With What Remains by Lesley Bilinda, 0340908734, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

Compelling and insightful reading

This book makes for compelling reading - it depicts the intense journey that Lesley went on, searching for truth in Rwanda, in a tightly written and page-turning style. The book also delivers an insight into the emotions and thought processes that went on in some extremely stressful situations. Not many of us could face the horrors that Lesley confronted and come out of the situation with grace and thoughtfulness; and put such a cohesive account together of such a painful journey.

I have to declare an personal interest in this book - in that I was the cameraman on the same trip, filming for the documentary 'Hunting My Husband's Killers'(now released on DVD). For me, the book is not only an accurate account of the trip, but a window into a world which many of us will never encounter and a brutally honest assesment of the hard choices and emotional reactions made in the face of one of the worst atrocities of the last decade.

Freedom & Inspiration

Lesley Bilinda has demonstrated, yet again, an extraordinary talent to write a story that is so personal yet objective and original.
The conclusions she reaches have far reaching implications for our war torn world, in particular the "war on terrorism". I hope our political leaders and opinion formers will read and reflect seriously on its key messages
This book gives fresh insights which, I believe, can lead to new freedoms...
1. Freedom to move on from great hurts and "make music with what remains".
2. Freedom by embracing the truth, however painful.
3. Freedom from the shame of failure.
4. Freedom through the receiving of forgiveness.
5. Freedom by the giving of forgiveness, even when the need is uncertain, unwanted or even rejected! As Lesley says "forgiveness addresses the imbalance of power"
6. Freedom to seriously rethink our attitudes to those who commit even the most horrific of acts.

Most of us knew little or nothing about Rwanda before 1994. Perhaps for some the genocide proved the "non existence" of a loving God.
With the passing of ten years Lesley's book adds much to her previous, excellent book "The Colour of Darkness".

Lesley’s insights, from her position of unenviable empathy, beg to be taken seriously and, I believe, prove to be an invaluable contribution to world peace. That is my modest claim!

The reality is that there are many Rwandans who are making music with what remains and are, in Lesley’s final words have become "an inspiration"!
Having encountered some of the "inspirational" people Lesley refers to I have experienced a fresh hope in life itself!

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