Roméo Dallaire: Shake Hands With the Devil

[rainlax]

Has anyone read this book? I recently purchased it (haven't started it yet) and have found some rave reviews by critics but I don't know anyone who's actually read it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments on the book! Thanks!

Oh, and do you know any books that are similar or of a similar topic?

 

[Daisy-Boo]

I don't know if you're still interested in a reply and I assume that by now you've read the book.

I read it and thought it was a good book, though emotionally quite taxing. Also, I struggled a bit through the first part where he details his struggles with the UN before arriving in Rwanda.

I can recommend a book by a journalist named Philip Gourevitch, who wrote We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

Yes I read this book and found it to be very informative but naturally very sad and disturbing. If you like this book I would also recommend The Bone Woman by Clea Koff which is about forensic anthropologist who investigated massacres in Rwanda and Bosnia.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

Thanks, I read a favourable review of Clea Koff's book and made a mental note to buy it at some stage. However, right now, I'm not in the right frame of mind for such emotionally difficult topics. Know what I mean?

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

Yes I do know what you mean. I read a lot of books about genocide topics because I have worked in Cambodia and my wife was born there during the time when Khmer Rouge were killing everyone. She escaped but 2 of her brothers were murdered and she witnessed some unbelievable atrocities. Ever since I saw the killing fields and S-21 prison, I have read everything about this topic in trying to understand how people can do these things but I have to admit I am still as clueless as ever.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

I'm sorry about what your wife had to endure.

Like you, I read these books to try to figure out why people do such awful, horrific deeds but I still don't really understand it. I simply cannot imagine looking into another human being's eyes and be able to do the things these people do. It's so sad.

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

Thank you for kind words. There are some books I have read which, though they describe the same horrors, they show the good side of people as well. They include With Christ in the Killing Fields by Jimmy Rim and Killing Fields, Living Fields by Don Cormack. Though they are about missionaries, which I am not nor am I trying to push religion, they do give an account of good and brave people who helped save thousands of people, much like happens in the movies Hotel Rwanda and Schindler's List.