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emmadkreads's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning of the book was fairly slow-paced, but as you continue through the narrative you can understand why. The book encompasses a large span of time in Jean Patrick’s life. Without understanding his childhood it would be harder to appreciate what he goes through as he grows older. The book was beautifully written, and extremely inspiring.
lozanos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The beginning is slow, section 4 is very fast, then 5 was predictable. But lots of good history lesson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Grief, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Suicide, Torture, Murder, Xenophobia, War, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Animal death, Violence, Sexual assault, and Gun violence
gck's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books where the setting is probably more important than the characters and plot. It’s why I picked up the book in the first place, and I was not disappointed in the portrayal of Rwanda during the time of the genocide. It didn’t go into a lot of the history behind the genocide, but it did show the way things led up to it and the attitudes of the people. It was interesting to see how things went from the bullying of Tutsis to outright genocide. Having read this, I have become more interested in learning about the history and facts.
The premise of the novel is a good one: an aspiring runner trains for his Olympic bid in the midst of the racial tensions in Rwanda. It’s definitely a book for adults, but it reads like a young adult novel, with a quick-moving plot and not a lot of description or character details. I also felt like the very end wrapped things up pretty abruptly. To me, these things are not deal breakers, and I still found it to be a very good read. I had enough investment in the characters that the losses were strongly felt. I was angry for Jean Patrick when he was mistreated, happy for him when he succeeded, and afraid for him when he faced unknown dangers.
Definitely recommended, especially for people (like I was) who are unfamiliar with the Rwandan Genocide.
The premise of the novel is a good one: an aspiring runner trains for his Olympic bid in the midst of the racial tensions in Rwanda. It’s definitely a book for adults, but it reads like a young adult novel, with a quick-moving plot and not a lot of description or character details. I also felt like the very end wrapped things up pretty abruptly. To me, these things are not deal breakers, and I still found it to be a very good read. I had enough investment in the characters that the losses were strongly felt. I was angry for Jean Patrick when he was mistreated, happy for him when he succeeded, and afraid for him when he faced unknown dangers.
Definitely recommended, especially for people (like I was) who are unfamiliar with the Rwandan Genocide.
thebobsphere's review against another edition
4.0
Running the Rift is a case of where I thought the plot is better than the writing.
The novel is about Jean Patrick: A boy who has the ability to run fast.Eventually this talent helps him go through school and college. The problem is that this is Rwanda in the 90's, which was going through a civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Later this escalated into a full blown genocide, with Tutsis being slaughtered. In order to succeed in life Jean Patrick has to give up his Tutsi identity but as the killing escalates JP debates his nationality.
This is a powerful story. I've never read a novel onthis time period so it was a fascinating read. I was reminded of Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's Half of the Yellow Sun at points as I was learning about African history.
My only gripe is Benaron's writing style. At times it felt like I was watching a 10 part made for tv drama. The dialogue is cliched and stilted and sometimes runs the excitement being built but I don't thing it is right to nitpick like this. I can guarantee that this book will pull those proverbial heartstrings in some way.
The novel is about Jean Patrick: A boy who has the ability to run fast.Eventually this talent helps him go through school and college. The problem is that this is Rwanda in the 90's, which was going through a civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Later this escalated into a full blown genocide, with Tutsis being slaughtered. In order to succeed in life Jean Patrick has to give up his Tutsi identity but as the killing escalates JP debates his nationality.
This is a powerful story. I've never read a novel onthis time period so it was a fascinating read. I was reminded of Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche's Half of the Yellow Sun at points as I was learning about African history.
My only gripe is Benaron's writing style. At times it felt like I was watching a 10 part made for tv drama. The dialogue is cliched and stilted and sometimes runs the excitement being built but I don't thing it is right to nitpick like this. I can guarantee that this book will pull those proverbial heartstrings in some way.
jacki_f's review against another edition
5.0
Jean-Patrick Nkuba is a Tutsi boy growing up in rural Rwanda. He is a bright student and a gifted runner, fast enough to potentially qualify for the Olympics. He was named after an uncle who was killed in a 1973 massacre of the Tutsi people, but such violence between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples now seems long in the past.
