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We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch
emily_britton's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Heartbreaking and infuriating. What a terrible period of history and horrifying to read about -- but important as well. Had Gourevitch's writing been anything less than what it was, this would have been unbearable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Violence, and War
ashely_56's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This book is an incredible emotionally difficult but necessary read. Especiall in a time period where there are eerie genocida parallel currently happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza.
This books really explores and explains the history of the Rwandan Genocide and the events and circumstances that lead up to it so we as reader can under that this was systematic elimination of an entire group of people not mass tribal hysteria.
This was done deliberately and tactically.
We need to learn this so we can take not of how those same tactics are being used yet while the western world yet again turns a blind eye.
This writing does an incredible job of encapsulation the world that is left after the Genocide and the state of its survivors. He does shy away from the messiness, the horror, or the cruelty.
This book is a necessary read for all those who care about stopping Genocide.
This books really explores and explains the history of the Rwandan Genocide and the events and circumstances that lead up to it so we as reader can under that this was systematic elimination of an entire group of people not mass tribal hysteria.
This was done deliberately and tactically.
We need to learn this so we can take not of how those same tactics are being used yet while the western world yet again turns a blind eye.
This writing does an incredible job of encapsulation the world that is left after the Genocide and the state of its survivors. He does shy away from the messiness, the horror, or the cruelty.
This book is a necessary read for all those who care about stopping Genocide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Torture, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Car accident
jachinheckman's review against another edition
5.0
This book is remarkably interesting, while equally remarkably sad. It was a long and difficult read if for no other reason than I had to stop and cry after every other page.
fallenoffacliff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
coys's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I think any attempt by me to summarize or properly review this book would just be completely futile and borderline irresponsible. Just horrific, senseless violence and arguably even more horrific attitudes displayed by the "West" toward Rwanda. standing by and watching because it's not the 'right' type of victim is one thing (one thing that I would like to be clear is abhorrent), but France actively supported the genocidaires! What the actual ffffff! This was in my lifetime! Asking my parents about this, they were just like 'oh yeah I didn't know anything about this when it was happening' and it's not like many of us know a ton more about it now. Anyway, Gourevitch's writing is stellar, even if it contributes to the book being just unfathomably sad (though I suspeeeeeeeect that may have been the case regardless). Part of this is that there is not a ton in terms of pure recitation of facts, or even secondary sources -- the book is largely primary sources, stories directly from the mouths of survivors, which makes it all the more powerful. A must-read if you want to understand what is likely more about the world than I'd like to admit, or at the very least learn about a genocide in our very recent past, or at the very very least just be really sad and disgusted for about 350 pages. Five stars.
An aside: it does warrant mention that the Paul Kagame parts in this book have aged.......interestingly? We'll go with interestingly, or maybe 'thorny' is the way to go. There's a lot to unpack there, too much for my limited knowledge of the situation to take a side on. Thorny it is.
An aside: it does warrant mention that the Paul Kagame parts in this book have aged.......interestingly? We'll go with interestingly, or maybe 'thorny' is the way to go. There's a lot to unpack there, too much for my limited knowledge of the situation to take a side on. Thorny it is.
hugbuggirl's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a heart breaking and enlightening book. I would highly recommend it. Anyone who wants to truly understand the world from a personal perspective should absolutely read it.
mtnmama's review against another edition
3.0
The book was very interesting and informative, but also difficult for someone with little background knowledge. Although I was familiar with the generals of the Rwandan genocide, I sometimes got bogged down with political information. The most engaging parts were the more in-depth profiles of specific individuals.
americangoldfinch's review against another edition
5.0
This book was heartbreaking but super informative (f*ck France!). I admire the bravery of the survivors who told their stories to Gourevitch. Even through all the horrific accounts of violence and hatred, the most heartbreaking story for me was Paul the hotel owner, whose story was portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda. During his interview, he explains why he made the risky decision to shelter Tutsi refugees in his hotel -- he thought that people all across the country were risking their lives in the same way he was, to protect their neighbors, family and friends. It wasn't until after the genocide initially 'ended' (the killings continued for years without international attention) that he learned that he was, in fact, an outlier, that very few people were actually trying to help people, that most people in his position gave in to Hutu Power demands and became killers. It was hard for him to trust after learning this. He describes that he would rather die for a cause than live and be a fool. This lesson will stay with me forever.