Warren FitzGerald

Very nearly 5 stars.

After an 'iffy' start I really got into this book and couldn't put it down. I even got to like the character of Ashley who was far from endearing in the early chapters. Clementine was adorable from the first of course! What dropped the star for me was the constant reference to music of a certain era, which didn't interest me at all.
Having done some research about the author I realise he is a professional musician - you can listen to his music on UTube. The short UTube show more description on Amazon also provided some interesting background including the comparative references to cutting - self harming versus being chased by men with machettes.

Ashley is a loser, holed up in a crumby block of flats in a cheap area of London, he makes a living giving singing tuition. Clementine is a happy 10 year old in Rwanda with her parents (one Hutu, one Tutsi) and her brother Pio.
Ashley learns of the genocide through newspaper reports and TV, taking only a cursory interest, Clementine experiences it first hand.
We are nearly 2/3 through the book before their paths cross.
How, and with what outcome I shall leave to the reader.
Suffice to say this is an excellent read and quite an eye opener.

Wonderful to hear the author state in his video that 15 years later the Hutus and the Tutsis are living peacably together again as Rawandans. I'd love him to write more fiction that might perhaps fill in that gap in time. show less