with similar views, like Steven Pinker) this is actually good news. If war is only possible because of individuals who are prepared to view others as non-human, then perhaps the spread of individualism and liberalism will halt it...

lllkilli's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

Content Warnings

lilly71490's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

4.25

nicolesullivan98's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

4.25

xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

This book is about the genocide in Rwanda. Specifically, there are interviews with those who participated in the rape and murder of thousands of people. It was a little difficult for me to read, because I got bored with it in places, but I was able to finish it in one day. It was interesting to hear what these people had to say, and the reasons for participating in these activities. There was a staggering lack of remorse and accountability from some of these men. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interesting in the genocide, or in African history.

meganfoster's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.5

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