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The End of Where We Begin
Veronica is a teenager when civil war erupts in South Sudan. Lonely and friendless after the death of her father, she finds solace in her first boyfriend, and together they flee across the city when the fighting breaks out. On the same night, Daniel, the son of a colonel, also makes his escape, but finds himself stranded by the River Nile, alone and vulnerable. Lilian is a young mother, who runs for her life holding the hand of her little boy Harmony until a bomb attack wrenches them apart, forcing her to trek on alone.
After epic journeys of endurance, their lives cross in Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world s largest refugee camp. There they meet James, a counsellor who helps them to find light and hope in the darkest of places.
The End of Where We Begin is a gripping and intimate true life account of three young people whose promising lives are brutally interrupted by war. It documents their heart-breaking and inspiring battle to keep moving on through the extremes of attack, injury, exile and trauma. It is a story of the bonds of community and resilience in adversity a powerful message for our troubled times.
After epic journeys of endurance, their lives cross in Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world s largest refugee camp. There they meet James, a counsellor who helps them to find light and hope in the darkest of places.
The End of Where We Begin is a gripping and intimate true life account of three young people whose promising lives are brutally interrupted by war. It documents their heart-breaking and inspiring battle to keep moving on through the extremes of attack, injury, exile and trauma. It is a story of the bonds of community and resilience in adversity a powerful message for our troubled times.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2020
28 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind Russell
11 books11 followersRosalind Russell is a journalist and editor with two decades of international experience. She has worked as a foreign correspondent for Reuters and the Independent in East Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Her reporting included the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and Myanmar’s Saffron Revolution. Her first book, Burma’s Spring, was described by Asian Affairs as “reportage at its best” and reached number one in the UK Kindle non- fiction bestseller list. She lives in London with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 20, 2021
This is an extraordinary book by former Reuters correspondent Rosalind Russell. Though it’s non-fiction, it reads like fiction. It tells the stories of three young refugees, Veronica, Lilian and Daniel, each living in different parts of South Sudan, forced to flee their homes following the eruption of civil war in 2013, not long after South Sudan gained its independence in 2011. They are part of a generation robbed of the chance to grow up in a new, hopeful nation.
Their lives are brutally interrupted and survival is their only goal as they each make painstaking and terrifying journeys to Bidi Bidi, a UN settlement camp in Uganda where they begin a process of attempting to rebuild their lives and heal.
If ever you needed a reminder that you live a safe and privileged life with everything you need (food on the table, shoes on your feet, access to basic medical care), this book is a shot in the arm. The author humanises and personalises the plight of refugees.
I held my children closer after reading this book. I cried many tears for Veronica, Lilian and Daniel who were dealt the toughest of hands, yet who believe there were others worse off than them and often feel undeserving of the kindness shown to them by their new community at the settlement. The book details their lives right up to and including the covid19 pandemic, which was a further cruel blow.
If you’re dubious about a white woman writing about a Black African refugee experience, please put those concerns aside. As she states at the outset, the author is not a part of the narrative. The story is told from the perspective of these three young people, with the feelings they felt, as imparted to her.
Beautifully written, humbling, harrowing, heart-rending, eye-opening, essential reading. These are stories that need to be told and need to be heard. I don’t say this often: I would urge everyone to read this book. 5/5 ⭐️
The author is sharing the proceeds of the book with the @milayaproject, a non profit organisation working with women’s collectives in the Bidi Bidi settlement, connecting them with customers for their embroidered milayas.
Their lives are brutally interrupted and survival is their only goal as they each make painstaking and terrifying journeys to Bidi Bidi, a UN settlement camp in Uganda where they begin a process of attempting to rebuild their lives and heal.
If ever you needed a reminder that you live a safe and privileged life with everything you need (food on the table, shoes on your feet, access to basic medical care), this book is a shot in the arm. The author humanises and personalises the plight of refugees.
I held my children closer after reading this book. I cried many tears for Veronica, Lilian and Daniel who were dealt the toughest of hands, yet who believe there were others worse off than them and often feel undeserving of the kindness shown to them by their new community at the settlement. The book details their lives right up to and including the covid19 pandemic, which was a further cruel blow.
If you’re dubious about a white woman writing about a Black African refugee experience, please put those concerns aside. As she states at the outset, the author is not a part of the narrative. The story is told from the perspective of these three young people, with the feelings they felt, as imparted to her.
