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bearprof's review against another edition
5.0
It is hard to put it into words. Moving, amazing, horrifying, devastating, shameful, hopeful...this book tells a story that is all of these things. Everyone should read it.
dtrain411's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
paule's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
captainbella's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.75
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
The amazing true story that inspired the film 'Hotel Rwanda'. Paul is a hotel manager in Kigali when the civil war breaks out and he takes in his terrified neighbours who are hiding from armed gangs looking to kill all Tutsi people and those, like Paul, who helps shelter them. They all seek refuge in the hotel where Paul uses every contact he has to keep the armed men away and keep his guests alive.
This man is truly inspiring. He risked his life to save over 1500 people who were on death lists, negotiating with murderers to keep them all safe. He had no help from the United Nations peacekeepers who mostly refuse to get involved with a few notable exceptions. He spends his time phoning contacts in Europe, begging for help to save these people under his care. Paul describes the fear, the lack of food and water, unsanitary conditions, the bribes to the would-be killers, dead mutilated bodies all over the city and the uncertainty of their fate. It is a disturbing book and I can't imagine what those people went through. The heroism of this amazing, modest man cannot be spoken of enough.
I get angry when I read stories like this because the international community seems to sit and shrug, changing channels on the TV when genocide is taking place under their very noses. I know there are difficulties, but jeez what is the POINT in having peacekeepers there who just turn away when the killing starts and abandon innocent people to their fates? There is no point saying how terrible these things are and doing nothing to stop it. Maybe these nations should declare that they have oil or a similar attractive commodity and then the international community might try to save them. We're happy to aid the rebels in Libya because of oil but how long did it take to help the people in the Balkans? YEARS! And if Tony Blair hadn't intervened and forced Bill Clinton to agree to step in with him, we might never have helped those people. Grrr. We need to place more value on human life everywhere and The UN need to pull their heads out of their bums and start getting its hands dirty. OK, rant over.
This man is truly inspiring. He risked his life to save over 1500 people who were on death lists, negotiating with murderers to keep them all safe. He had no help from the United Nations peacekeepers who mostly refuse to get involved with a few notable exceptions. He spends his time phoning contacts in Europe, begging for help to save these people under his care. Paul describes the fear, the lack of food and water, unsanitary conditions, the bribes to the would-be killers, dead mutilated bodies all over the city and the uncertainty of their fate. It is a disturbing book and I can't imagine what those people went through. The heroism of this amazing, modest man cannot be spoken of enough.
I get angry when I read stories like this because the international community seems to sit and shrug, changing channels on the TV when genocide is taking place under their very noses. I know there are difficulties, but jeez what is the POINT in having peacekeepers there who just turn away when the killing starts and abandon innocent people to their fates? There is no point saying how terrible these things are and doing nothing to stop it. Maybe these nations should declare that they have oil or a similar attractive commodity and then the international community might try to save them. We're happy to aid the rebels in Libya because of oil but how long did it take to help the people in the Balkans? YEARS! And if Tony Blair hadn't intervened and forced Bill Clinton to agree to step in with him, we might never have helped those people. Grrr. We need to place more value on human life everywhere and The UN need to pull their heads out of their bums and start getting its hands dirty. OK, rant over.
scobo's review against another edition
5.0
Very powerful book about how one person can make a difference. While the chronology can be hard to follow sometimes, he gives a good explanation of how the Rwandan genocide came to happen. It ends in a great call to action to anyone who finds thenceforth of themselves in a situation to see others as human beings.
mrsmozdog's review against another edition
Not going to rate this. It’s well written and engaging. However having also read Inside the Real Hotel Rwanda it would feel disingenuous to give a star rating considering the controversy around Paul Rusesabagina. I first came to learn about Rwanda through the film Hotel Rwanda, which is still a great film - however there are serious concerns about its accuracy which are countered by survivors of the hotel, and as such so too is the story of this book. I don’t know which way I believe - I expect there are elements of truth and cover up in both this version and that of Inside the Real Hotel Rwanda. An interesting read but not one to read in a bubble - definitely worth reading Inside the Real Hotel Rwanda as a follow up.
emmyrabold's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
ardaigle's review against another edition
5.0
What a heartbreaking tale. I was completely unaware of the atrocities committed in Rwanda and this novel paints a very clear picture of the horror that took place there during the genocide in the 90s. Rusesabagina tells his story simply and honestly and doesn't glorify his role: it is what it is.
I enjoyed the end of the book immensely because instead of just ending the story with the end of his role, he explained the necessary steps in order to prevent this from happening again. Not only that, but he explained the steps required to rebuild Rwanda. His capacity for hope, despite everything, is amazing. Truly an empowering and enlightening read.
I enjoyed the end of the book immensely because instead of just ending the story with the end of his role, he explained the necessary steps in order to prevent this from happening again. Not only that, but he explained the steps required to rebuild Rwanda. His capacity for hope, despite everything, is amazing. Truly an empowering and enlightening read.