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An Ordinary Man
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
12 posts | 10 read | 9 to read
April 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide--Read more about the conflict and the amazing life story of the man who inspired the film Hotel Rwanda in this remarkable account Readers who were moved and horrified by Hotel Rwanda will respond even more intensely to Paul Rusesabaginas unforgettable autobiography. As Rwanda was thrown into chaos during the 1994 genocide, Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, turned the luxurious Hotel Milles Collines into a refuge for more than 1,200 Tutsi and moderate Hutu refugees, while fending off their would-be killers with a combination of diplomacy and deception. In An Ordinary Man, he tells the story of his childhood, retraces his accidental path to heroism, revisits the 100 days in which he was the only thing standing between his guests and a hideous death, and recounts his subsequent life as a refugee and activist.
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BarbaraBB
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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Pickpick

The genocide in #Rwanda in 1994 made a deep impression at the time but after reading this book I realize how much I didn‘t know or understood. 800,000 people (mostly Tutsi‘s) were literally slaughtered in 3 months time 😨.
The author of this book managed to safe more than 1,000 people by offering them refuge in the hotel he was manager of.
An impressive book that opened my eyes once again.

#ReadingAfrica2022 🇷🇼

Libby1 I believe the movie Hotel Rwanda is based on this book. 2y
Texreader Great review. I recently put it on my tbr list 2y
Texreader @Libby1 It‘s a great movie 2y
See All 13 Comments
LeahBergen Is the Kokeshi doll from your latest trip? ❤️ 2y
Megabooks Utterly devastating time for Rwanda. I love your shelves though. 2y
Librarybelle So impactful 2y
BarbaraBB @Libby1 It is! He mentions it in the book. 2y
BarbaraBB @LeahBergen Yes! I‘m so happy with it! 2y
BarbaraBB @Megabooks Thank you ❤️ 2y
thereflectiveflaneur Have you read We did Nothing by Linda Polman - highly recommend! 2y
BarbaraBB @thereflectiveflaneur I haven‘t but I am very interested in the subject. This author has a lot to say about the role of the UN too 2y
Suet624 800,000. Unimaginable. Heartbreaking. 2y
70 likes2 stack adds13 comments
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BarbaraBB
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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So true!

Megabooks Great quote! 2y
60 likes1 comment
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BarbaraBB
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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#WeeklyForecast 38/22

I just started Seven Moons for the #Bookerprize2022. It looks challenging. If there‘s time I want to start the tagged book for #ReadingAfrica2022.

Cinfhen I have Seven Moons too but im just not inspired to read it!!! Curious to see how you get on with it!! Your NF looks good 😊 2y
Megabooks Great picks for the week! 2y
BookwormM I really enjoyed 7 moons hope you do 🤞 2y
See All 7 Comments
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen @BookwormM I bailed after only 20 pages… I just couldn‘t do it. So many pov‘s, names, I had no clue what it was about and am not in the mood to find out 🤷🏻‍♀️ #hibernation 2y
Vansa I'm not surprised 😂I find Karunatilaka quite unreadable, honestly, and some of his metaphors are so idiotic, I'm baffled an editor let them through.A lot of modern novels could do with extensive editing,in my opinion,and authors should be told not to be so self indulgent! 2y
Cinfhen I fear I‘m gonna be in the same headspace as you, Barbara!!! And I agree @Vansa some editors are really preening to their authors 2y
BookwormM Oh no that is a shame maybe when the headspace is right … 2y
66 likes1 stack add7 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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Finishing this. I was doing some research and it appears that Rusesabagina is not very well respected in Rwanda. He is a controversial figure, with some saying his story is not true. I do not feel good giving it a rating with this local issue. I did finish and thought the writing was good. But I will need to do more research. In Uganda in '19 Rwanda has a fantastic new image of being aware of the past while not living in it. A must visit place.

20 likes2 stack adds
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BookmarkTavern
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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📕 An Ordinary Man by Paul Rusesabagina
✒️ Mark Oshiro
🎥 Ocean‘s 8
📺 Once Upon a Time (just the first season 😆)
🎤 OneRepublic
🎶 Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland

#manicmonday #letterO @JoScho

JoScho Thanks for playing 💛 4y
45 likes1 comment
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BookmarkTavern
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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#7Days7Books Day 6

7 books that left an impression on me with no explanation.

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goodbyefrancie
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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Cleaning, laundry, cooking, and catching up. Audio books help. #Overdrive

Texreader Same here!! Thank heavens for audiobooks! 6y
sk888888 Read this last year, before a trip to Rwanda. Very interesting, and we were able to ask our cab driver to take us by the hotel, which is still there. 6y
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Nute
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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Pickpick

Day 12 - Foreign Country: How much would one person do to save the life of another? What if what you did put yourself & your family at risk? How much would be risked for a stranger? Everyday there are many stories of hatred & violence on the news. However, there are unheard stories of extraordinary courage, bravery & humanity. This is such a story...one man who would not look away during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Recommended!
#ReadingResolutions

MicheleinPhilly I‘ve never read the book but Hotel Rwanda was an extraordinary film. 7y
Lesliereads We need more stories of courage, bravery, and loving humanity! 7y
BellaBookNook I agree with you that we need more stories that inspire. Will have to check this out! 7y
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Nute @MicheleinPhilly The book is more autobiographical informing the reader of Paul Rusesabagina‘s backs tory. The impact of the film had to deal with his decision and actions as the hotel manager, and you are absolutely correct, the film was outstanding. I read the book first and I liked knowing more about him. It shed light on his character and the strength that he possessed to do what he did. 7y
Nute @Lesliereads @BellaBookNook Yes, our ears need to hear more stories of courage, our eyes need to see more examples of bravery, our minds need more words of inspiration and uplift, and our hearts need to overflow with more feelings of loving humanity. 7y
CSeydel I read another book that covers the events of the genocide and includes Rusesabagina‘s story - highly recommend: 7y
Nute @CSeydel Thanks for the recommendation. The book title is enough to induce a sorrow-filled emotion. These are difficult stories but all the witness accounts of the world‘s atrocities should be read by as many people as possible so that we are aware and we remember and we never forget. I‘ll check out your recommendation. 7y
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BookmarkTavern
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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#inspiring When I was a senior in high school, we had to do a thesis project before graduating. I had just seen Hotel Rwanda for an AP History extra credit assignment, so I chose to design a website to compare and contrast the Holocaust of WWII, the Rwandan genocide of 1994, and the Armenian genocide of the early 20th century. I was an emotional wreck the rest of the year, but I was proud of my end results. #photoadaynov16 @RealLifeReading

Texreader I can only imagine how very depressing but valuable that must have been. Tough age to get that dark into human psychology. 8y
17 likes1 comment
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BookmarkTavern
An Ordinary Man: An Autobiography | Paul Rusesabagina, Tom Zoellner
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#memorablememoirs to make you cry and to make you smile. #booktober @RealLifeReading Also, much thanks to @rebeccaschinsky for mentioning Terry Tempest Williams so many times on the Book Riot podcasts, I just had to go out and buy a book.

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