The story takes place between 1984 and 1998. Over the years the tension gradually builds between the two groups as the Tutsi people become increasingly harrassed and the media inflames racial divisions. Jean-Patrick's brother joins the RPF, a Tutsi rebel group, but Jean-Patrick heads to university and trains to be an Olympic runner. He befriends an American geology professor and falls in love with a Hutu girl. Sporadically violence against Tutsis erupts, but Jean-Patrick chooses to believe that his high profile running talent (and his well connected coach) will protect him from persecution. Meanwhile we - the reader - have a sense of dread from the outset that grows ever stronger.
This book pulled me in immediately. The sense of place is palpable. You can almost feel, smell and taste Rwanda as you read it. While it is fiction, it feels so real that I found it hard to believe that this wasn't a true story and that Benaron isn't Rwandan (she's not). It takes you inside Jean-Patrick's head and you can understand why he ignores so many warning signs and warnings from friends about the tensions that are building. It's so much easier to stick to the beliefs that you were raised with, even when the evidence against them is so overwhelming. When the genocide comes, some Hutus turn on their friends and lovers, but others will risk and even sacrifice their own lives to save their countrymen.
While this story is set against the build up to the genocide in Rwanda, it's very much the story of an individual rather than the conflict itself. Parts are very difficult to read, but there is a sense of hope as well. It's a very powerful story, engrossing to read and hard to forget.
The story takes place between 1984 and 1998. Over the years the tension gradually builds between the two groups as the Tutsi people become increasingly harrassed and the media inflames racial divisions. Jean-Patrick's brother joins the RPF, a Tutsi rebel group, but Jean-Patrick heads to university and trains to be an Olympic runner. He befriends an American geology professor and falls in love with a Hutu girl. Sporadically violence against Tutsis erupts, but Jean-Patrick chooses to believe that his high profile running talent (and his well connected coach) will protect him from persecution. Meanwhile we - the reader - have a sense of dread from the outset that grows ever stronger.
This book pulled me in immediately. The sense of place is palpable. You can almost feel, smell and taste Rwanda as you read it. While it is fiction, it feels so real that I found it hard to believe that this wasn't a true story and that Benaron isn't Rwandan (she's not). It takes you inside Jean-Patrick's head and you can understand why he ignores so many warning signs and warnings from friends about the tensions that are building. It's so much easier to stick to the beliefs that you were raised with, even when the evidence against them is so overwhelming. When the genocide comes, some Hutus turn on their friends and lovers, but others will risk and even sacrifice their own lives to save their countrymen.
While this story is set against the build up to the genocide in Rwanda, it's very much the story of an individual rather than the conflict itself. Parts are very difficult to read, but there is a sense of hope as well. It's a very powerful story, engrossing to read and hard to forget.
barbaraskalberg's review
3.0
3.5 This is the first fictional story I've read about the Rwanda genocide. The tension following a young Jean Patrick, an Olympic hopeful, in the years leading up to that awful time was hard b/c I knew what was coming. Since the other books I'd read didn't cover 10 years b/4 the war broke out, I hadn't really thought about what the friction between the two tribes was like for years and years. The back history was interesting. Like all war stories, this was hard to digest and the look at worst in human nature repulsive.
annevoi's review
5.0
I knew Naomi from my MFA program at Antioch University and was impressed with her personal style, demeanor, commitment, passion. All that impressed me about her in person came through in her book as well. I was a bit wary about picking up a book recounting the Rwandan genocide, but Naomi gets us so thoroughly into the heart of the main character--and others besides--before the violence begins that she creates a meaningful separation from the inhumanity, and keeps us focused on the beautiful humanity of Rwanda instead. It's a coming of age story, a love story, a story of ambition, set in a crazy awful time.
ris_stitches's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful book. A haunting tale of the Rwandan Genocide. What a travesty. One of the best books I have read recently. I would call this historical fiction, as I have read other non-fiction accounts of this and it seemed very accurate to me.
brontejane's review against another edition
5.0
I think part of the reason I gave this book all 5 stars is because I just went to Rwanda last summer, so I could picture a lot of the places mentioned in the book.
audaciaray's review against another edition
2.0
Overall an interesting and enjoyable (make not quite the right word, since it's about genocide and everything) read, but (Spoiler-ish!) I was really dissatisfied with the hollywood style ending. Maybe my sensibilities are just too dark, but the concluding chapters were really bizarre to me.