Beauty from Ashes: Journeys of Recovery from the Rwanda

The first two chapters give useful background information about the circumstances which led up to the atrocities in 1994. This means that the reader does not need to have previous knowledge of the situation. There is also a simple glossary at the beginning and the book as a whole is easy to read. The remainder of the book focuses on two things — the testimonies of people who survived the genocide and details about various Christian groups who are trying to help them.

The chapter entitled ‘Reflections on Evil’ at least begins to ask the question, ‘Why did God let this happen?’ But in my view, it does not go far enough towards providing a satisfying answer to a profound and very difficult question.

The details about specific individuals included in this book mean that at times, it is quite harrowing. It is certainly not bedtime reading and I would be very careful who I gave it to.

Although it is encouraging to read about how the gospel has brought healing and hope to people who have suffered so much, there seem to be many stories which at their heart are giving basically the same message.

Overall, I did not find this book to be the ‘stunning and uplifting account’ that the writeÐup on the back cover suggested it to be. I am, however, better informed about the Rwandan genocide.

Sally Jones, 
Kisumu, Kenya

Added by the Seller on Thu 17 Feb 2011 21:10:30 (GMT)