Status
Available
Collection
Publication
New York : Random House [2010]
Description
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder returns with the extraordinary true story of Deo, a young man who arrives in America from Burundi in search of a new life. After surviving a civil war and genocide, he ekes out a precarious existence delivering groceries, living in Central Park, and learning English by reading dictionaries in bookstores until he begins to meet the strangers who will change his life, pointing him eventually in the direction of Columbia University, medical school, and a life devoted to healing.
Media reviews
Mr. Kidder’s prose handles beautifully, but there are places it can’t take you, moral and intellectual territory that remain out of reach... I am being hard, I fear, on a book that I read with great interest.
63-year-old Tracy Kidder may have just written his finest work — indeed, one of the truly stunning books I’ve read this year.
It's hard for the reader to escape the conclusion that Deogratias can live with what happened and build his hospital and do good only by lying to himself about the nature of the recent past.
This raises the chewy problem of why Kidder is telling this story. Is it primarily an inspirational tale of
Show More
an immigrant-made-good, a repudiation of Lou Dobbs-style bigotry? If so, his book succeeds 10 times over in an uncomplicated way. Or does Kidder believe primarily in the need to record accurately what happened during the darkest moments in human history?
If this is his goal, then he is—subtly, sympathetically—chiding his subject. Show Less
Once again Tracy Kidder has written about someone who cares deeply about improving health care for the poorest of the poor. Burundi is a small landlocked country in Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Show More
Burundi is one of the ten poorest countries in the world
Show Less
Booklist
Kidder uses Deo’s experiences to deliver a very personal and harrowing account of the ethnic genocide in East Central Africa.
Washington Post
Kidder tells us too little and then too much, glossing over material he knows better than we do and then over-explaining things we know perfectly well. He inserts himself into the narrative and indulges in inane asides. But for all these flaws, the sheer power of Deo's story shines through. We
Show More
cannot help but be in awe of this gentle cicerone who survives war's ghastly labyrinth to emerge a better man. Show Less
Publishers Weekly
Deo's experience is conveyed with a remarkable depth of vision and feeling. Kidder renders his subject with deep yet unfussy fidelity and the conflict with detail and nuance.
User reviews
LibraryThing member YAAReader
Inspiring true account of how a Burundian (Deo) was able to realize his dreams of going to medical school in the face of overwhelming adversities. Escaping from war-torn Burundi (an African nation neighboring Rwanda), Deo arrived in the United States where he eked out an existence by delivering
Strength In What Remains will give you pause to consider those who are mired in poverty due truly to the lack of opportunities and financial resources. Kidder echoes my sentiments exactly when he says, "... seeing so many Africans doing the lowest level jobs. And you think what kind of human potential is not going to be realized, is not going to be recognized, and ever since I've meet Deo and done this research, I've look differently at the strangers I've seen."
Strength In What Remains is a inspiring account of hope, altruism, and the triumph of an indomitable spirit over adversities.
Show More
groceries. As luck would have it, his delivery route puts him in the direct path of couple of strangers who offered to put him through medical school in Columbia University.Strength In What Remains will give you pause to consider those who are mired in poverty due truly to the lack of opportunities and financial resources. Kidder echoes my sentiments exactly when he says, "... seeing so many Africans doing the lowest level jobs. And you think what kind of human potential is not going to be realized, is not going to be recognized, and ever since I've meet Deo and done this research, I've look differently at the strangers I've seen."
Strength In What Remains is a inspiring account of hope, altruism, and the triumph of an indomitable spirit over adversities.
Show Less
LibraryThing member msf59
Deogratias is a man on the run. His homeland is in bloody tatters. He is in his early twenties and has been a medical student for three years. He flees East Central Africa and somehow manages to catch a flight to New York City. Deo arrives with two hundred dollars, knows no one, cannot speak
“Sometimes it is better not to know what is impossible”. This thought crosses Deo’s mind, as a friend suggests he leave Africa and go to America and this becomes his beacon of hope.
The author has crafted this fascinating young man’s journey with beauty and care. He also does not shy away from the atrocities that Deo has witnessed. Kidder met Deo in Boston in 2003. This is his description of him: “Deo’s face jumped out at me. It was a night sky full of lights, a picture of eager, trusting friendliness. He seemed younger than he turned out to be. This impression of innocence lingered, even after I knew that it was mostly inaccurate.”
