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We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories From Rwanda | Philip Gourevitch
24 posts | 49 read | 97 to read
An unforgettable firsthand account of a people's response to genocide and what it tells us about humanity. This remarkable debut book chronicles what has happened in Rwanda and neighboring states since 1994, when the Rwandan government called on everyone in the Hutu majority to murder everyone in the Tutsi minority. Though the killing was low-tech--largely by machete--it was carried out at shocking speed: some 800,000 people were exterminated in a hundred days. A Tutsi pastor, in a letter to his church president, a Hutu, used the chilling phrase that gives Philip Gourevitch his title. With keen dramatic intensity, Gourevitch frames the genesis and horror of Rwanda's "genocidal logic" in the anguish of its aftermath: the mass displacements, the temptations of revenge and the quest for justice, the impossibly crowded prisons and refugee camps. Through intimate portraits of Rwandans in all walks of life, he focuses on the psychological and political challenges of survival and on how the new leaders of postcolonial Africa went to war in the Congo when resurgent genocidal forces threatened to overrun central Africa. Can a country composed largely of perpetrators and victims create a cohesive national society? This moving contribution to the literature of witness tells us much about the struggle everywhere to forge sane, habitable political orders, and about the stubbornness of the human spirit in a world of extremity.
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JacintaMCarter
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Pickpick

#2023Book33
Of all the books I‘ve read about the Rwandan genocide, this one was the most informative. The only thing that kept it from getting 5 stars, though, is that it occasionally slipped into a “both sides” type of argument.

CSeydel Oh, I loved this one 💔 12mo
36 likes1 comment
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JennF13
Pickpick

Given the nature of this book, obviously not an easy read. I believe this is an important piece of literature and eye-opening as to the complacency the world showed Rwanda and it‘s people.

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Texreader
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In anticipation of #readingafrica2022 here‘s one for #Rwanda. Looks like a hard read. ☹️

Jess861 Such a hard read but such an important read! 3y
Librarybelle Thanks for sharing! 3y
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obviateit
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Starting in April 1994 and continuing for 100 days, the Hutus of Rwanda slaughtered nearly 1 million Tutsis, despite the two “groups” having no true differences, just the perception of same. This book details the events the led up to the genocide, the world‘s nonresponse followed by then supporting the Hutus, and the early aftermath. It‘s brutal.

#Booked2020 About genocide

Cinfhen Same @Megabooks ! Also another horrific event that happened during our own lifetime and the world remained silent 😢 4y
Crazeedi 💔💔💔💔 4y
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BarbaraBB I read another one on this subject 4y
Hooked_on_books @Megabooks Yes, that one‘s great. It tells a good personal story of the genocide. This one is good at capturing its scope. 4y
Hooked_on_books @BarbaraBB I have that one! After this, though, I‘ll probably wait a while before I pick that one up. 4y
Hooked_on_books @Cinfhen This book is from 1998 and made me curious, so I looked into it a bit. Looks like there‘s still a lot of indiscriminate killing going on there. And so it appears we‘ve all learned nothing. 😔 4y
Cinfhen Really disappointing 😞 4y
BarbaraBB Please do 😉 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Good job. I just wish we didn't have so many genocides to choose from. 😢 4y
vivastory Reminds me of Hotel Rwanda, AKA one of my top 5 ugly cry movies 4y
Hooked_on_books @vivastory Indeed, Paul Rusesabagina‘s story is in this book. 4y
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Blaire
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Pickpick

Very well written book about the Rwandan genocide, Rwanadan history, and the west‘s lack of reaction. I think much of this history about why the genocide started, how the divisions between Hutu and Tutsi were fomented, and what happened in the aftermath is unknown or misunderstood in the U.S. I found the section on the aftermath when perpetrators moved back to Rwanda and how people were expected to live side by side again. #genocide #booked2020

alisiakae I read this quite a few years ago, and learned a lot from it. 4y
Crazeedi Sounds horribly sad, thanks for review 4y
Blaire @4thhouseontheleft same. I was in high school at the time this occurred and really lacked an in depth understanding. Gained more in college but this book is so important to understanding why and how this could occur. 4y
Blaire @Crazeedi it is. Depressing and revealing of the west‘s role of interfering but then refusing to acknowledge/intervene. 4y
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Jess861
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I read this book years ago and what occurred between the Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda is beyond heartbreaking. Even though I don't have words I can put to this it is important that we know about our history and never forget.

