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theaceofpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Set in the Darfur region of Sudan, this memoir follows Halima Bashir from her relatively privileged childhood (although she was already bullied and looked down upon by certain Arab teachers and students even then), to er becoming a doctor, studying medicine and eventually fleeing from the war after she is targeted for healing black people injured in the conflict.
If you are interested in the pain and struggles that come to those who live in a war zone, particularly women and children, I can definitely recommend this book, although it is horrifying at times. Some parts (especially the chapters that deal with rape victims and dying families) were incredibly harrowing so prepare yourself before going in.
I really enjoyed the parts about Bashir's childhood. I loved getting to know about her community and enjoyed seeing what school was like for her. There was definitely an essence of isolation in both her very different worlds due to her two very different lives and sets of experiences. Despite dealing with some rather unkind people, I'm glad she also met some good ones through her education and that she managed to follow her dreams (although things definitely didn't end up going quite how she hoped due to the rising conflict).
I appreciate that she didn't shy away from some of the horrors she saw as a doctor, even if she doesn't always go into graphic derail (probably good for the reader!). I can only imagine how traumatising it all was. Most people don't understand the kinds of atrocities people in these situations face and books that discuss them are so important, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile. Although awareness of war and genocide is spreading, I rarely see it focus on the experiences of African people - voices that desperately need to be heard.
I don't know if it was intentional or even if it's just something just read into, but I found the change of tone as the book went on rather interesting. Even at its darkest times, I felt like there was a kind of warmth when she was writing about Sudan that wasn't there when she wrote about her experiences in the UK. She does talk about the cultural differences and the contrast between greater individualism and a tight knit community, but I could also almost feel it. How alone she felt and longed for those she loved.
Although not an easy read by any stretch (not because of the writing but the contents) I would definitely recommend this book to those who wish to understand the true impact of conflict. I hope the author managed to find her family and friends again one day (or at the very least learns what happened to them) and that all the people of Sudan will finally know the peace they deserve.
Some notes on some of the content warnings (all are individually spoilered)
Rape:both on page and the treatment of child victims
Medical trauma:Female genital mutilation
Medical content:Including treatment of those injured in war with very limited supplies
Fire injury:Includes children being thrown into burning huts and ending up covered in burns
Gun violence:Mostly second hand
Deportation:Struggling to not get sent back to a war zone
Animal death:Livestock and hunting
Pregnancy:Not an easy one - ends up hospitalised
If you are interested in the pain and struggles that come to those who live in a war zone, particularly women and children, I can definitely recommend this book, although it is horrifying at times. Some parts (especially the chapters that deal with rape victims and dying families) were incredibly harrowing so prepare yourself before going in.
I really enjoyed the parts about Bashir's childhood. I loved getting to know about her community and enjoyed seeing what school was like for her. There was definitely an essence of isolation in both her very different worlds due to her two very different lives and sets of experiences. Despite dealing with some rather unkind people, I'm glad she also met some good ones through her education and that she managed to follow her dreams (although things definitely didn't end up going quite how she hoped due to the rising conflict).
I appreciate that she didn't shy away from some of the horrors she saw as a doctor, even if she doesn't always go into graphic derail (probably good for the reader!). I can only imagine how traumatising it all was. Most people don't understand the kinds of atrocities people in these situations face and books that discuss them are so important, especially in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile. Although awareness of war and genocide is spreading, I rarely see it focus on the experiences of African people - voices that desperately need to be heard.
I don't know if it was intentional or even if it's just something just read into, but I found the change of tone as the book went on rather interesting. Even at its darkest times, I felt like there was a kind of warmth when she was writing about Sudan that wasn't there when she wrote about her experiences in the UK. She does talk about the cultural differences and the contrast between greater individualism and a tight knit community, but I could also almost feel it. How alone she felt and longed for those she loved.
Although not an easy read by any stretch (not because of the writing but the contents) I would definitely recommend this book to those who wish to understand the true impact of conflict. I hope the author managed to find her family and friends again one day (or at the very least learns what happened to them) and that all the people of Sudan will finally know the peace they deserve.
Some notes on some of the content warnings (all are individually spoilered)
Rape:
Medical trauma:
Medical content:
Fire injury:
Gun violence:
Deportation:
Animal death:
Pregnancy:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Misogyny, Police brutality, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation
missmim's review against another edition
3.0
After reading so many statistics and academic writings on Darfur, it was great to be able to read something that made the conflict feel personal. The writing isn't great, but the story is amazing. That Bashir made it out of Darfur alive seems nothing short of miraculous. It was also a great way to get some background on the Zaghawa tribe and its way of living before the war.
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
5.0
This memoir was an inspiring story of survival. Though I've read news stories about Darfur before, experiencing the human side is much more powerful. I highly recommend this book.
bookreviewswithkb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
5.0
a harrowing personal account of survival amongst intense tragedy, loss, and war. the author’s willingness to share her story in order to bring awareness of the war in Darfur is beyond remarkable, detailing the most personal of details about love and sacrifice and triumph. it’s certainly not an easy read but i highly recommend it, especially for part of a deeper understanding of the personal impact of war on human lives
the conflict, genocide and war continues to rage in Sudan at this present moment. over 10,000 people have been killed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Rape, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and War
mrsjmontalvo's review against another edition
5.0
This is a captivating story, it was difficult to put the book down once I started reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in memoirs of asylees.
madae's review against another edition
5.0
Halima Bashir's memoir of life in Darfur is a powerful and heartbreaking story. Her childhood in a small village was happy, full of Zaghawa traditions. Her father was quite progressive in that he encouraged Halima's independence, her thirst of knowledge and sent her away to school and university. At junior school Halima first experienced the racism between the Arab Africans and Black Africans. The Darfur conflict started to intensify while Halima was studying in university. After becoming a doctor, Halima was assigned to work in a hospital. Halima helped injuired Zaghawa tribesman as much as she could, as she felt all injured or sick people deserved treatment. However, the government started watching her and threatened her. She was reassigned to a remote medical station in a village where she began to secretly treated injured rebel fighters. She also treated schoolgirls and teachers who were brutally raped by the Janjaweeds (Arab fighters). She spoke with UN representatives about the horrific violence of the attack. Some soldiers kidnapped her, repeatedly raped her and then let her live as they figured they had destroyed her spirit. Halima went into hiding after that and eventually escaped to Great Britain.
Her story of survival is amazing. I hope that she eventually in the future can find her mother, two brothers and sister.
The conflict in Darfur is a terrible, horrible, violent conflict. The soldiers and Janjaweed are committing atrocious acts of cold hearted violence against the Zaghawa and others. This book was extremely difficult to read because of this, but I now feel better informed about Darfur.
Her story of survival is amazing. I hope that she eventually in the future can find her mother, two brothers and sister.
The conflict in Darfur is a terrible, horrible, violent conflict. The soldiers and Janjaweed are committing atrocious acts of cold hearted violence against the Zaghawa and others. This book was extremely difficult to read because of this, but I now feel better informed about Darfur.