Beautifully written, humbling, harrowing, heart-rending, eye-opening, essential reading. These are stories that need to be told and need to be heard. I don’t say this often: I would urge everyone to read this book. 5/5 ⭐️
The author is sharing the proceeds of the book with the @milayaproject, a non profit organisation working with women’s collectives in the Bidi Bidi settlement, connecting them with customers for their embroidered milayas.
April 13, 2021
The End of Where We Begin is such an insightful story into life as refugees. The ending of the book talks specifically about life during a pandemic and it really did make me realise that, even though we're missing out on so much and we're limited as to what we can do, we really do have a luxurious life in comparison and take a lot for granted.
I did get very emotional: Lillian's story as a mother who was separated from her child was just heartbreaking, and we hear about how she perseveres through her grief; David's relationship with his dad was so frustrating, but there's one scene in particular where he breaks his leg that's just so difficult to read without feeling so sick; Veronica's story about gaining an education while raising her children was hopeful and inspiring, yet still so harrowing. I think while reading this, I was hyperaware that it's a fictionalised memoir, which makes me wonder what hardships have ultimately been left out.
I do think that The End of Where We Begin is a book that we should all read, if only to learn more about the conditions that refugees are forced to live in.
Content warnings: war, poor medical conditions, rape, gang rape, loss of a child.
I did get very emotional: Lillian's story as a mother who was separated from her child was just heartbreaking, and we hear about how she perseveres through her grief; David's relationship with his dad was so frustrating, but there's one scene in particular where he breaks his leg that's just so difficult to read without feeling so sick; Veronica's story about gaining an education while raising her children was hopeful and inspiring, yet still so harrowing. I think while reading this, I was hyperaware that it's a fictionalised memoir, which makes me wonder what hardships have ultimately been left out.
I do think that The End of Where We Begin is a book that we should all read, if only to learn more about the conditions that refugees are forced to live in.
Content warnings: war, poor medical conditions, rape, gang rape, loss of a child.
February 20, 2021
This book has opened my eyes and has been written in such a beautiful way. True accounts and experiences of three refugees at the Bidi Bidi camp are narrated in a story-like form. Often in the West we forget that refugees are not numbers that we hear about on the news, propaganda or in aid campaigns. The children’s book, “My Name Is Not Refugee” really brings this to life and I kept thinking about the illustrations and sketches whilst reading this book. I am in awe of Daniel, Lilian and Veronica’s grit and resilience in fighting against odds and trying to find ways to have safety and a better life for themselves and their dependents. I can’t imagine where one finds the strength to continue, and my heart breaks for the families and individuals who build everything from scratch to lose it all again, over and over again. It makes me think about all the children who have lost their families, have had to find refuge in camps and countries miles away from their loved ones.
The book brings to attention the ignored struggles refugees have to undergo, even more so than usual, since Covid-19 has stripped away aid, counselling, resources and support. Food and medicine was already scarce since the beginning of the South Sudan civil war, but due to social distancing measures and restrictions in Uganda, it is more difficult to sanitise, get food and find activities to do. Children especially have been struggling with boredom, and with the lack of resources available at the camps, there is little hope for a brighter future. Unlike traditional narrations of the refugee crises of seeking refuge in the West, or a place far from home, we see the desperation and the hope people have in one day going back home, where they began. They don’t want to separate themselves from their land, their homes, their institutions and their people. They want to go back.
The book brings to attention the ignored struggles refugees have to undergo, even more so than usual, since Covid-19 has stripped away aid, counselling, resources and support. Food and medicine was already scarce since the beginning of the South Sudan civil war, but due to social distancing measures and restrictions in Uganda, it is more difficult to sanitise, get food and find activities to do. Children especially have been struggling with boredom, and with the lack of resources available at the camps, there is little hope for a brighter future. Unlike traditional narrations of the refugee crises of seeking refuge in the West, or a place far from home, we see the desperation and the hope people have in one day going back home, where they began. They don’t want to separate themselves from their land, their homes, their institutions and their people. They want to go back.
