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This Voice In My Heart: A Genocide Survivor's Story Of Escape, Faith, And Forgiveness
With nowhere to run, I burrowed my way underneath a smoking mound of bodies
Gilbert Tuhabonye is a survivor. More than ten years ago the centuries-old battle between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes of Africa came to his school. Fueled by hatred, the Hutus forced more than a hundred Tutsi children and teachers into a small room and used machetes to slash most of them to death.
...moreHardcover
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by Amistad Press
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A well-told account of Gilbert Tuhabonye's childhood and adolescence in Burundi. He is a competitive runner and an ethnic Tutsi who was the only survivor of a brutal Hutu massacre at his school. The majority of the memoir recounts his family and village life. I would have liked to hear more about his religious life, how he made sense of his experiences, and the cross-cultural aspects of his transition to the United States. There was some dropped content, especially about relationships, and the l...more
Gilbert has done a beautiful job of detailing a very painful memory, the murder and betrayal of classmates. At first I did not care for the way he jumps from the incident that changed his life to the memories of his home in Burundi. The more I read the more I came to realize that his childhood had as much to do with shaping his life as this traumatic event and deserved to be told.
He is an amazing person who shows conviction and courage in everything he does. His story is compelling...more
He is an amazing person who shows conviction and courage in everything he does. His story is compelling...more
Gilbert Tuhabonye, a Tutsi and a gifted runner, gives a first-hand account on the violence in his country of Burundi that preceded the better-known story told in "Hotel Rwanda." He was the sole survivor of an attack on his school led not by unknown Hutus, but those he had considered his friends and associates the day before--his principal, teachers, classmates, and even teammates. He tells of the "voice in his heart" who gave comfort and guidance to him through the ordeal a...more
A really incredible book. Very difficult to read at points, but so is what Gilbert survived. It is definitely not a pick-me-up book, but the writing about running as a joy and his happy memories of childhood are beautiful. This book was required for my Global Issues class and so it was definitely not one I would have picked up on my own (as I don't like those stories) but you are left with a sense of peace, not terror. He has survived so much and yet still does not hate. I saw a clip of him in c...more
Lorena
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Some very graphic writing about violence - should be mature enough to handle that.
Recommended to Lorena by:
Kelly Youree
Wow - this is an incredible story, especially because it is true!
I loved reading about how he grew up - surrounded by family, eating well, living off the land. There were so many things they did that we are trying to get back to. On the other hand, they had no books, and the rights of their women were dismal.
I found it interesting that they could have so much civilization - their education was first class - and yet when it came to violence, they lost all semblance of ...more
I loved reading about how he grew up - surrounded by family, eating well, living off the land. There were so many things they did that we are trying to get back to. On the other hand, they had no books, and the rights of their women were dismal.
I found it interesting that they could have so much civilization - their education was first class - and yet when it came to violence, they lost all semblance of ...more
Gilbert Tuhabonye was a world-class runner in his final year of high school when the Hutu president of Burundi was assassinated in a coup. He reported for class worried about his chemistry exam like any teen the day the headmaster accused him and his fellow-Tutsis of having "killed the president" and turned the student body over to be brutally murdered by a Hutu mob. The telling is gripping, and will leave your mind seared. Tuhabonye's physical courage and spiritual victory in the mi...more
The parts about him the day of the genocide were really good and kept me interested but as for everything else, it was boring and usless info just went on and on. I would never recament it. I had to read it for a summer project and when usually I fly through the books that even most people cant even look at I was pulling my own teeth in order to get through it. Also some parts were confusing. For example he would write something like "I was to Sam and then Martha came over so I said goodby...more
Excellent book about overcoming the horror of genocide in his native country. Would have liked more info about the conflict and the reasons (economic, religious, tribal, political, tribal etc). Interesting picture of the family network in a farm setting and the educational opportunities and difficult standards that kids beg for. He talked a lot about his personal Christian faith but not much about the religions in the region and how they helped created conflict.
Good book about one...more
Good book about one...more
Eris_discordia
added it
A humble, touching tale of faith in the face of horror.
Gilbert Tuhabonyemana (his original name, shortened because running announcers got tired of saying the whole thing) grew up in relative peace in Burundi, Africa. A member of the minority yet dominant Tutsi ethnic group, he tended his family's livestock and dreamed of a career in running. His stories of his childhood in this turbulent country are enlightening. When most of us think of Africa, we think of war-torn, poverty-stricken...more
Gilbert Tuhabonyemana (his original name, shortened because running announcers got tired of saying the whole thing) grew up in relative peace in Burundi, Africa. A member of the minority yet dominant Tutsi ethnic group, he tended his family's livestock and dreamed of a career in running. His stories of his childhood in this turbulent country are enlightening. When most of us think of Africa, we think of war-torn, poverty-stricken...more
Ginny
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone, but especially for contrast with the American civil rights narratives that abound today.
Recommended to Ginny by:
Barnes and Noble
Even though the writing style is, at best, simplistic; the story is most powerful and gripping. Tuhabonye (shortened from "Tuhabonyemana" which means "Child of God") was the sole survivor of an "ethnic cleansing" at the Lycee Kibimba in Kibimba, Burundi that was exacted on the Tutsi students and staff by a band of Hutus led by the Headmaster himself. As the reigning national champion in two mid-range track events, Tuhabonye was a prime target for Hutu hatred.
