Tears Of The Desert: A Memoir Of Survival In Darfur (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
The writing skills are more than adequate but not at a 5 star level, but little else could push me to cut this one from the full load reward. Good Earth, and Snowflower and the Secret Fan territory here.Halima tells her own life's story in this non-fiction memoir of her girlhood in Darfur and the events she experienced until 2011. No spoilers, and that is no easy feat. But this book holds incredible honesty from the heart AND from the intellect.Reading like an Anthropology Ethnography of her Zaghawa tribe from the Sudanese desert, it yet reveals stupendous levels of detail and base cognition of her own world. Not only hers, but that of her clan (3 basic clans make up the whole of the Zaghawa). The deep nuance achieved for her Grandmother, Father, brothers- that alone is enough to sustain interest. Not just in personality, but in the onus of their "eyes" to connection, daily actions and future plans, but absolutely in the belief of what they "know" about themselves, as well. This all in a family unit that lives in close quarters and within a mesh of 24/7 economic, educational, aspirational, physical entwining. Few secrets remain.Her connection with and support and love by her Father is explained and celebrated to the point it deserves. A fair and savvy man in herding, trading and with intelligent good intent as his base, his character became Halima's support and empowerment.The honesty and bravery in telling this factual story, right now in this era of double talk and generic labeling to cause or blame! With all that she has been through, I believe the most courage will be needed in what comes ahead for Halima.If reality of life for girls who experience genitalia mutilation, called female circumcision, is impossible for your perusal, than you will have difficulty with some aspects here. Put it on a scale, at least, to the foot breaking in "Snowflower". But consider that 140 million women on this Earth live this and have not just read about it. Nearly all of those on the scale of Halima's complete removal, and almost entirely within the continent of Africa. Halima has a white eyelash from birth, which makes her lucky and special. She is the only child of her parents for 5 years and becomes her father's heart. Her love of learning inspires her Father to support her in a course to become, eventually, a medical doctor. Her travails in schools and in transport are a delightful book in itself. Schooling is SO different in various cultures, that all of these years were enjoyable to read about. Her groups of friends, and divisions of competitions- never a "whole". Cultural clash in essence exists predominantly in each aspect of life. Style, gender relationships, self-identity, neighborhood style and interaction, electrical or mechanical use, food- you name it. (And believe me, not any different than areas holding 4 or 5 ethnic and racial divides on the South and West sides of Chicago in this and the last century.) Over some years Janjaweed (Arabic Islamic Jihad) topples the short lived democratic government and Halima's life becomes more difficult. It little matters that her people are also Muslim, because they are considered "Black slaves and dogs". The last quarter of the book tells of her girl school's raid and her doctoring of the victims, her village's fate of her witness, and the aftermath to her escape out of Africa. (She and all of her relatives are on a hit list as prime enemies, but absolutely in connection to her, herself.) So they must completely separate. Her Mother and sister going to Chad cousins. Some known details are written up in after notes. As of 2011, she is still not knowing locations or even if they or her brothers are alive. Her exact legal processing to become an English citizen is also in the last parts of the book.Horror! Oh yes, horror of war and genocide. But there is far, far more in this memoir. And that's why I had to give it a 5 star. It will remain in my memory. The clouds of locust, the "bad" goat- all of it. But most of all it is her moral core, levels of supreme honesty and bravery that I will remember. I sure hope her message is heard. The world ignores the beheadings of children and burning of babies, as someone else's problem. Opening her difficult and so deeply revealing life's story, may help the world to know what cores the tragedy that is prevailing. This is one of the books that I started and could not stop! The vividness of the events happening in the story is amazing. Halima Bashir's determination to ensure that the women in her land remained dignified, despite the odds that were against them, is so incredible. Throughout her story, she is out to show that women, especially in regions where there is gender inequality, contribute just as much as the men, within society. After reading the book, as a man or as a woman, first your heart goes out to the people of Sudan and secondly you just want to continue with her quest or do something similar and make a difference in the community.
What do You think about Tears Of The Desert: A Memoir Of Survival In Darfur (2008)?
I learned a lot about the situation in Darfour . This book is painful at times but I loved it
—BOTDF
Heartbreaking. Real. Still an issue. Wonderfully written.
—Anke
Incredibly sad.... Such an eye opening read!
—Abdulkadir1313