January 22, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I read What is the What by Dave Eggers about the Lost Boys of Sudan some time ago so I expected this to be a hard read and I was slightly concerned about being depressed by the subject matter. And yet, while it is a tough story, the writing lifts it above the mundane, difficult to read survival story. Hope lines the pages as Ms Russell quietly and with the gift of prose leads us into the lives and stories of three extraordinarily resilient young people, doing far more than surviving what life has thrown at them. I was engrossed from page one and I couldn't put it down. I thought about these people long after the book ended and feel honoured to have spent some time in their presence. This book is a gift, and one that everyone should read. It will teach you lessons about hope, honour, love and humanity. It is a book infused with spirit and compassion.
December 1, 2020
I am so glad to have discovered this book and feel that the true-life stories it contains have helped me to understand so much more about the plight of refugees from South Sudan.
The author Rosalind Russell, a journalist and former foreign correspondent, conducted extensive interviews and conversations with Veronica, Daniel and Lilian, who are the three main characters in the book, as well as many other refugees, to hear their stories and put their voices into the narrative of the book.
Through alternating chapters we follow the lives of Veronica, Daniel and Lilian from before the civil war destroyed their homes and forced them to flee for their lives up until the present day. Each of their stories are unique, fascinating and harrowing in different ways and the authenticity of their accounts felt like I was being told them first hand.
Their stories had moments of joy, of devastation and of hope and, while their experiences and lives are a world away from my very privileged one, I felt the emotional journey they took me on and am very thankful to have read their stories and learned so much about the continuing impact of the war on individual lives.
Thank you to Impress Books and Love Books Tours for the ARC.
The author Rosalind Russell, a journalist and former foreign correspondent, conducted extensive interviews and conversations with Veronica, Daniel and Lilian, who are the three main characters in the book, as well as many other refugees, to hear their stories and put their voices into the narrative of the book.
Through alternating chapters we follow the lives of Veronica, Daniel and Lilian from before the civil war destroyed their homes and forced them to flee for their lives up until the present day. Each of their stories are unique, fascinating and harrowing in different ways and the authenticity of their accounts felt like I was being told them first hand.
Their stories had moments of joy, of devastation and of hope and, while their experiences and lives are a world away from my very privileged one, I felt the emotional journey they took me on and am very thankful to have read their stories and learned so much about the continuing impact of the war on individual lives.
Thank you to Impress Books and Love Books Tours for the ARC.
November 30, 2020
This review is going to be very personal. The End of Where We Begin: A Refugee Story is beautiful non-fiction that reads like a novel. Russell tells a story of several of her “informants” from the Bidi Bidi Ugandan Refugee settlement. All her informants fled the South Sudanese civil war and entrusted Russell with sharing their journey. I was so excited to read this book in advance and now comes the personal part.
Since the Lockdown 2.0, I have been feeling quite down and my mental health wasn’t in the best shape, therefore reading this book wasn’t the easiest. Which is very much a sign of a good quality book. Reading about a civil war shouldn’t be uplifting. That is until I got to the second part of the book, where our protagonists get to the Bidi Bidi. The narrative seriously changes here, and it somehow becomes uplifting, without marginalizing the struggles and the difficulty of life there. The narrative changes because suddenly, there’s hope now. It sucks, there’s violence, there’s dirt, life is hard, they don’t have enough to eat and often they can’t trust their neighbours and they’ve lost their family, but also, there are people whom they can trust. There are camp workers who are trying to teach them through group therapy how to cope with life after trauma this big. There are neighbours who help each other. There are new friendships created. There are new opportunities, like schools or college classes, that they can apply for.
One of my favourite books (coincidentally also a refugee story) has a review on a cover that says: A book to break your heart and heal it. And honestly, I think this applies for The End of Where We Begin too.
Since the Lockdown 2.0, I have been feeling quite down and my mental health wasn’t in the best shape, therefore reading this book wasn’t the easiest. Which is very much a sign of a good quality book. Reading about a civil war shouldn’t be uplifting. That is until I got to the second part of the book, where our protagonists get to the Bidi Bidi. The narrative seriously changes here, and it somehow becomes uplifting, without marginalizing the struggles and the difficulty of life there. The narrative changes because suddenly, there’s hope now. It sucks, there’s violence, there’s dirt, life is hard, they don’t have enough to eat and often they can’t trust their neighbours and they’ve lost their family, but also, there are people whom they can trust. There are camp workers who are trying to teach them through group therapy how to cope with life after trauma this big. There are neighbours who help each other. There are new friendships created. There are new opportunities, like schools or college classes, that they can apply for.
