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A Thousand Hills to Heaven: Love, Hope, and a Restaurant in Rwanda

Josh Ruxin

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Aug 01, 2017 Ra rated it it was ok

Shelves: africa, non-fiction, audio-book, scribd

I really wanted to like this book. It was recommended by one of my favourite book blogs and I love Africa and people who do good there.

The author makes some good points about how to do development in Africa without creating dependence. His style, however, irritated me somewhat. I perceived him as an American do-gooder, with a sense of superiority that is respectful to Africa on the surface only. I did not even find the way he described his wife or his children particularly endearing, they came a I really wanted to like this book. It was recommended by one of my favourite book blogs and I love Africa and people who do good there.

The author makes some good points about how to do development in Africa without creating dependence. His style, however, irritated me somewhat. I perceived him as an American do-gooder, with a sense of superiority that is respectful to Africa on the surface only. I did not even find the way he described his wife or his children particularly endearing, they came across as trophies to his expat life. There is endless name-dropping, and great detail about setting up the restaurant called Heaven (hence the title). I also found the jumping around between stories and characters confusing (especially in the audio version where you really cannot cross-check or move back and forth quickly between chapters).

This tries to sound as the story of a couple who makes it in a strange land. However, it is hard to overlook the fact of their born privilege. They made it because they come from money and power. They used the trophies of their privilege to make it in Africa. So this is not the story of struggle or suffering or sacrifice that they want us to believe.

The book is saved by the personal stories of those who really suffered, and made it, in Rwanda. Some horrific details of the genocide left me in tears, and I admire the spirit of Rwandans who made it through this darkness. I loved the descriptions of Africa and the resilience and wisdom of its people, the driver he calls Op-Ed for example.
I only listened absently to recipes and the way to run a restaurant, and the underlying self-congratulatory tone of how privileged few can make it in the heart of darkness.

I cannot deny the author's achievement and how much good he and his family did in Rwanda. In the end he used his privileged upbringing and wealth to help the people in many ways. He worked towards empowering them. But he also got plenty in return. I did not sense any personal sacrifice from his part. The wife Alissa seemed to be the one carrying that burden. ...more

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