“Strength in What Remains” tells the story of Deo, a Burundian medical student caught up in the horror of a genocidal civil war. Deo escapes one situation after another, in what in hindsight must appear as divine intervention. With luck, the help of both friends and strangers, and an enormous amount of pluck, Deo eventually boards a plane in Burundi and gets to New York City. There his flight continues, though on a different level, as he navigates the strangeness of this huge city.
In time, Deo befriends many good people, including the well known Paul Farmer of “Mountains Beyond Mountains” fame. Tracy Kidder meets Deo and at some point begins to write down and document his journey. Kidder and Deo return to Burundi for an emotional, even frightening return to the scenes of Deo’s flight.
I’ve heard many stories like Deo’s. I’ve met people who fled the horrors of Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Congo…the list goes on. Through PathLight I work with those who were refugees of the Guatemalan Civil War. So I’m not surprised by Deo’s story. It’s fascinating and sad and inspiring all at once…but it’s not all that different than others.
What makes Deo’s story unique, or at least the form of the story in this book, is the deep insight that accompanies Deo’s tale. He’s a bright, thoughtful, and self-aware man who has partnered with a brilliant writer to create a story that is more than just a narrative about horrors and flight. It’s a story of philosophy, in some ways, as Deo reflects on “why”. How could such horrors happen? Where is God? Where is goodness? Where is reason? Deo becomes transparent, sharing his story along with his thoughts, feelings, and deepest reflections. That’s what makes this book unique from many others.
Highly recommended, this book deserves to be on your nightstand.
