Beauty From Ashes: Journeys of Recovery from the Rwandan Genocide

by Callum Henderson

Book by Henderson, Callum

Genres: Rwanda

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Steven Langdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter last year visited Rwanda and the memorial to the million genocide victims there in 1994.
She brought me this book, which I read in conjunction with other books about the Jewish Holocaust in Europe.

It is a heart-rending book, with testimony from many of the victims -- particularly women who were severely abused while having to watch their families killed. There is a contrast with the Holocaust where extermination of six million Jews was organized by German planning, with special railroads built, elaborate gas chambers and associated crematoriums. It was especially devastating to see such efficiency dedicated to the elimination of a people.

Rwanda's genocide seems to have been more of a mass outbreak of brutal killing, with neighbours going after neighbours and widespread massacres throughout many parts of the country.

Henderson is especially focused on the question of forgiveness, so that Rwandans can live with each other in the future. He also emphasizes religious solidarity amongst people as part of this process. The extreme focus on religion, for me, undercuts the analytical depth of the book. It is a chilling outline of this genocide, but provides less depth of understanding than I had expected.

[Coco Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So amazed by the power of religion and faith. It makes me conspire to wonder if the entire genocide is manipulated by the White from happening to recovering. If the genocide is facilitated by demonic spirits, who is there to deliver the people at last? The christian God? This is what I see from the book.

[Ian Major · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving explanation of how Rwanda could be plunged into an attempted genocide, and how healing and restoration has been brought to many. Lessons for us all, especially those in conflict areas.