Highly recommended and one of my top reads of the year!
Show More
English and is haunted by deep-set horrors. He finds a job delivering groceries, for lousy wages and ends up living in Central Park. Within two years, he is attending Columbia Medical School and in less than a decade he is returning to his motherland and building a much needed health clinic.“Sometimes it is better not to know what is impossible”. This thought crosses Deo’s mind, as a friend suggests he leave Africa and go to America and this becomes his beacon of hope.
The author has crafted this fascinating young man’s journey with beauty and care. He also does not shy away from the atrocities that Deo has witnessed. Kidder met Deo in Boston in 2003. This is his description of him: “Deo’s face jumped out at me. It was a night sky full of lights, a picture of eager, trusting friendliness. He seemed younger than he turned out to be. This impression of innocence lingered, even after I knew that it was mostly inaccurate.”
Highly recommended and one of my top reads of the year!
Show Less
LibraryThing member labfs39
Deogratias is a man without a country. Escaping from the genocides in Burundi and Rwanda, Deo is put on a plane to NYC with $200, no English skills, and knowing no one in America. Sleeping first in an abandoned building in Harlem, then in Central Park, Deo works 12 hour days delivering groceries
The first part of the book, Flights, is Deo's memoir. I found it to be an amazing story, by turns depressing and uplifting. The second part of the book, Gusimbura, is the author's interpretation of Deo's life and ambitions. Although the story continues (Kidder accompanies Deo on a trip to Burundi and Rwanda), the story is now superimposed by a conscious narration. I was immediately distracted and less engaged with the story.
My first introduction to Tracy Kidder was his blockbuster Mountains Beyond Mountains. I was impressed then, and now, with Kidder's ability to "live" an interview--to follow someone for days, months, even years to get a sense of who they are and what they believe. I think he conveys as real a sense of the person as is possible without it being an autobiography. That said, I do find a bit too much Kidder present, almost as though he can't completely give up the stage to his subject. Personally, I would recommend reading the first part of the book and simply skimming the second.
Show More
for $15 a day. A long way to fall for a talented medical student. But Deo has luck, the uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time, and a penchant for making friends with those who can help him. After years of hard work, Deo has learned to control his debilitating fears, has become part of a new family, and is ready to return to his country and help others.The first part of the book, Flights, is Deo's memoir. I found it to be an amazing story, by turns depressing and uplifting. The second part of the book, Gusimbura, is the author's interpretation of Deo's life and ambitions. Although the story continues (Kidder accompanies Deo on a trip to Burundi and Rwanda), the story is now superimposed by a conscious narration. I was immediately distracted and less engaged with the story.
My first introduction to Tracy Kidder was his blockbuster Mountains Beyond Mountains. I was impressed then, and now, with Kidder's ability to "live" an interview--to follow someone for days, months, even years to get a sense of who they are and what they believe. I think he conveys as real a sense of the person as is possible without it being an autobiography. That said, I do find a bit too much Kidder present, almost as though he can't completely give up the stage to his subject. Personally, I would recommend reading the first part of the book and simply skimming the second.
Show Less
LibraryThing member stephaniechase
While Deo's personal story is at turns gripping, heartbreaking, and inspirational, I was disappointed by this book. Tracy Kidder's phenomenal abilities as a non-fiction writer lies in the way he integrates himself into the story he is writing, deeply personalizing his subject matter and
Show More
illuminating and elevating what is seen as mundane -- teaching, your hometown, building a house. I found that lacking in "Strength in what remains." Any author could have told Deo's story; Kidder was conspicuously absent. Show Less
LibraryThing member Megabaker
I put off reading this book for a long time, because I worried that it would be overwhelmingly depressing. While a good chunk of the book is horrifying (we're talking about the real-life events in the life of a genocide survivor), it does end up being an inspirational read.
