kilkilshah's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a very interesting view into life in a refugee camp. The author did a good job talking about both the large struggles that its residents go through and also the routine tasks of human life. I had a little trouble keeping all of the people in the book straight but that is probably my fault. Even though it isn't really part of the scope of the book the few times the author talked about the people that work in the donor agency or in security for the camp was particularly interesting. Would have been great to have more of that.
misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
I don't like the way it was written. The way character shifted chapter by chapter cause a disruption in my reading flow. It disengage my attention away from the book. Regardless of how i feel about the writing, this book is informative. The author gave voices to these refugees and shared their story with us. When it comes to refugees, most people failed to recognized that between border of Kenya and Somalia, there lies an enormous refugees camp with a huge population. They keep multiplying regardless of how scarce the resources are. Kenya doesn't want them. Somalia is not a safe place to live for them. Thus, they stuck in between these countries and left to fend for themselves. The conflicts and crimes like bombing, killing and raping are rampant. My heart is aching for them. I was not ready to end the journey as i need to know more but i'm already at the last page of this book.
monkeyhippy's review against another edition
5.0
Incredibly well-researched and well-written, this is one of those rare non-fiction books that engages the reader (or at least this one) like good fiction... or maybe even moreso, because the characters are real people. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the realities of war, refugee camps, East Africa, humanitarian aid... or simply very different and challenging life circumstances in another place in the world, and how people survive them.
kristy_k's review against another edition
3.0
While I found his book informative and relevant, I felt that the emotional aspect of discussing refugees was missing. I never felt moved like I thought I would. These stories are tragic, resilient, and even hopeful at times, but the writing seemed to be very straight-forward and I wish we could have better felt what these people went and go through. Still, it was a good read.
mlindsey441's review against another edition
5.0
This. book. wrecked. me. So much preventable suffering and death. Pointless and heartbreaking.
I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about the families who have spent the majority (in some cases ALL) of their lives in a refugee camp. I can't stop thinking about the stories that my own students and friends could tell about their experiences with camp life and the events that drove them to flee to what they assumed would provide health and safety.
Rawlence tells the story of refugee camp through the lives of nine individuals. We hear directly from men and women, boys and girls. We hear from people whose only memories are from camp life and from more recent arrivals, who fled famine in 2010. We see people living, making do, learning, suffering, finding work in a shadow economy, waiting, arguing, falling in love, and even having some fun. We see the human stories behind those media blips that occasionally come across our internet or cable news sources.
But to me, this is more than just nine stories -- it is the story of a place that should not have to exist. A place that exists only because instead of peace, we see war and corruption. We see people benefiting off the chaos that comes with fighting and famine. I think I was most surprised (why I'm still surprised at this point in my life speaks to the rather innocent nature of my little peace loving heart) at how much and how many people benefit from prolonging the instability in Somalia. And that is what wrecked me.
I finished this book with these words on my lips, "Lord have mercy." Have mercy on them and have mercy on all of us. I don't know what to do with the knowledge I now have other than to pray. And to love my neighbors, many of whom came directly from refugee camps.
I don't know how you will respond to this book, but I do know that I want you to read it. I already bought a copy and mailed it to my son. I knew at the end of the year that I was planning to compile of list of must reads, but I can't wait. Please -- if you have refugees in your community, go to your library or your local bookstore and get the book. It will not be an easy, fun read. But I think you will be glad you did.
I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop thinking about the families who have spent the majority (in some cases ALL) of their lives in a refugee camp. I can't stop thinking about the stories that my own students and friends could tell about their experiences with camp life and the events that drove them to flee to what they assumed would provide health and safety.
Rawlence tells the story of refugee camp through the lives of nine individuals. We hear directly from men and women, boys and girls. We hear from people whose only memories are from camp life and from more recent arrivals, who fled famine in 2010. We see people living, making do, learning, suffering, finding work in a shadow economy, waiting, arguing, falling in love, and even having some fun. We see the human stories behind those media blips that occasionally come across our internet or cable news sources.
But to me, this is more than just nine stories -- it is the story of a place that should not have to exist. A place that exists only because instead of peace, we see war and corruption. We see people benefiting off the chaos that comes with fighting and famine. I think I was most surprised (why I'm still surprised at this point in my life speaks to the rather innocent nature of my little peace loving heart) at how much and how many people benefit from prolonging the instability in Somalia. And that is what wrecked me.
I finished this book with these words on my lips, "Lord have mercy." Have mercy on them and have mercy on all of us. I don't know what to do with the knowledge I now have other than to pray. And to love my neighbors, many of whom came directly from refugee camps.
I don't know how you will respond to this book, but I do know that I want you to read it. I already bought a copy and mailed it to my son. I knew at the end of the year that I was planning to compile of list of must reads, but I can't wait. Please -- if you have refugees in your community, go to your library or your local bookstore and get the book. It will not be an easy, fun read. But I think you will be glad you did.