Honest, brutal, brave and utterly compelling

One of the books everyone should read, particularly if you've lived your life in a first world country. This is not 'just another story about Africans killing Africans', although thousands upon thousands of Africans die in the course of its telling. It is not a fly-studded, poverty-stricken tear-jerker, although you will hear about poor people and it will make you cry. It's about what's really going on in Darfur, and indeed in so many places in Africa, how much the world could do to help and how little it does do, the ubiquity of red tape, the gagging of journalists and the suffering of so many individuals that it beggars belief. Much of the western world still perceives Africans as numerous, expendable and unimportant. As an African, I object of course, and yet, because I'm an African I understand that mentality. The man who wrote this harrowing and touching account is an American who also understands. His ability to communicate the view of the overfed outsider and the daily trauma of what he was charged with observing, brings together a stunning empathy of vision and real humanity.
A respectful, compassionate, accurate and readable account of how so many people live in terrible fear in countries that seek only their racial extermination and deepest humiliation on every level, this is not a pretty book. It's a real one. Read it if you want to know the truth. Do not read it if you would prefer to believe that Africa does not matter. After this book, you'll never think that again.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

highly recommend

detailed scenes of the genocide which took place in Sudan early 2000s.
As someone from Sudan myself I can only relate to most of what the author has to say!
I really wish this book become a movie so everyone would know

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

disturbing

I knew about the genocide as I work with some people from Sudan who escaped to the UK. but I was not prepared to be enraged by the bureaucracy & dismissive attitude of some on the ground- the critics have labelled this as a self absorbed piece of writing. but if u have witnessed these atrocities how can u not be moved & angered. Great book I am more knowledgeable because of it. Great narration

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!