Book Review: The Translator by Daoud Hari
Posted in Academic Pursuits and tagged with America, Book Review, Darfur, Europe, Genocide on June 22, 2010
The Translator: a Tribesman’s Memoir of Darfur is the story of Daoud Hari, a member of the persecuted Zaghawa tribe, who returns to the Darfur region of Sudan.
Hari had been in Egypt and Israel seeking employment in order to provide for his family, but got arrested for doing so illegally. After being held in Israel and then Egypt, he is finally going to be handed over to Sudan.
Fortunately, with some help, he was able to escape to avoid being handed over to the government that wants his people dead. Now released, he wants nothing more than to see his family again.
Yet, he doesn’t make that his only goal. He decides to do what he can to help his people by using his language skills to translate for researchers and journalists who will get the word out about the genocide.
I must admit, I was quite ignorant about this region. This was a great introduction for me in to what Hari describes as the complex genocide in Darfur.
Of course, the details of the genocide are quite appalling. But Hari does a good job of not focusing on the graphic natures of the horrors nor glossing them over.
He had some interesting things to say about genocide prevention and the American government. He had good things to say about the American people, but not necessarily about the American government. He says, “The proof of a democracy is surely whether or not a government represents the hearts of its people” (p. 86). In context, he seems to be implying that the American government in fact does not represent its people, as the people want action in Darfur, but the government remains inactive.
I also find it saddening to see the role that imperialism had on the region and the negative consequences still felt today. Of course, I’ve seen the negative impact of forcing “superior” Western political ideals on other peoples in my studies of other regions (even after the Western nation relinquishes sovereignty), but here’s just another example. We in the United States and Western Europe can’t just sit back and point our fingers…our nations aren’t innocent.
If you are as ignorant about Darfur as I was, I’d recommend this book (and even if you know something about the conflict in Darfur). It’s short and personable, and a easy way to begin to grasp the complexities and atrocities in Darfur.
Twitter: cammyconfesses
Says:
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
I love memoirs and I know next to nothing about this issue so I should definitely read this! Adding to my ever growing Amazon shopping cart now :)
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:58 am
Cammy: Good. It really is a great intro, I think, because it’s not over the top or too long.
June 25th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
I think I’m ready for another serious book. I read a few too many Holocaust books a few months ago and got so depressed I had to numb my mind with New York City so called ‘chick lit.’ Now I’ve had it with the petty tales of wealth and fashion and need to read something like this. Thanks for sharing.
June 30th, 2010 at 12:59 am
I always enjoy reading your reviews. I finally quit trying to write book reviews. I can’t use words well. You (and others) seem to put books into such concise narratives and I know whether or not I want to pick up the book and read it. My words just trip over themselves and say, “It was such a good book.”
I know so little that I would consider myself ignorant on this subject. I’m going to look for this book. You’ve made me want to read it. I will probably have trouble with the parts dealing with the genocide.
By the way, I’m getting ready to start “Start Here” now that I’ve finished the first book the Harris brothers wrote. I already had it and it seemed like the logical choice to read it first. Thanks for sending it to me.
Twitter: lambdakennels1
Says:
August 23rd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Darfur is a good case of the law of unintended consequences. The United States and Russia created that situation with our imperialism, and Britain before us. Ignoring it is not the solution. Charging in there wielding a heavy club is not, either.
Twitter: mirabelle22
Says:
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:15 am
Sounds like a very interesting book on Darfur. Hope their situation improves now that the people of Egypt and other arab countries are protesting.