LibraryThing member cstrayed
This is a riveting and well written book that tells the story of an amazing man named Deo. He grew up in Burundi and survived the civil war there and in Rwanda against great odds. Eventually, he moves to NYC, where he lives as an illegal immigrant, suffering many astonishing indignities. I couldn't
Show More
put this book down. It's beautifully written, as are all of Kidder's books. It's also an important book--I learned so much about the genocides in Rwanda and Burundi. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bkatz
Book Review
Strength in What Remains Behind: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness by Tracy Kidder
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Kidder once again hits the mark in this inspiring and engrossing nonfiction narrative. Partially set in Burundi, Africa, the theme is universal: becoming emotionally wounded,
In Deo, readers meet a complex man and an imperfect hero. Deogratias (Deo for short) grows up in Burundi, a small country bordering Rwanda with similar social problems. An exceptional student whose parents and grandparents are cow herders, Deo is in his third year of medical school when political chaos breaks out in Burundi and Rwanda. The tension between the Hutus and Tutsis explodes, leading to massive slaughter in both countries. Because he is a Tutsi, the minority ethnic group, Deo is forced to run, hide, and survive any way he can. In 1994, Deo escapes the nightmare when a well-connected friend helps him travel to America. But even on safe ground, Deo is traumatized and shadowed by memories.
America treats Deo harshly. He speaks no English, and he has only $200, which would have gone far in Africa. He sleeps in an abandoned building and delivers groceries for an abusive employer who pays $15 a day. Later, Deo finds refuge in Central Park, camping under the stars. Despite a challenging beginning, Deo makes friends easily, and he is bright and resilient. He learns English, befriends people who want to help, and eventually moves in with a loving, intellectual couple. But one desire - to attend college and medical school.- burns inside him. Deo perseveres and amazes those who care about him.
Kidder tells the first part of Strength in What Remains from Deo’s point of view, and author captures Deo’s thoughts and actions magnificently. In the second part, Kidder inserts himself in the telling, as the two revisit Deo’s N.Y.C. landmarks and later, Burundi. The second portion is interesting but not as compelling as the first. Readers will walk away marveling at Deo’s character. Although he has emotional scars, Deo returns to Burundi to start a medical clinic that will benefit both Hutus and Tutsis. The story ends with hope. Personally, I would love to read a follow-up.
Strength in What Remains Behind: A Journey of Remembrance and Forgiveness by Tracy Kidder
A Pulitzer Prize winner, Kidder once again hits the mark in this inspiring and engrossing nonfiction narrative. Partially set in Burundi, Africa, the theme is universal: becoming emotionally wounded,
Show More
healing, forgiving, and creating meaning from tragedy.In Deo, readers meet a complex man and an imperfect hero. Deogratias (Deo for short) grows up in Burundi, a small country bordering Rwanda with similar social problems. An exceptional student whose parents and grandparents are cow herders, Deo is in his third year of medical school when political chaos breaks out in Burundi and Rwanda. The tension between the Hutus and Tutsis explodes, leading to massive slaughter in both countries. Because he is a Tutsi, the minority ethnic group, Deo is forced to run, hide, and survive any way he can. In 1994, Deo escapes the nightmare when a well-connected friend helps him travel to America. But even on safe ground, Deo is traumatized and shadowed by memories.
America treats Deo harshly. He speaks no English, and he has only $200, which would have gone far in Africa. He sleeps in an abandoned building and delivers groceries for an abusive employer who pays $15 a day. Later, Deo finds refuge in Central Park, camping under the stars. Despite a challenging beginning, Deo makes friends easily, and he is bright and resilient. He learns English, befriends people who want to help, and eventually moves in with a loving, intellectual couple. But one desire - to attend college and medical school.- burns inside him. Deo perseveres and amazes those who care about him.
