History is diverse, and there is always a margin where you can never stop learning from it. So, if you’ve started to gain a keen interest in the former times, especially in the era when wars and epic battles regained supremacy, here are some memoirs that narrate the stories stunningly:
Women Caught in the Crossfire: One Woman’s Quest for Peace in South Sudan
“Women Caught in the Crossfire” is co-authored by Abuk Jervas Makuac and Susan Lynn Clark. This memoir book tells the story of resilient and courageous women who faced down and overcame every obstacle thrust in their path by relentless civil war and ultimately emerged as advocates for peace.
This memoir presents an eyewitness victim account from the South Sudanese civil war from 1983 to 2005 and through to the continued violent conflicts plaguing the young nation today. Women Caught in Crossfire is one of the best books that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Narrated by the survivor in real time, the book’s message is timeless, not just bringing us to know the terrors of war but also teaching us how to stand fearless in times of need and ultimately transform suffering into action to create a better world.
The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience
Written by Mark Bixler, The Lost Boys of Sudan brings us the story of four refugee boys who had been separated from their families during the conflict that ravaged Sudan since 1983 and resettled in Atlanta.
The author has done an exceptional job in discussing the history in his book while also explaining how the boys felt as they experienced everything all at once, hoping to acquire an education.
Inside the Hotel Rwanda
Co-authored by Kerry Zukus and Edouard Kayihura, Hotel Rwanda narrates the heroic tale of the hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina, who single-handedly managed to save the lives of the refugees who sought the Hotel des Milles Collines for shelter during Rwanda’s genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
The author himself gives testimony to these events, Edouard Kayihura, a survivor who witnessed those 100 days within the walls of the infamous hotel.
Shake Hands with the Devil
A force commander’s take on the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda in the hopes that he was sent to achieve between the two warring parties shatters as he sees the brutal and chaotic display of the Sudanese civil war and genocide in the past decade.
The author, Romeo Dallaire, rescued thousands, but his call for help gets shunned. In the book, the author brings to life the essence of historical fiction that sheds light on difficulties and hardships that the world community chose to ignore and how he had to face challenges to save whoever he could.
The Hospital by the River
The Hospital by the River, written by Catherine Hamlin, narrates a tale that started with a small midwifery school in Ethiopia by the author and her sister, Reg Hamlin. 50 years later, the author is still there and is running one of the most outstanding medical programs in the world. The book has wonderfully described how the lives of several women were better and recreated due to intense medical care.
Don’t Look Back: A Memoir of War, Survival, and My Journey from Sudan to America
Co-authors Keely Hutton and Achut Deng curated “Don’t Look Back,” a story that unravels Deng’s life after the deadly attack in South Sudan, which left her without a family. Her journey began when she lived in the camp for 10 years, after which she was allowed to resettle in the United States.
River Spirit
A tale that spans over a lifetime, River Spirit is one of the most powerful stories of corruption, coming of age and unshakeable devotion. Leila Aboulela describes how the voices of seven men and women get inextricably linked as the people in Sudan get caught in the crosshairs of imperialism.
Ghost Season
Ghost Season, written by Fatin Abbasi, is a dynamic novel that connects five characters caught in the skirmish at the Sudanese border. In his book, the author explores the perilous and porous nature of the borders. He has further discussed the religious, ethnic and national nature of the challenges and the consequences for people who cross them, all the while the five of them are fighting for a chance at their life.
What Is the What
What Is the What is an epic novel that recounts the life of Valentino Achak Deng, who was forced to flee his village in Sudan at the tender age of seven. They embarked on a dangerous journey spanning hundreds of miles on foot, evading militias, government airstrikes, and predatory animals, traversing the deserts of three nations in search of freedom.
Upon finally resettling in the United States, Valentino encounters a life bursting with promise yet fraught with heartache and frightening new trials. This moving, suspenseful, and surprisingly humorous narrative sheds light on the experiences of countless individuals through the remarkable journey of one extraordinary man.
Conclusion
Here is a compiled list of books you can read to understand how the war affected and, to this day, exhibits its consequences. Let these books be a narrator and a teacher to bring peace and ease to as many lives as possible!