LEFT TO TELL - A book with a potential to change your life

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine recently about books. He saw me sharing a number of books that I have read and he wished he read as much as I did. I started to tell him about how I was once a lazy reader (I still am), and I always had this pressure around me which led me to develop this moral obligation to finish every book I pick up; to read every single word in a book even though the book sucked or I am not enjoying it. I have learned that I don't have to read every single word in a book and if I don't enjoy a book I can skip and pick something else. Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza is one of those books of recent times that I did read every single word and I am delighted I did.

Working in a library has its pros and cons, but I believe the pros greatly out-weighs the cons for me. I have searched through the seminary library here and there are so much worthy reads. I am a lover of history; I enjoy reading or listening to great stories of old; learning about them. It was one of those uneventful days in the library, one of the clergy in the seminary walked in and struck up a conversation with me about the holocaust in 1994 in Rwanda. He kept going on about the story and I was left in awe for two reasons'; One was that he knew so much about this story, and the second was that this was a significant event in Africa, and the whole of humanity at large and I knew little to nothing about it. I became more curious. Luckily, he showed me this book written by a survivor about her experience and he was so kind to lend me.

Left to Tell is a memoir by Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. In the book, she tells the story of her experience during the devasting war between two major tribes in the country. The first part of the book talks about her life growing up with her beautiful and loving family in a wonderful village. Her schooling and all. The second part talked about the genocide and her experience living in a pastors toilet with seven other women for three months in thier bid to evade the killers who sought after ending thier lives. The final part of the book tells the reader of her post-war experience. Trying to get back to her feet after a traumatic experience. Trying to forgive her prosecutors and the killers of her family members and also trying to build a family of her own.

WOW, just WOW. I can't imagine what this woman and every other Rwandan in the Tutsi community went through at the time. Just about a million people lost thier lives over senseless tribalistic war. Hatred, ego, tribalism. Children left without parents, husbands without thier wives, death and endless killings. After reading this book, I don't think I will ever forget what happened in Rwanda. The experience of the writer is incredible. Her faith, her perseverance, everything. An ordeal I wouldn't wish for my worst enemy. The book touches on a number of themes. Ones in which is the bedrock of this book.

Immaculee's faith is incredible. All through her time hiding in the pastor's toilet she stuck to her faith, praying. As a christian and catholic like her, her experience has given me new meaning to communication with God; to spirituality. Even when she had a close encounter with death, she never faltered. Even after all she went through she stll had the heart to forgive her prosecutors and the killers of her family members. This is something of unspeakable character. To look at the killers of your loved ones in the face and choose to forgive. The book basically centers around this. The power in forgiveness.

The value of family is spoken very highly of in this book. All through her childhood Immaculee speaks of her loving and perfect family, and the strong bond she has with her brother. Been unable to help her brothers also haunts her for so long and eventually finding out that they died was devasting for her.