Kidder tells the first part of Strength in What Remains from Deo’s point of view, and author captures Deo’s thoughts and actions magnificently. In the second part, Kidder inserts himself in the telling, as the two revisit Deo’s N.Y.C. landmarks and later, Burundi. The second portion is interesting but not as compelling as the first. Readers will walk away marveling at Deo’s character. Although he has emotional scars, Deo returns to Burundi to start a medical clinic that will benefit both Hutus and Tutsis. The story ends with hope. Personally, I would love to read a follow-up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ammurphy
This is a companion to Left to Tell, a story of the Rwandan genocide. Kidder's book is the story of a young man from Burundi who physically escaped, but remains haunted by the massacres he narrowly avoided. In Boston he met Paul Farmer and Partners in Health. This association and many other
Show More
miraculous friendships brought some order and progress to his life. Ultimately he became a doctor and established a public health clinic in his parents town. Show Less
LibraryThing member kauaisurfer
Fleeing from Burundi on a plane (where’s that?), French speaking Deo lands in NYC. A former medical student, he now takes menial jobs due to the language barrier and ends up homeless until some good people step in to help.
At first I wasn't sure if Deo's story was real or fiction. How can one
Through flashbacks the author fills in the gaps of what happened to Deo in Burundi. To me the story soars when we’re in Deo’s home country and moving between refugee camps in Rwanda. I’m learning more about an area of the world unfamiliar to me and the book inspires me to know more.
If I’m truly hooked on a book I don’t want to put it down. While Deo’s story held my attention, the way it was presented was a let down.
I found myself skipping around the book a lot since it’s not written in chronological order. Mostly I was interested in Burundi and Rwanda.
While the book could have been better, Deo’s story is certainly 5 star material.
At first I wasn't sure if Deo's story was real or fiction. How can one
Show More
person survive against so many barriers and obstacles? Not only survive but end up graduating from Columbia University.Through flashbacks the author fills in the gaps of what happened to Deo in Burundi. To me the story soars when we’re in Deo’s home country and moving between refugee camps in Rwanda. I’m learning more about an area of the world unfamiliar to me and the book inspires me to know more.
If I’m truly hooked on a book I don’t want to put it down. While Deo’s story held my attention, the way it was presented was a let down.
I found myself skipping around the book a lot since it’s not written in chronological order. Mostly I was interested in Burundi and Rwanda.
While the book could have been better, Deo’s story is certainly 5 star material.
Show Less
LibraryThing member RChurch
This is the amazing story of a young med student's journey from east central Africa to Manhattan and back again. From beginning to end, this is a powerful book. In Horatio Alger fashion, young Deo arrives in New York with no place to stay and little money. Helped by caring strangers and a will to
Show More
survive, he finds success. Set against the backdrop of genocide in Rwanda and Burundi, he dreams of building a medical clinic for poor, disenfranchised citizens. Provocative subject matter combined with an interesting, fast paced story. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member bplma
Truly a great book. So well written that the lovely words flow and you are lulled into forgetting the truly horrific history of the events that took place in Rwanda. Until Deo (through Kidder) reminds us. i had forgotten what a great writer Kidder is. A strong and powerful work-- a biography, an
Show More
urban tale, africana , world affairs and social justice all in one book. great literature-- i highly recommend it to eveyone who has an interest. A total stranger was thrilled to see me with it and then disappointed that it was not really out in soft cover yet-- Not to be missed, Show Less
LibraryThing member RickK
Having read a number of books recently (Little Bee, When A Crocodile Eats The Sun) that use genocide and Africa as a backdrop, I found this book particularly enjoyable to read. There is a real well-struck balance between the lessons learned by Deo on his harrowing and life affirming journey and the
Show More
way that the author provides some historical insight into what has transpired within Burundi and Rwanda, in particular. Show Less
LibraryThing member macpeadar
I always like reading Tracy Kidder's books, and Strength in What Remains is no exception. It tells the story of Deo, a young man who comes to the United States as a refugee from Burundi. The book moves back and forth in time from his life in Burundi to his time in New York. I found the jumps in
Show More
time helpful; his time as a homeless resident of New York, working 12 hours a day for $15 a day were overwhelming, his experiences in Burundi harrowing -- too much of one or the other would be overwhelming. What I appreciated most about this was that Deo (and those who help him), while undeniably good people, are portrayed as real people with annoying habits. This book is really inspiring. Show Less
LibraryThing member andrea58
After previously reading Mountains beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder, I had high expectations for this book. And through the first two thirds of it, I was not dissapointed. The story of Deo is compelling, tragic, and inspiring. How someone overcomes the odds as he did, is more than most of us could
