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Summary: Just trying to increase the average
Review: There are already many eloquent reviews of this book. I too cannot praise this book highly enough, and I wanted to weigh in with my five stars.
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Summary: a wonderful book, because of its worldview
Review: What is most intriguing about this book is that it is able to bring together more then just the tradgedy of Rwanda. The author blends together the actual tale of the genocide with the events that took place afterwords. Many books take a far to introverted look at events as if they occur in a vacume. This authot is able to show the events all across afrika, particularly the rise of Kabila in the COngo as an afterbirth of the tradgedy of rwanda. A very insightful book that describes the new breed of post cold war african leaders like Kagame and Museveni who are struggling to reshape the african continent away from the world powers.
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Summary: A solid book about a disturbing piece of history
Review: If you're looking for a tightly written historical piece about an important event in recent history, this is not the book for you as the author seems to go back and forth between providing the details of the events, eyewitness accounts and his own sermonizing/attempts to comprehend what happened in Rwanda in the mid-1990s. Nevertheless, it is still a very worthwhile book to read and, in some respects, Gourevitch's style does the topic justice. As one reads about what transpired during these events it is next to impossible to not be outraged by the actions of the Hutu Power groups and the inaction/dysfunctional reaction of the international community. It is also next to impossible to overlook how horrific the entire event was. As a result, it is understandable that Gourevitch spends so much time wondering what the heck everyone was thinking and how this all transpired. It is hard to see how anyone can spend time investigating the event and write a purely objective, tight historical piece about it.
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Summary: good writing, important subject matter, but what's the point
Review: This is an odd review. I enjoyed reading the book, I found it well documented, well written in the sense that it had an arc to it.
The only thing , after about one hundred pages or so, was that I started to wonder why it mattered that I read it? When dealing with events that have just happened, and the ramifications are still extant, isn't it more important to go out and do something about problems then just read about them? I worry that books like these are just for the bourgeois to gape at far away terror, but I read it for school, so I may be biased.
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Summary: brutal
Review: this is an excellent book that details the gory events leading to the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. the political and cultural problems which contributed to this tragedy are dissected. if you have any interest in africa, genocide or violence driven by political and cultural differences you need to read this book.
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Summary: An Excellent Book!
Review: This is an excellent book, pure and simple ... far better than other accounts of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. A must read for people interested in/traveling to Rwanda.
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Summary: In Defense Of This Excellent Book
Review: Several reviewers have lambasted this book for a variety of shortcomings: poorly written, poorly edited, he doesn't interview the right types of people, he talks too much about himself. I hope to briefly explain why I don't agree with ANY of these criticisms and hope that people will read this excellent book. Poorly written/edited: I'm a writer/editor myself and the pages of this book flew through my fingers. I was totally absorbed. I found it well written, but if you're worried, I have a feeling the subject matter is so important, you wouldn't even notice if stylistically it wasn't your cup of tea. Sources: He interviews the following types of people: Hutus who killed, Tutsis who were attacked, government officials of many countries, foreign aid workers. Don't believe the people who say he only interviews the power players and leaves out the voice of the common man. The hotel manager's (just a middle class Hutu who did what he thought was right) story is awesome and could make a movie as powerful as Schindler's List. Too self-centered: Yes, Gourevitch brings in his own observations and experiences. I felt they were insightful and interesting. Part of his quest is to see how people deal with the genocide, how they internalize it and incorporate it into their existence. As an American going to Rwanda from New York to learn about this genocide, Gourevitch has an interesting perspective and I'm glad he didn't choose to bury it. One more thing: Several reviews crticized a particular passage where he talks about the "postmodern war" of relativism versus right/wrong. These reviewers misunderstood the passage. He's not talking about the genocide itself, but he's talking about THE WAR OVER THE GENOCIDE. In other words, people who think genocide took place versus those who would deny it or call it something else (it was a war, many people were killed on both sides, etc). In my opinion Gourevitch is right on -- to call this event something other than genocide is either a case of denial or a relativistic fantasy -- nothing is wrong, it's all context. Yes the particular sentence was a little over the top, but these reviewers had a knee-jerk reaction to it that obscured their understanding of his prose. This is not an objective book, but given the subject how could the author NOT be emotionally moved to make a judgment about people who would deny this event its importance in world history? I applaud his efforts.
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Summary: More than an important book
Review: "Odette nodded at my notebook, where I was writing as she spoke. 'Do the people in America really want to read this? People tell me to write these things down, but it's written inside of me. I almost hope for the day when I can forget.'" Gourevitch, p. 238. Philip Gourevitch's "We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families" is more an important book - it is a testament to humanity. Gourevitch tells the story surrounding the 1994 genocide in Rwanda through historical facts and personal accounts, including his own. His work provokes many emotions: anger, despair, sadness, and finally, hope. It reflects on the chain of events that caused neighbors who had lived together peacefully for centuries to hack each other to death and on the international community's failure to help, especially after it claimed that genocide will "never again" happen after the Holocaust. However, interwoven in the horrifying accounts of death and the shameful negligence of the international community are stories of hope and strength that shows the beauty of a scarred people. Rwandan history is an often overlooked chapter in our history that needs to be told. Gourevitch does an excellent job in doing this, and by reading his work readers can listen to people whose story would otherwise never be heard.
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Summary: With a Humane Eye
Review: I purchased this book upon its release in an attempt to understand more about the Rwandan genocide, which in the early days got only a few inches of coverage a week in top U.S. papers and almost no mention in the broadcast media. Nothing prepared me for the reality and horror detailed by Philip Gourevitch in his book, "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families." Gourevitch not only examines the political and international botchery and neglect of this unforgivable debacle, he brings a human face to the terror. My only complaint is Gourevitch's extreme loss of objectivity toward the last quarter of the book. In the last chapters I could sense his growing frustration with each passing word, just before he launches into a "lecture" chastising the U.S. and other major foreign powers (while nearly absolving all African nations of responsibility for an event taking place in their own backyard). His speech is well intended and understandable, but unnecessary given that the depth of his coverage to that point in the book makes it easy for readers to connect the dots. Despite this, Gourevitch's book is a must read for anyone interested in the world. The nightmare and the monopolization of the Rwandan people have not been covered anywhere so completely, and with such humanity, as they have here.
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Summary: A Very Shocking Book
Review: After reading all I have on the Holocaust, Cambodia and any other number of wars around the globe I would think that another book on a genocidal incident would not surprise or shock me. I was wrong. When I read this book I could not help thinking what is wrong with these people? Killing opposing soldiers during a war is one thing, but cutting up people with machetes just because of some almost indefinable characteristic is insane. And just what kind of person can kill babies and toddlers? These types of acts are just past my ability to comprehend. The book first describes the background on the issue of the two tribes and the mass hatred that was built up by a few people in power. The author also covers some of the actual events of killing, but does it in a tasteful way - it is not blow by blow but you get the point. We then get the aftermath of how the world reacted or more accurately, did not react. Overall a good covering of the topic with just the right amount of detail to keep the book interesting and not get bogged down into the minor issues. The author does spend a little time focusing the blame on the United States for not rushing in to stop the killings, but that point comes with a large amount of world political baggage that was not addressed in the book. The book will open your eyes to an event that really has not gotten the amount of press it probably should. How 1 million men, women and children where killed in 3 months is just amazing in its horror. If you are interested in this incident I would also suggest you read "Deliver Us From Evil". This book is a good overview of the UN work as peacekeepers during the 1990's and the horrible different wars that took place during the decade.
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