A review by americangoldfinch
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch

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.