Show More
fathom. At any one of hundreds of points, most others would have given up and hidden from everything. There was a good mix of historical and cultural information mixed with the narative which moved easily from place to place and back and forth from time to time. But after the author became part of the story, instead of continuing to tell the story, I began to feel disconnected from Deo and his life. The momentum and continuity was lost and at times it dragged and seemed repetitive. Deos' drive to build the clinic was evident, but I wished for a better understanding about his decision to discontinue his education, which previously had been his life's ambition. Generally though, I would still recommend the book for the inspirational personal story it presents and for the greater understanding the reader will gain regarding the genocide in Burundi and Rwanda. Show Less
LibraryThing member susanheim
Strength in What Remains is the story of Deo, an African immigrant who survived the genocide in his home country, Burundi, near Rwanda. The first part of the story alternates between Deo's past in Burundi, and his more recent time spent in New York City. These parts are each in turn horrific and
The second part of the book is in Kidder's voice as he and Deo revisit the places of Deo's past. The story really slowed down for me here. The first part of the book was a challenging read emotionally and a somewhat confusing read with the switching back and forth but I was so fascinated that I stuck with the story. In the second half, the challenge became sticking with it even when my mind wandered, the story was still good but somehow having it filtered through Kidder it seemed to lose it's sense of urgency.
Even with the loss of momentum at the end, Strength in What Remains was a satisfying read. This is a good story and an important one to tell. It adds to our knowledge of what man is capable of - both the evil of the genocide and the compassion of those that helped Deo to heal.
Show More
hopeful. As Kidder describes Deo's challenges in each location we can compare and contrast the parallels like having to sleep outdoors as part of the culture in Burundi and then as a homeless person in the city. The second part of the book is in Kidder's voice as he and Deo revisit the places of Deo's past. The story really slowed down for me here. The first part of the book was a challenging read emotionally and a somewhat confusing read with the switching back and forth but I was so fascinated that I stuck with the story. In the second half, the challenge became sticking with it even when my mind wandered, the story was still good but somehow having it filtered through Kidder it seemed to lose it's sense of urgency.
Even with the loss of momentum at the end, Strength in What Remains was a satisfying read. This is a good story and an important one to tell. It adds to our knowledge of what man is capable of - both the evil of the genocide and the compassion of those that helped Deo to heal.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Brandie
What a heartbreaking and yet uplifting book. There were parts I didn't want to read, and yet I couldn't look away. Deo's story is a powerful one and Kidder does a remarkable job of showing us - not only his struggles in Burundi, but in his struggles of trying to start a life in America.
I admit, I
But Deo's story has hit me in a powerful way, has opened my eyes to what was really happening there - much like Cellist of Sarajevo opened my eyes to what happened in that country (despite being a work of fiction).
Sadly, the more I read the more I realize I am so unaware of what is going on around the world. And how often genocides are taking place. Surely there must be something we can to do counteract these things from ever happening. And yet, we have a government in the US that often preaches never letting things like that happen again, and they are happening. Today even.
Anyway, back to the book at hand - a great book. A powerful book. I'm not sure how one could read it and not be moved by the plight Deo went through and not see the need for the work he is trying to do over there.
I admit, I
Show More
didn't even know much about Burundi before reading this, let alone the fact that war happened there - Rwanda was all I heard about in the news, and sadly never enough to fully understand what was actually happening in these countries. But Deo's story has hit me in a powerful way, has opened my eyes to what was really happening there - much like Cellist of Sarajevo opened my eyes to what happened in that country (despite being a work of fiction).
Sadly, the more I read the more I realize I am so unaware of what is going on around the world. And how often genocides are taking place. Surely there must be something we can to do counteract these things from ever happening. And yet, we have a government in the US that often preaches never letting things like that happen again, and they are happening. Today even.
Anyway, back to the book at hand - a great book. A powerful book. I'm not sure how one could read it and not be moved by the plight Deo went through and not see the need for the work he is trying to do over there.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cee2
I expected to like this book: I like Tracy Kidder's style of writing and the way he relates a story. What I didn't expect is that I would not be able to put this book down.
