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Left to Tell  By  cover art

Left to Tell

By: Immaculee Ilibagiza, Steve Erwin
Narrated by: Lisa Renee Pitts
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Publisher's summary

In 1994, Immaculee Ilibagiza's world was ripped apart when her native country of Rwanda descended into a bloody genocide. Her family was brutally murdered during a killing spree that lasted three months and claimed the lives of nearly a million Rwandans.

Miraculously, Immaculee survived the slaughter. For 91 days, she and seven other women huddled silently together in the cramped bathroom of a local pastor while hundreds of machete-wielding killers hunted for them. It was during those endless hours of unspeakable terror that Immaculee forged a profound and lasting relationship with God.

The triumphant story of this remarkable woman's journey through the darkness of genocide will inspire anyone whose life has been touched by fear, suffering, and loss.

©2006 Immaculee Ilibagiza and Steve Erwin (P)2006 Hay House

Critic reviews

"Ilibagiza's remarkable path to forgiving the perpetrators and releasing her anger is a beacon to others who have suffered injustice....This book is a precious addition to the literature that tries to make sense of humankind's seemingly bottomless depravity." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Left to Tell

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

What a triumphant spirit

This book was flawless and although what the author experienced was a million times worse - I still felt like I was right there with her on that bathroom floor. At times I felt I couldn't go on listening and sometimes did stop the recording but I knew I had to finish - if she could experience it and come out on the other side stronger, wiser and closer to God - then I could simply listen. This story of courage has forever changed me and the way I view the world.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Compellling, Inspirational and Fascinating

I resisted reading this book, thinking that any story about the genocide in Rawanda would be too depressing for me to cope with. I was wrong. This story is written and narrated so well, that I listened to the book in one day. Gory details are not what the author focuses on. It is her story of the power of forgiveness and faith. I was so deeply touched by this story that I had to review my own view on faith. I highly recommend this story.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

Very well written, very well read.
I could feel every bit that was described. The most inspiring book I have listened to.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating! Enthralling! Uplifting!

Immacul?e Ilibagiza's "Left to Tell" is required reading for any of us suffering from bitterness, self-pity, PTSD or any other wallowing disorder. The book moves quickly feeding one with food for thought. The first person, non-fiction narrative makes me wonder how much immunity I have to the infection that inspired the killing spree in Rwanda. It makes me ponder as to whether I would have the strength and virtue of Pastor Murinzi the "local pastor" who harbored Immacul?e Ilibagiza.

A great read for anyone desirous of breaking stereotypes. Immacul?e's story lacks the taint of bitterness that most of us would be incapable of eliminating in the recounting of such a horrific tale.

Anyone who thinks such things couldn't happen in "their" town needs to fall on their knees and pray that it doesn't.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good Book, bad over look

They book itself was great. But the thing I can’t understand is where the rest of the book? It only gave me chapters 1 - 4?!? Where is the rest?!?

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Left to Tell Review

I haven’t even finished the first chapter and I’ve noticed that there are parts missing. For example, on page 6, it goes from “made me feel warm and happy,” to “while my parents weren’t ardent Catholics” (page7). It’s just more work than I expected to do when I paid for this, trying to find where the gap starts again.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

This book was so deeply moving. To hear the horrific events of the authors life and yet how she found God and forgiveness in it all is amazing. If you want to have your perception shifted this is the book for you. I listened to this book in 2 days. I couldn’t wait to get back to every chance I got! Highly recommend!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well Worth Your Time

"Inspring" in no way does this book justice, but it is inspiring. It is also horrifically tragic--but lest that scare the timid-hearted off--rest assured that the horror and tragedy are presented in extremely non-graphic and bitter-LESS form. Much more could be said, but I'll quit at that.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Who could not be touched by this story

This was a hard story to listen to, but so worth it! I really loved how the narrator made feel as she read the authors words I really felt inspired after listening to this book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

All I can say is BUT GOD!

What a POWERFUL display of God’s love, forgiveness and redemption. The Author was such an excellent storyteller. She drew me in from start to finish as though I walked through this journey with her. Though I could NEVER imagine the atrocity she experienced my heart pained when hers pained in the story and rejoiced when hers rejoiced. May God continue to bless her and her work.

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3 people found this helpful