From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

Shake Hands with the Devil

Roméo Dallaire,

Samantha Power (Foreword)

Discussion: . Week 1: More Than 500 Pages

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. Week 1: More Than 500 Pages

* Week 1: Introduction
By Jessica · 102 posts · 1093 views

last updated Aug 11, 2015 02:06PM

* Week 1: Progress Post
By Jessica · 100 posts · 421 views

last updated Nov 06, 2015 06:29AM

What Members Thought

Feb 17, 2014 QS rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, non-fiction, own, war, 2015, memoir, cansell

Well, if you need something to be angry about, this is definitely a good book to pick up. I can't believe how messed up all the governmental powers were in dealing with the genocide, not to mention how reluctant people were to even give what was going on its proper name. On some level, I was aware that everyone had dropped the ball in dealing with Rwanda, but I'm honestly shocked by the political maneuvering going on behind the backs of the people who actually wanted to do something about it. I Well, if you need something to be angry about, this is definitely a good book to pick up. I can't believe how messed up all the governmental powers were in dealing with the genocide, not to mention how reluctant people were to even give what was going on its proper name. On some level, I was aware that everyone had dropped the ball in dealing with Rwanda, but I'm honestly shocked by the political maneuvering going on behind the backs of the people who actually wanted to do something about it. I think the worst part for me was the sheer racism involved in many of the decisions and actions certain people took. I have enough problems understanding bigotry as it is, without being confronted with the levels of it described here.

Equally irritating is the fact that, despite this book being out and widely available, the details of the Rwandan genocide are still so ambiguous. Before reading this, I only had the vaguest idea of what happened in Rwanda (it was a genocide and nobody helped), and even after reading it there's so many questions I still have--questions that, unfortunately, Dallaire can't answer. I appreciate his transparency in his motivations, actions, and continuing doubts; I just wish the governments involved in the affair were so open.

And just a note on the writing itself: Dallaire's narrative is very dry, and in any other novel I would say it's extremely boring. In fact, for the first few chapters, as Dallaire was going through the events of his life prior to Rwanda, bored was exactly how I felt. Fortunately, when the details of the genocide itself started cropping up, I really started to appreciate the bland tone; it gave the narrative an extra hazy feeling that helped to distance me from the descriptions of the mutilations and deaths. On the other hand, I can see why some people may not be able to finish this book. Barring the introduction, the first couple hundred pages are a tough sell. Still, I'm glad I read it. (Though I wish I'd taken a longer time to digest it.) ...more

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Sep 05, 2014 Erica marked it as to-read

Dec 14, 2016 Jennifer marked it as to-read

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