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A review by mlindsey441
City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World's Largest Refugee Camp by Ben Rawlence
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.