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A review by a_bookish_butterfly
Don't forget us here : lost and found at Guantánamo by Mansoor Adayfi
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
When Mansoor Adayfi was eighteen, he went to Afghanistan, believing he would return to his home country of Yemen in due time. That never happened. He was, instead, kidnapped by warlords and sold to the US - the lead up to a drawn out case of mistaken identity. He spent the next 14 years as a detainee at Guantanamo Bay. Mansoor was an innocent man, but he was not given a chance to defend his innocence properly until the very end of his time at Guantanamo. Even then, his story did not unfold into something happier but, as he states in this, that’s another tale to tell. I hope he will give readers a second book.
Mansoor Adayfi endured a number of physical and emotional traumas, which he details in his story, yet he somehow managed to communicate it all in a way that helps readers understand without completely overwhelming them. It’s the tone of the book that makes a world of difference. It is dark, yet full of hope.
The things that really stood out in this memoir were Mansoor’s sense-of-humor, strength in advocating for better treatment, insight, maintained faith and clear attempts (especially as he matured) to not let this experience lead to bitterness. Few people could have come out of this with such a gracious attitude. He’s honest, but he never comes across as hateful. He acknowledges the bad, but also makes note of those who were good to him. Unsurprisingly, he did not walk away unscathed, as PTSD resulted from the trauma, and his ability to tell his story with such tact was impressive.
Don’t Forget Us Here is a powerful true story that highlights the horrors of mistreatment and injustice. It offers a critical perspective from a wrongfully detained man. I’m thankful Mansoor Adayfi was finally able to tell his story.
Mansoor Adayfi endured a number of physical and emotional traumas, which he details in his story, yet he somehow managed to communicate it all in a way that helps readers understand without completely overwhelming them. It’s the tone of the book that makes a world of difference. It is dark, yet full of hope.
The things that really stood out in this memoir were Mansoor’s sense-of-humor, strength in advocating for better treatment, insight, maintained faith and clear attempts (especially as he matured) to not let this experience lead to bitterness. Few people could have come out of this with such a gracious attitude. He’s honest, but he never comes across as hateful. He acknowledges the bad, but also makes note of those who were good to him. Unsurprisingly, he did not walk away unscathed, as PTSD resulted from the trauma, and his ability to tell his story with such tact was impressive.
Don’t Forget Us Here is a powerful true story that highlights the horrors of mistreatment and injustice. It offers a critical perspective from a wrongfully detained man. I’m thankful Mansoor Adayfi was finally able to tell his story.