#RedRoseSeptember #TwoTribes #NonFiction #Africa #Rwanda #History

@Cinfhen @arlenefinnigan

arlenefinnigan Sounds a very tough read. 5y
Jess861 @arlenefinnigan It was definitely a tough read, but well worth it. 5y
DGRachel I checked this out from the library last year, I think, but had to take it back unread because I‘d just finished a couple of books on Syrian refuges and needed a rainbows and puppies and kittens break. I do want to get back to it, though. 5y
keepingupwiththepenguins Ohhh I've wanted to read this one for ages, never come across a copy! 5y
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mydearwatson
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Thirteen years ago, I went to #Rwanda. It‘s such a wonderful place, and they continue to rise from their past. I knew a little bit about what went on there but not a lot. I read the first few pages of this book and got horrifying chills. I bought my own copy later...still haven‘t finished it. May God forgive us for what happened here, and may it never happen again.
#neveragain #africa #letstraveljuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

22 likes2 comments
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Chiperskee
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keithmalek
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DGRachel
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Bailedbailed

This is turning into the summer of the bail for me. 😭 I just can‘t with this book, though. It is so much more graphic than I expected and the horrors committed in Rwanda are just too much for me to read. Heartbreaking, appalling, gut wrenching, and horrifying, and I only made it to page 30. Maybe another time, I could finish, but I just can‘t right now. 😭

Zelma I have a really hard time with books on war and genocide (and this one has been on my TBR for years). I am always glad I read it but it‘s so hard to pick up in the first place. (edited) 6y
DGRachel @Zelma I read two non-fiction books on Syria last month and I think I‘m just burned out. Plus, holy cow, this one is graphic. I scared Bailey when I gasped and then started crying. I will have to revisit this one when I‘m a little more emotionally stable. 6y
DGRachel @Zelma In fact, I think I may order a copy so I have it here and can pick it up at another time, rather than have to get it back from the library. 6y
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Ashley85 I‘ve been bailing a lot too this summer 🤷🏽‍♀️ (edited) 6y
Zelma @DGRachel oh yeah, that sounds like devastating event overload. 😥 6y
OrangeMooseReads This is a rough book. 6y
Reggie P.s. never watch Hotel Rwanda...😭😭😭 6y
SledgeReader Bail! Bail! Bail! 6y
DGRachel @Reggie I did. I should have known better than to try this book after that movie. 😭😭 6y
Weaponxgirl @Reggie that film had me bawling all the way through! 6y
Weaponxgirl After reading about Syria no wonder this is too much for you! I wish there was a term for books we think are worthwhile and your glad you read without making it sound like it's just a worthy read. I feel weird saying I loved a book when this is the content matter but I don't know how else to describe it. 6y
DGRachel @Weaponxgirl I understand. It‘s like the books on Syria that I did manage to get through. The stories are important. They need to be told. The dead deserve to be honored and we must find a way to stop atrocities like this from happening. I want to read this, eventually. I just can‘t stomach it right now. 😔 6y
Weaponxgirl @DGRachel I completely understand! It's hard when you want to educate yourself on a subject but at the same time you just can't bear what happened emotionally. I had to take a little break from tougher subjects after the unwomanly face of war. I'm on Stella gibbons to soothe me atm 6y
UrsulaMonarch @Weaponxgirl I would love a term for this. I thought this book was so good and also definitely horrific 6y
Weaponxgirl @UrsulaMonarch I can't even think of a made up term for that combination of being thoroughly engrossed in a book and traumatised yet being satisfied because it was so well written. Why is the English langue so constraining sometimes! 6y
UrsulaMonarch @Weaponxgirl totally! German *must* have a term for this... 😜 6y
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DGRachel
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Latest addition to my stack of library books. I will be alternating my library books with comic books or historical romance novels to lighten the mental load. What was I thinking?😭😭 #Bailey is on hand for extra snuggles. #dogsoflitsy

Centique Bailey is the absolute cutest! 6y
LeahBergen Sweet girl 💕 6y
DGRachel @Centique Thank you!! @LeahBergen She really is! 😍 6y
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Lreads Bailey is a good pupper! ❤️ 6y
DGRachel @QuietlyLaura She is, she is! 6y
ladym30 Bailey is beautiful! 6y
DGRachel @ladym30 Thank you! 😘 6y
UrsulaMonarch So good to have a plan for this book - I thought it was excellent but of course ROUGH 6y
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haanim
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Pickpick

It feels weird to say that I enjoyed a book about the Rwandan Genocide, but in truth, I did. Or maybe it‘s better to say that I was captivated. The writing was simply brilliant. I really don‘t know what else to say. I am still speechless and furious. The so-called international community really failed Rwanda.

minkyb Well said. 6y
Blaire Good review. I‘ve wanted to read this for a long time. 6y
Weaponxgirl I felt exactly the same way when I read this book. Great review 6y
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LeahRose
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i hate having to pack my goodies when i move. the last haul i had before my things had to get stored somewhere.
books were meant for shelves, sunny beaches, secluded corners, cramped clasdrooms, flashlights under covers, transit getaways... not boxes!
cant wait to be reunited. shelfies will ensue #hashtag

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Well-ReadNeck
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Pickpick

This book is AMAZING!!! But, it's a tough one. Pack some Kleenex, you are going to need it. So much to consider in this brilliant book. I can already tell that it's one I will be thinking about for a good while.