One of my favourite books (coincidentally also a refugee story) has a review on a cover that says: A book to break your heart and heal it. And honestly, I think this applies for The End of Where We Begin too.
November 23, 2020
4.5 stars - full review on Instagram & blog next Monday!
WOW, what a book. Another book that EVERYBODY should read - I was actually heartbroken by page 17 - I didn’t cry but multiple times throughout this book I got full body goosebumps - and not in the good way 😂 In the way that symbolises how truly awful and sad a situation is.
This isn’t a quick easy read, this is a read that you have to absorb, don’t try and rush it, if anything the story that this book is based on, the real life people that this book is about, deserve your full attention.
The fact that this is a true life account of horrendous and harrowing situations which have essentially landed people in awful situations (not to add on the fact that they’ve also experienced a full covid-19 lockdown as well!) makes this such a powerful read. I feel like I should never moan about my life again.
WOW, what a book. Another book that EVERYBODY should read - I was actually heartbroken by page 17 - I didn’t cry but multiple times throughout this book I got full body goosebumps - and not in the good way 😂 In the way that symbolises how truly awful and sad a situation is.
This isn’t a quick easy read, this is a read that you have to absorb, don’t try and rush it, if anything the story that this book is based on, the real life people that this book is about, deserve your full attention.
The fact that this is a true life account of horrendous and harrowing situations which have essentially landed people in awful situations (not to add on the fact that they’ve also experienced a full covid-19 lockdown as well!) makes this such a powerful read. I feel like I should never moan about my life again.
December 9, 2020
I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review with thanks to the author, LoveBooksTours and Impress Books. This fact has in no way altered my opinion of this book.
This is a story that follows three South Sudanese refugees and their accounts of life at war and following their fleeing. We met Lillian, a bereaved widow who has been separated from her son and is working on recovering from her loss. Her story is truly one of utter grief and heartache as she hunts to be reunited with her son Harmony. During this war, however, thousands of children have been separated from their parents and the chances of reuniting, if Harmony is alive, appear bleak throughout this book. We meet her in her struggle, and it isn't softened in any way by the author. We also meet Veronica, lonely and isolated following her father's death and struggling with school, she meets Jackson who is kind and patient. Ultimately she becomes a mother at just 15. Veronica's story is one of survival when it seems impossible. Finally, we meet Daniel, a young man with a bright future. Following his graduation from a prestigious boarding school in Uganda, when the war comes for him, he is extremely injured and with the threats of losing a leg, he must return to South Sudan. Daniel shows resilience and a spirit that is hard to convey on paper but I believe Rosalind Russell writes these true accounts in such a way that their hearts and souls really do come through the pages.
I mentioned in my Instagram book tour how personal these stories felt. Often when the media or literature is portraying refugees, they are seen as some abstract notion of war, a necessary aftermath deserving of pity rather than understanding. They are seen as not human in some ways, simply being seen as nomadic beings moving from pillar to post. But the author humanises these stories, celebrating the joys and not sugarcoating the lows which I was originally worried about. This story is difficult and sad but it's so poignant and I think it should definitely be on people's list for non fiction reads.
This is a story that follows three South Sudanese refugees and their accounts of life at war and following their fleeing. We met Lillian, a bereaved widow who has been separated from her son and is working on recovering from her loss. Her story is truly one of utter grief and heartache as she hunts to be reunited with her son Harmony. During this war, however, thousands of children have been separated from their parents and the chances of reuniting, if Harmony is alive, appear bleak throughout this book. We meet her in her struggle, and it isn't softened in any way by the author. We also meet Veronica, lonely and isolated following her father's death and struggling with school, she meets Jackson who is kind and patient. Ultimately she becomes a mother at just 15. Veronica's story is one of survival when it seems impossible. Finally, we meet Daniel, a young man with a bright future. Following his graduation from a prestigious boarding school in Uganda, when the war comes for him, he is extremely injured and with the threats of losing a leg, he must return to South Sudan. Daniel shows resilience and a spirit that is hard to convey on paper but I believe Rosalind Russell writes these true accounts in such a way that their hearts and souls really do come through the pages.
