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wandering_canuck's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
5-star for how detailed the book was. 2-star for my comprehension. 4-star rating is a compromise.
To be fair, I listened to the audiobook, so found it quite difficult to follow, as I couldn't flip back and forth. Highly detailed, and probably best for history and/or war buffs. I was hoping for a better understanding of what happened in Rwanda in 1994. On that front, this book failed to deliver; I found myself lost and my mind wandering throughout most of the book.
I still stand by the 4-star review, though. Dallaire delivers his account in astonishing, and horrific, detail. Not one to mince words, he doesn't hesitate to drop blame at the feet of everyone (individuals, nations, and organizations), who were complicit in allowing the genocide to occur.
This may turn into a re-read for me eventually for now I am saturated with facts and figures, so will take a step back before attempt #2.
To be fair, I listened to the audiobook, so found it quite difficult to follow, as I couldn't flip back and forth. Highly detailed, and probably best for history and/or war buffs. I was hoping for a better understanding of what happened in Rwanda in 1994. On that front, this book failed to deliver; I found myself lost and my mind wandering throughout most of the book.
I still stand by the 4-star review, though. Dallaire delivers his account in astonishing, and horrific, detail. Not one to mince words, he doesn't hesitate to drop blame at the feet of everyone (individuals, nations, and organizations), who were complicit in allowing the genocide to occur.
This may turn into a re-read for me eventually for now I am saturated with facts and figures, so will take a step back before attempt #2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
curly83185's review
5.0
I am not really sure where to begin with my review of this book. In reading it I experienced a roller-coaster of emotions ranging from anger, disappointment, and optimism. Dallaire forces the reader to examine the differences between deciding to take action and actually following through. While he points out the difficulties that the UN faces in taking action I think he leaves individuals with the idea that things can be reformed and changed but it starts with people having to take responsibility and truly see other human beings as equal. "We need to eliminate from this earth the impunity with which the genocidaires were able to act, and re-emphasize the principle of justice for all, so that no one for even a moment will make the ethical and moral mistake of ranking some humans as more human than others, a mistake the international community endorsed by its indifference in 1994." - Daillaire
"We have fallen back on the yardstick of national self-interest to measure which portions of the planet we allow ourselves to be concerned about. In the twenty-first century, we cannot afford to tolerate a single failed state, ruled by ruthless and self-serving dictators, arming and brainwashing a generation of potential warriors to export mayhem and terror around the world. Rwanda was a warning to us all of what lies in store if we continue to ignore human rights, human security and abject poverty." - Daillaire
"We have fallen back on the yardstick of national self-interest to measure which portions of the planet we allow ourselves to be concerned about. In the twenty-first century, we cannot afford to tolerate a single failed state, ruled by ruthless and self-serving dictators, arming and brainwashing a generation of potential warriors to export mayhem and terror around the world. Rwanda was a warning to us all of what lies in store if we continue to ignore human rights, human security and abject poverty." - Daillaire
quibiee's review
Extremely moving. It was a truly incredible experience reading this book.
alaclede's review
5.0
The hardest but most important book to read. Honestly this book shocked and awed me. I was heartbroken and struggled to read again after this book. But in order to understand what happened in Rwanda and why we must learn from those mistakes The General’s book is a must. He was there, he lived in and is still living with the consequences of the international community’s actions.