Deogratias (Deo) is from Burundi and managed to survive the turmoil of the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic conflict and make his way to
The story is truly horrific in parts and inspiring in others. That Deo is able to accomplish his vision is a testament to him and his strength of spirit.
Deogratias (Deo) is from Burundi and managed to survive the turmoil of the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic conflict and make his way to
Show More
New York. Through the telling of his growing up years in Burundi, his escape from the massacres, and his immigrant experiences in New York, we learn how he makes his boyhood vision of free health care for the people of his home village become a reality.The story is truly horrific in parts and inspiring in others. That Deo is able to accomplish his vision is a testament to him and his strength of spirit.
Show Less
LibraryThing member blasdeotero1916
The first half of this book is pure, unadulterated rubbish. It reads like a 14-year-old's first attempt at a "serious" book - leaden pacing, one-dimensional characters, and clumsy, stilted dialogue.
The second half improves markedly. The author is clearly more comfortable with first-person
In short, the two-part structure of this book is a major handicap. If you can slog through the first half, you'll discover a good yarn. But if you give up after a hundred pages, I certainly wouldn't fault you.
The second half improves markedly. The author is clearly more comfortable with first-person
Show More
narrative biography than third-person dramatic fiction. Moreover, he fills in much of the back story and the motivations of the various characters. In short, the two-part structure of this book is a major handicap. If you can slog through the first half, you'll discover a good yarn. But if you give up after a hundred pages, I certainly wouldn't fault you.
Show Less
LibraryThing member martitia
Tracy Kidder tells the story of Deogratias (Deo), a refugee and medical student from Burundi who escaped the atrocities and genocide in 1994. He arrived alone in the United States and experienced homelessness and near starvation at the beginning. In Part I of the book, Kidder alternates between two
Show More
time periods, Deo's experiences in New York City and his former life in Burundi. He closes Part I of the book with the story of Deo's nearly miraculous escape. In Part II of the book, Kidder describes his relationship with Deo and their journey to Burundi in 2006 to visit the route of his flight and report on his Deo's humanitarian work in his parent's village. Mountains beyond Mountains is one of my favorite nonfiction books. But, I was disappointed by Kidder's handling of Deo's story. I felt the story would have had greater emotional impact if told in something closer to a chronological order. Perhaps, Kidder was trying to create Deo's feeling of dislocation by switching between time and place. Overall, Strength in What Remains was a good book, but could have been better. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgherman
This was a very powerful book. How could a young man endure such hardship and yet remain steadfast in attempts to bring medical care to rural Burundi.
This book starts with a young man in medical school who becomes caught up in the genocide in his country of Burundi flees to Rwanda on to be involved
This young man, Deo, instead of being bitter about what happened in this country of Burundi, builds a medical center that cares for both
“Hutu” and “Tutsi”. To put it in Deo’s words “let’s put this tragedy behind us, because remembering is not going to benefit anyone.”
This book starts with a young man in medical school who becomes caught up in the genocide in his country of Burundi flees to Rwanda on to be involved
Show More
in their own civil war. He escapes death many times through the grace of God. A friend helps him to get a passport and visa to the US. With only $200 in his pocket and no knowledge of the English language in lands in the U.S. and hear begins this American odyssey. Homeless and sleeping in Central Park, fate has him delivering groceries to a church Rectory where a former nun who speaks French accepts a grocery delivery. She is his American angel. She introduces him to another American family who takes him in and helps him enroll in Columbia and get his green card from immigration. This young man, Deo, instead of being bitter about what happened in this country of Burundi, builds a medical center that cares for both
“Hutu” and “Tutsi”. To put it in Deo’s words “let’s put this tragedy behind us, because remembering is not going to benefit anyone.”
