dashadashahi's review
4.0
This is an incredibly detailed and well written book that shares heartbreaking and equally frustrating experiences leading up and during the Rwandan Genocide. Although the many names of people and locations as well as logistical and tactical explanations can be confusing and intense if you stick with it you’re rewarded with an excellent recount of events. Of course the details of the mass killings were heart wrenching but to me the saddest part was when not a single member back in Ottawa offered to donate soccer balls after Dallaire argued it could provide some happiness and normalcy to children in Rwanda. The absolute apathy of the Western nations is reason enough to read this book.
Of course, Dallaire is writing this years after experiencing it and you must take his memory into consideration. A little over half way through the book he states that if he had been given the troops and resources he could have stopped the madness and in this sense, perhaps some may say he writes this in an effort to assuage his guilt. I would disagree but it’s a point to keep in mind.
Of course, Dallaire is writing this years after experiencing it and you must take his memory into consideration. A little over half way through the book he states that if he had been given the troops and resources he could have stopped the madness and in this sense, perhaps some may say he writes this in an effort to assuage his guilt. I would disagree but it’s a point to keep in mind.
dyland02's review
4.0
well this certainly isn't a light read in my books... (no pun intended)- dallaire genuinely remains a shadow of the person he was prior to arriving in kigali rwanda during the '93-'94 racial unrest & following genocide-- as articulated throughout this memoir of his.
i like to say its well-paced, full of disgrace, and detailed with juicy military stats and descriptions of not-so-dazzling un bureaucrats.
--
"I came to Rwanda as a child of god, I left as a victim of Satan- the difference is, I survived, the others [800,000 Rwandas] did not."
yeah this book can be a tough read.
i like to say its well-paced, full of disgrace, and detailed with juicy military stats and descriptions of not-so-dazzling un bureaucrats.
--
"I came to Rwanda as a child of god, I left as a victim of Satan- the difference is, I survived, the others [800,000 Rwandas] did not."
yeah this book can be a tough read.
threeseagrass's review against another edition
4.0
[b:Shake Hands with the Devil|215758|Shake Hands with the Devil The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda|Roméo Dallaire|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348297407s/215758.jpg|2197374] is a compelling memoir that tells the tale of General Romeo Dallaire and his experiences during the Rwandan genocide. Dallaire provides a first0hand account of the atrocities that he experienced in Rwanda, while continuously receiving the same order from the United Nations: Do not act.
Before I read this book, my dream was to one day work for the United Nations, to work against violence and corruption, and foster peace and development. Dallaire's novel completely shattered those dreams, as I was introduced to the inner workings of the UN and its inability to act in situations such as Rwanda. I was horrified that Dallaire was ordered to stay put and do nothing to quell the genocide that was occurring right in from of him. I was indignant that a man who was sent on a simple peacekeeping mission was forced to watch 800,000 people die without being able to do anything about it. I was disgusted with the bureaucracy of the UN, and the fact that nobody cared about a tiny little country called Rwanda.
Dallaire tells his story to get an important point across: Never again. Never again can the world sit by and let such a disastrous event take place. Never again will we watch 800,000 people die in 100 days and take no action to stop it, no matter in which country it takes place. We can no longer just sit by and watch as countries tear themselves apart in civil war, resulting in the deaths of thousands.
Having seen Dallaire speak at the University of Ottawa, I can tell that he is passionate about these issues. His experience in Rwanda left him suicidal and depressed. Going through this journey with him was extremely emotional, but what it really did was make me want to take action. Whether it was from inside the UN, or through a non-profit, or simply through writing on these issues, anything can help to spread the word and make sure this never happens again.
This book is an important read for any student in international development, or anybody interested in the United Nations and its politics. 4.5 stars
Before I read this book, my dream was to one day work for the United Nations, to work against violence and corruption, and foster peace and development. Dallaire's novel completely shattered those dreams, as I was introduced to the inner workings of the UN and its inability to act in situations such as Rwanda. I was horrified that Dallaire was ordered to stay put and do nothing to quell the genocide that was occurring right in from of him. I was indignant that a man who was sent on a simple peacekeeping mission was forced to watch 800,000 people die without being able to do anything about it. I was disgusted with the bureaucracy of the UN, and the fact that nobody cared about a tiny little country called Rwanda.
Dallaire tells his story to get an important point across: Never again. Never again can the world sit by and let such a disastrous event take place. Never again will we watch 800,000 people die in 100 days and take no action to stop it, no matter in which country it takes place. We can no longer just sit by and watch as countries tear themselves apart in civil war, resulting in the deaths of thousands.
Having seen Dallaire speak at the University of Ottawa, I can tell that he is passionate about these issues. His experience in Rwanda left him suicidal and depressed. Going through this journey with him was extremely emotional, but what it really did was make me want to take action. Whether it was from inside the UN, or through a non-profit, or simply through writing on these issues, anything can help to spread the word and make sure this never happens again.
This book is an important read for any student in international development, or anybody interested in the United Nations and its politics. 4.5 stars
xxstefaniereadsxx's review
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Lt-Gen. Roméo Dallaire was born in 1946 in the Netherlands. He moved to Canada with his family in 1946, when he was about six months old. He joined the Canadian Army in 1963. In 1993, he received his commission as the major-general of UNAMIR, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. The goal was to negotiate between the rival parties to bring an end to the tensions. Unfortunately, that did not go at all as planned, resulting in the Rwandan Genocide. He ultimately wound up rescuing hundreds of people, but that did not stop the brutal slaughter of over 800,000 more Rwandans.
I have read a lot of Holocaust books, and my interest in comparing genocides led me to buy this one. I had read some others previous to this and thus left this one sitting for a while. I have been trying to read some of my unread things and get to some reviews that I have neglected to do, and I wish that I would have read this book as soon as I bought it. I did know a lot of the facts about the genocide, but it is so important to read personal accounts from those in different positions and occupations during times like this. This book was really very good, and if you are interested in the Rwandan Genocide, I highly suggest picking this one up.
I have read a lot of Holocaust books, and my interest in comparing genocides led me to buy this one. I had read some others previous to this and thus left this one sitting for a while. I have been trying to read some of my unread things and get to some reviews that I have neglected to do, and I wish that I would have read this book as soon as I bought it. I did know a lot of the facts about the genocide, but it is so important to read personal accounts from those in different positions and occupations during times like this. This book was really very good, and if you are interested in the Rwandan Genocide, I highly suggest picking this one up.
melle's review
5.0
It would feel absurd and disrespectful to give this book a star rating. Entertainment value? Educational value? Rage against the uselessness of humanity sometimes?
At the end of the day, though, I read a book. It imprinted some ugly shit in my brain. So what. I've met people who were there. Some ugly shit doesn't begin to describe what they know.
At the end of the day, though, I read a book. It imprinted some ugly shit in my brain. So what. I've met people who were there. Some ugly shit doesn't begin to describe what they know.