Weaponxgirl I loved this book! I sobbed throu out 7y
Weaponxgirl Agh , hit send accidentally. Awful misspelling there 😑 7y
ReadingEnvy A related title that I can wholeheartedly recommend is 7y
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Well-ReadNeck
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I have had this on my shelves for so long and have not read it because the topic is so heavy. 40 pages in and I'm a blubbery, sobbing, white hot mess. Such an important and amazing book already. But it may take me a while to get through it.

Jabberwocky I pulled this out of a bargain bin a million years ago and I know how important it is but it's been languishing at the bottom of my tbr because I don't think I'm emotionally ready! 7y
Itchyfeetreader This is such a powerful book - after I finished this I also read the Canadian UN commanders take which was also a powerful, stick with you read. 7y
131 likes21 stack adds2 comments
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Hooked_on_books
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I don't remember who it was, but some wonderful, enabling Litten told me that today was Powell's friends and family sale. 30% off everything (in store only)! So, I took the long drive and went a little nuts. 😬 I actually lost my list after a while (I prepped last night), which ultimately was a good thing. It was a fun day!

LeslieO Wow! 7y
Pagesflutter Great haul! I stayed home today, but it's nice to see that people took advantage of it. Bet the store was crazy busy!! 7y
LeahBergen I recently read Red Notice. 👍🏼 7y
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Hooked_on_books @Pagesflutter It was insanity! They did great business today. It's really amazing to see how well they can handle hordes of bookbuyers. 7y
Texreader Amazing book haul!!! 7y
Yournewfriendsams Yaaahh so glad you went! I actually missed it 😕 but spent the day at Meadows so I can't complain! 7y
hyacinth I spy Asking for it and White Rage! 🙌 I really want to read those. 7y
Hooked_on_books @Yournewfriendsams Aha it was you who told me! Thanks again--I'm delighted with my haul. 😊 7y
Suet624 Those are some meaty topics. 7y
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keithmalek

After all, his full, self-given name, Mobutu Sese Sekokutu Ngbendu Za Banga, had been translated as "the all powerful warrior who, by his endurance and will to win, goes from conquest leaving fire in his wake," and also as "the cock who leaves no hen alone."

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SarahSaysRead
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It's a #longtitle but fitting for such sad, upsetting subject matter.

#booktober #rwanda #genocide #journalism

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readeatretreat
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This one is tough going. My faith in humanity and our innate goodness is being eroded page by page. Any recommendations for books to restore it? 😞

Pic: The Book Castle

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Alisnazzy
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Guys. Litsy is dangerous. My history/memoir shelf is almost full and I've had to start putting some on another shelf. This community is enabling my addiction😅

OSChamberlain I second that! 8y
Maike Definitely! 8y
BookFreakOut Totoro! Oh and books too. 😁 8y
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MrBook @Ambrosnazzy You & me, yeah, we're #kindredspirits. That. Is. Wonderful! 8y
Alisnazzy @BookFreakOut I initially bought the totoro for my son but he's at that stage where he just throws all his toys/stuffed animals so I took it to put in my bookshelf where he'll be more appreciated lol 8y
Alisnazzy @MrBook I'm all about the kindred spirits!!! 8y
haanim There's nothing more beautiful than a stack of books 😍 8y
Alisnazzy @haanim I definitely stare at it uber lovingly 😂😍 8y
rubyslippersreads Nicholas and Alexandra! 💕 8y
Hooked_on_books Right there with you. I'm completely out of control! 8y
UwannaPublishme Hopelessly addicted too! 😄 8y
Sue You're welcome ( and not alone 😂 ) 8y
moranadatter So you're saying I shouldn't go on a history kick right now or develop a sudden obsession with memoirs? 8y
Alisnazzy @kmdartist just be prepared to add another bookcase to your abode 😂 8y
moranadatter @Ambrosnazzy Or six. 😉 8y
Alisnazzy @kmdartist accurate 😂 8y
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Cshreve
Pickpick

This book pulls the rare trick of both taking you intimately inside an important issue, and also allowing you to see it from an objective distance. You can't read this and not be affected.

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CAGirlReading
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Pickpick

One of the most haunting and informative books on the Rwandan genocide, written in a way that will bring you to tears and keep you there. Suggestion: read with a box of tissues

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