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We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

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Rating: - Very well written, but could do with more references

A very well written (and readable) account of recent history. Horrible events are depicted and some explanation is given, but the book is one-sided at this point. The account looses power because a lot of comments are made by anonymous sources: "it was wildly rumored", "an official of ... said", "it was believed that". It is too bad that an important story like this is written in such a manner. The author didn't convince me that he presented an objective view. The result is that the account looses objectiveness and power. Hardly anywere are any written references mentioned. I had expected more. I will search on for a better book on the topic...

Rating: - Astonishing

This book is a brilliant and enlightening account of a horrifying situation. It has recently been awarded the Guardian First Book Award.

Rating: - The history and personal stories of the genocide

An excellent history of Rwanda's 1994 genocide told by the author, a journalist for the "New Yorker" magazine, but including a large number of personal accounts. If a book about this horrible salughter doesn't make you feel ashamed then it shouldn't be published. This one works, brilliantly. It is also more up to date than other books on the Rwanda crisis in that it includes descriptions of the Rwandan Patriotric Army's forcible dissolution of the refugee camps in Zaire in 1996. This is a period which supporters of the RPA tend to have problems with. Gourevitch is certainly one of those supporters but he tackles the issue head on. The most haunting passages of this book, which live in the memory, are the personal recollections of loss and survival in the genocide. Having spoken to many survivors myself I know how difficult it is to retell those awful stories without destroying their immediacy and horror, but Gourevitch manages this perfectly. I would urge anyone who is thinking of reading this book to do so, but would encourage them to look at Fergal Keane's masterpiece, "Season as Blood" as well. For the full tragedy, fear and anger, Keane is the better guide.

Rating: - Brilliantly written, eye opener

This is compulsive reading. Even towards the end the story does not slow or stop. I have always been cynical of the international response to Rwanda and this book gives the unbiased details. It is also a narrative mixing the first hand stories of individuals, (victims perpertrators and politicians) with the general historiacal and political picture. Intertwined is ironic humour and Gourevitch's own analysis which you can't help agreeing with. Despite the ungoing atrocities, this book leaves you with just enough of a glimmer of hope, so as not to feel total dispair. I think that this is a must read for everyone. The West's 'involvement' in Africa, in particular as depicted in this book, shows what they really think of the continent - as an irrelevancy unless as some experiment or playground for money makers. It is a pleasant surprise to see someone from the West treating it with a little respect. Buy it you won't regret it and read it all.

Rating: - This will always stay with you

This book should be complusory reading for our children. It will change the way you feel about humanity and it will make you look differently at more recent events, such as the war in the Balkans. Many of the events described in this brilliantly written book about the Rwandan genocide are too shocking to take in. Time after time, as I was reading it, I had to put it down and really think about what was being described - to make myself realise these were true events, which hadn't happened to another generation - but which were so recent that no-one can say they won't happen again. Chilling, but complusive.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4