Show Less
LibraryThing member kimperry
Another fantastic Tracy Kidder book. The true story of Deo who comes to America after survivng civil war and genocide in Burundi. Reading his remarkable story makes me appreciate all the advantages I've had growing up safe and peaceful in the United States. This book also portrays how individuals
Show More
can make such a stunning difference in a person's life. It's also a story about a man trying to live with his demons while always selflessly giving of himself to others in need. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jemima79
Award winning author Tracy Kidder writes a biography of a journey of survival against unbelievable odds. The main character Deo is a young medical student in Burundi, a country neighboring Ruwanda. He amazingly survives the genocide and escapes to America in 1994. In New York Deo begins the
Strength in What Remains traces Deo's many journeys both physical and spiritual. Part one, titled Flights, tells his first journey to America. It then gradually unfolds the details of his original flight for his life which took him across Burundi, into a refugee camp in Ruwanda and then back to Burundi. He narrowly escapes death many times and witnesses unspeakable horrors. Part two is titled Gusimbura which is a word that means to remind someone of something bad. In part two Deo and Tracy Kidder makes a journey to Burundi together, where they revisit the places of Deo's childhood and also visits many memorial sites. Kidder describes Deo's attempt to understand what he and his country had been through and how to move on from it. Part two of the book contained statistics and some research into the history of the events. My only criticism is that I found this section to be a little drawn out.
Kidder's book is inspirational. While it reminds us of one of the most tragic events in recent history, it is actually an incredibly positive story. The seriousness of the topic is tempered by some occasional laugh-out-loud humorous moments that are interspersed though the book. Deo's humanity is sustained by his long term vision to bring free health care to the impoverished people of Burundi, reminding the reader that peace and progress is accomplished through the hopes and determination of compassionate individuals.
Show More
life-long process of recovery. He starts out living in New York's central park and working as a grocery delivery boy. He is plagued by horrifying memories and nightmares and endures many difficulties before meeting some compassionate Americans who tend to his needs and help him to achieve his goal of going back to university.Strength in What Remains traces Deo's many journeys both physical and spiritual. Part one, titled Flights, tells his first journey to America. It then gradually unfolds the details of his original flight for his life which took him across Burundi, into a refugee camp in Ruwanda and then back to Burundi. He narrowly escapes death many times and witnesses unspeakable horrors. Part two is titled Gusimbura which is a word that means to remind someone of something bad. In part two Deo and Tracy Kidder makes a journey to Burundi together, where they revisit the places of Deo's childhood and also visits many memorial sites. Kidder describes Deo's attempt to understand what he and his country had been through and how to move on from it. Part two of the book contained statistics and some research into the history of the events. My only criticism is that I found this section to be a little drawn out.
Kidder's book is inspirational. While it reminds us of one of the most tragic events in recent history, it is actually an incredibly positive story. The seriousness of the topic is tempered by some occasional laugh-out-loud humorous moments that are interspersed though the book. Deo's humanity is sustained by his long term vision to bring free health care to the impoverished people of Burundi, reminding the reader that peace and progress is accomplished through the hopes and determination of compassionate individuals.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BillPilgrim
This is the inspiring story of Deo, a Tutsi who flees Burundi for New York City in 1994 after the start of genocidal violence there between the Hutus and the Tutsis. He was studying to be a doctor there, but he has to struggle just to survive in New York, sleeping in Central Park at night and
At first, it is difficult for him to even talk about what he saw and what happened to him in Burundi, how he survived. But, eventually we hear about it. When the violence broke out, he fled on foot for Rwanda, avoiding the Hutu militias on the way. There he lived in refugee camps for months, hiding among the mostly Hutu refugees by keeping quiet and to himself. He was so ill that people left him alone for the most part. The last part of the book describes a trip he took with the author back to Africa in 2006, revisiting many of the areas that he passed through and stayed in during that time.
This book is an excellent account of the horrors that occurred in that part of Africa at the time. You feel the fear and deprivations that Deo experienced as if you are there with him. I have not read any of Kidders other books, but based on this one I will read more of his work.
Deo survived in part out of sheer luck, that occurs several times over the course of the time he was fighting to survive in Africa and New York City. But, maybe that is what it takes to avoid a genocide that killed so many. He often just happened to meet the right person, who was willing to extend to him just a small bit of help at a crucial time. Or, just dumb luck, like the time when he returned to Africa to visit and was not able to change his plane ticket for a short flight from Rwanda to Burundi for a bus ticket to travel with a friend, and then the bus was destroyed. It makes me think hard about how I should live my life, and I think I am more likely now to try to help people who desperately need it, even if only in small ways. You never know the full effect that your efforts can produce.