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Banu Altunbas
added it
Gilbert's story is one of many in Burundi, but he was one of the fortunates to be able to tell his story to a wide audience. The story was told more to an American audience, which for me is a shame because it could have been more authentic and flowing. In any case, it's good to have some recording of the horrendous events happened in Burundi in those years. People usually don't know about the terrible things happened in Burundi and this book becomes a voice of that a little bit.
The author is the father of one of my daughter's students and the running coach for the Run-Tex program, "Gilbert's Gazelles," which her boyfriend participates in. So there's a personal connection, but even if there weren't, I'd highly recommend this poignant and inspiring story about a student-athlete in Burundi, (immediately south of Rwanda and east of Congo) whose life and destiny are traumatically impacted by the tribal warfare between Hutus and Tutsis.
This book tells the story of someone who survived the genocide in Burundi. It was interesting to read, since i work with so many people from Burundi right now. It breaks my heart to hear what people have to go through and to hear the cruelty of which people are capable. I am once again amazed how much awfulness people can survive and still come out as a functioning human being.
The author of this book is a Tutsi, and I would like to learn more about what happened in Burundi from ...more
The author of this book is a Tutsi, and I would like to learn more about what happened in Burundi from ...more
Devastating first person account of the genocide in Burundi. The alternating timelines in the book collapsed around the part where he got out of the hospital, and a lot was crammed into the last chapter, but otherwise this is a very effective book. The parts about his childhood do a great job of describing a landscape and a lifestyle that is very different than one might expect; I hadn't known much about Burundi, but he paints a complete picture of his homeland, with its assets and its faults.
This book is so inspiring! As a runner, it will be a reference point for me if I start feeling sorry for myself on a run (at least I'm not running for my life....what do I have to whine about!). I am in awe of this clearly heart-felt honest accounting of life changing events, forgiveness, and never ending hope.
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I got this book from a friend who in Austin who is coached by the author. I probably would never have heard of it otherwise, but I found it interesting because I didn't really know anything about Burundi (the book is about his childhood before as well as the genocide) or competitive running, and also it is a compelling story. I'm normally not a fan of memoirs or autobiographies because I tend to find the authors annoying or feel like they are misrepresenting things to make themselves look good,...more
I loved the powerful retelling of the genocide in Burundi. That story on it's own would've made an excellent book. The other story, of growing up and becoming an athlete was good, but weak in comparison. It's worth knowing about his survival but it certainly was one of the weaker books I've read recently.
This book dances back and forth between Gilbert's life growing up in Burundi, the incident that changed his life forever, and how he overcame it. This is a beautiful story about forgiveness and how God saved his life so he could become someone great. I loved this book and could not put it down.
Survivor story from Burundi genocide. Gilbert is a runner who survived a machete slaughter, burning in building and being chased by mob intent on killing him. He talks about his healing, both physical and spiritual. Very sad book, but uplifting and ends with hope and love. Very inspiring!
I'm not finished just yet, but Gilbert's story is unbelievable. I was lucky enough to meet him in person a year ago when he came to give a motivational speech to our employees, and boy was it motivational. Amazing story of strength, determination & triumph.
we had to read this over the summer for school and i found it kinda long but so sad (it is about the starter of the running group gilbert's gazelles life in burundi where he almost died as a teen)
As a man Gilbert is an inspiration. But as a writer, this was a bit monotonous at times. The climax of the book is compelling and tragic,but the story never really picks things back up.
I am amazed what people will do to other humans simply because they are alive...how those who are friends one day can demonstrate such hate the next. I am amazed at the healing that can happen and the forgiveness that can be granted although the process may be long and difficult. I am grateful to live in a place where, by comparison, there is and abundance of harmony and peace. I am grateful to those who have made it possible for my babies to flee their native lands and come here, to where I ...more
The first hand account from Gilbert is priceless though incredibly painful to read.
He gives a perspective of hope and love of his country that is often forgotten when we read about or think about refugees out of Africa.
Gilbert alternates between fond memories of Burundi to the flames that engulfed his school and classmates.
Tears are to be expected with his story.
Once again this African author comes through with hope on the other side.
...more
He gives a perspective of hope and love of his country that is often forgotten when we read about or think about refugees out of Africa.
Gilbert alternates between fond memories of Burundi to the flames that engulfed his school and classmates.
Tears are to be expected with his story.
Once again this African author comes through with hope on the other side.
...more
You will start to think differently of what is bothering you and what he had to go through and relax.....he is an amazing man. A savior
Another great memoire! I love the picture he painted of his childhood growing up in Africa and was inspired by his story!!
Not as much running info as I would have liked, not much inspiration for my upcoming half, but an interesting story about someone who survived a very traumatic event.
Awesome book about the Rwandan genocide. It made me smile especially because it has a happy ending. I LOVE happy endings!
I am in the process of reading this book. Quite some time ago, I read Gilbert's story in "Texas Monthly" magazine and was very impressed. The book is a more fleshed-out accounting.
Unlike a lot of other athlete autobiographies that have co-writers, this one is very well written. I was so put off by the tone in Lance's and Marla Runyan's (both with the same co-author) that I wondered how much influence that secondary voice had to what the athlete had to say. I'm enjoyin...more
Unlike a lot of other athlete autobiographies that have co-writers, this one is very well written. I was so put off by the tone in Lance's and Marla Runyan's (both with the same co-author) that I wondered how much influence that secondary voice had to what the athlete had to say. I'm enjoyin...more
from nasty book club - the author came to our meeting, and he was really delightful.
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