Show More
working in a grocery store on the Upper East Side, as a delivery boy for $15 a day. He meets a woman in a church rectory while making a delivery, a former nun who decides to help. She finds him a benevolent couple who let him live with them in their Soho loft and help pay for his education at Columbia. At first, it is difficult for him to even talk about what he saw and what happened to him in Burundi, how he survived. But, eventually we hear about it. When the violence broke out, he fled on foot for Rwanda, avoiding the Hutu militias on the way. There he lived in refugee camps for months, hiding among the mostly Hutu refugees by keeping quiet and to himself. He was so ill that people left him alone for the most part. The last part of the book describes a trip he took with the author back to Africa in 2006, revisiting many of the areas that he passed through and stayed in during that time.
This book is an excellent account of the horrors that occurred in that part of Africa at the time. You feel the fear and deprivations that Deo experienced as if you are there with him. I have not read any of Kidders other books, but based on this one I will read more of his work.
Deo survived in part out of sheer luck, that occurs several times over the course of the time he was fighting to survive in Africa and New York City. But, maybe that is what it takes to avoid a genocide that killed so many. He often just happened to meet the right person, who was willing to extend to him just a small bit of help at a crucial time. Or, just dumb luck, like the time when he returned to Africa to visit and was not able to change his plane ticket for a short flight from Rwanda to Burundi for a bus ticket to travel with a friend, and then the bus was destroyed. It makes me think hard about how I should live my life, and I think I am more likely now to try to help people who desperately need it, even if only in small ways. You never know the full effect that your efforts can produce.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Niecierpek
When I opened the book, I wasn’t sure I was prepared for yet one more story of flight from genocide in Africa, but before I knew it, I was deeply involved in the life of Deo, a young medical intern who fled Burundi posing as a coffee trader during the ethnic massacre in the country. He found
After many twists and turns, he studied at Columbia then started medicine, met Paul Farmer (Mountains Beyond Mountains), with whom he shared a passion for medicine, and got deeply engaged in spreading health care in Burundi. In many ways in fact, Doe resembles Farmer in his single-mindedness and perseverance.
A fascinating read. Well written too.
Show More
himself in New York with $200 in his pocket, no language apart from fluent French and no contacts. After going through immigration, and arousing sympathy from a baggage handler from Senegal, he lived with him in squatters’ apartment in Harlem, and later after the Senegalese had gone back to his country, together with the homeless in Central Park. He worked for 15 dollars a day (in 1994!) delivering groceries, and was sick and traumatized. He was afraid to tell anybody his story for fear of reprisals to himself and to his family back home. Plagued by intense stress and malnutrition, he was ready to die when he befriended a church worker who finally helped him. It wasn’t easy to help him though, as he was still too afraid to reveal the truth to anybody – about his past and his present alike. His past was horrific, and he wasn’t ready to let anybody in on the story just yet, but then gradually he did. After many twists and turns, he studied at Columbia then started medicine, met Paul Farmer (Mountains Beyond Mountains), with whom he shared a passion for medicine, and got deeply engaged in spreading health care in Burundi. In many ways in fact, Doe resembles Farmer in his single-mindedness and perseverance.
A fascinating read. Well written too.
Show Less
LibraryThing member khiemstra631
This story of a refugee, Deo, from the genocide in Burundi starts off really strongly. I thought it would be one of the best books of the year, but it does lose some of its pizazz before it ends. Nonetheless, it is a riveting story of one man's escape from an African civil war through a flight to
Show More
New York City, where he landed with $200 and no English skills. Within two years he had enrolled at Columbia University, from which he eventually graduated. He then went to medical school at Dartmouth but had not yet finished med school at the time of the book's publication. It's an incredible story and well worth the time it takes to read. Show Less
Awards
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — 2009)
National Book Critics Circle Award (Finalist — Nonfiction — 2009)
Books for a Better Life Award (Winner — 2009)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction — 2009)
San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year (Nonfiction — 2009)
Christian Science Monitor Best Book (Nonfiction — 2009)
Village Voice Favorite Books (2009)
All Iowa Reads (2012)
Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year (Nonfiction — 2009)
Oregonian Top Ten Book (2009)