I mentioned in my Instagram book tour how personal these stories felt. Often when the media or literature is portraying refugees, they are seen as some abstract notion of war, a necessary aftermath deserving of pity rather than understanding. They are seen as not human in some ways, simply being seen as nomadic beings moving from pillar to post. But the author humanises these stories, celebrating the joys and not sugarcoating the lows which I was originally worried about. This story is difficult and sad but it's so poignant and I think it should definitely be on people's list for non fiction reads.
March 21, 2021
I have never lived through a war. Never had to walk miles in fear of my life. Through the eyes of Veronica, Lillian and Daniel, coupled with the wonderful storytelling of the author, I was taken to tumultuous birth of the world’s youngest nation, South Sudan. With descriptive and nuanced story telling, I was able inhabit the world of these people, as a spectator. The story wasn’t clinically told as most of the refugee reports are, it was filled with colour and emotions. I was able empathize with these people.
History often paints the conqueror in saviour tones, but the lives they ruin are never really highlighted. They are just collateral damage on the way to a victory. The lives lost are just a statistic. The ones who have had their lives upended are also just a statistic. What this book does is so well is highlight the stories of these otherwise forgotten people. The book puts a face to the plight many people suffer that us, in our comfy lives would not even begin to comprehend. This is an important and beautiful book that speaks to the power humanity. And the will to survive when faced with the unimaginable.
I give this book five stars.
History often paints the conqueror in saviour tones, but the lives they ruin are never really highlighted. They are just collateral damage on the way to a victory. The lives lost are just a statistic. The ones who have had their lives upended are also just a statistic. What this book does is so well is highlight the stories of these otherwise forgotten people. The book puts a face to the plight many people suffer that us, in our comfy lives would not even begin to comprehend. This is an important and beautiful book that speaks to the power humanity. And the will to survive when faced with the unimaginable.
I give this book five stars.
January 31, 2021
Heartbreaking. A true account of refugees escaping the South Sudanese Civil War and how what their life is like in the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.
March 21, 2021
This book moved me so much, the stories of these young refugees were eye opening and heartbreaking and have given me a lesson in resilience. I couldn't stop reading about these individuals and their extraordinary but all-too-common journeys that brought them to live in one of the biggest refugee camps in the world.
Have bought this book for many of my friends because I couldn't recommend it enough!
Have bought this book for many of my friends because I couldn't recommend it enough!
March 16, 2021
I received this book as an ARC. I wrote a review on Amazon without copying and pasting it, so that I could post here as well.
This book was heart wrenching, yet enthralling.
I’m very skeptical about white people (re)telling the stories of BIPOC because I wonder how much of their bias will color the narrative and what will be distorted through a white lens.
However, it appears that the author was true to her word to be absent from the narrative. From the author’s note, she says “[d]espite some authorial interventions to provide political background and context, I have chosen to remain absent from the narrative and I have tried to write closely from the protagonists’ perspectives. I have attempted as far as possible to replicate the inner thoughts of my characters as they described them to me.”
In this book, she has three main characters (Veronica, Daniel and Lilian) that fled the civil war in South Sudan to find shelter in the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda.
Very quickly I was able to put to the back of my mind my skepticism and immerse myself in their stories.
It seems a wrong choice of words to say that I enjoyed this book. However, I completed this book in two sittings. The day I received it and starting late Monday night, 15 March 2021, into the early morning of Tuesday, 16 March 2021.
This book left me wanting to know more. How are they faring, coping in the pandemic? The book ends with saying that funds and resources to the camp were cut at the start of the pandemic.
I was happy the author is sharing profits: “The author will share the proceeds of this book with the Milaya Project, a non-profit organisation working with women’s collectives in Bidi Bidi settlement, connecting them with customers for their embroidered milayas. You can read more about them at milayaproject.org or follow them on Instagram @milayaproject.”
I plan to add this book to my personal library.
This book was heart wrenching, yet enthralling.
I’m very skeptical about white people (re)telling the stories of BIPOC because I wonder how much of their bias will color the narrative and what will be distorted through a white lens.
However, it appears that the author was true to her word to be absent from the narrative. From the author’s note, she says “[d]espite some authorial interventions to provide political background and context, I have chosen to remain absent from the narrative and I have tried to write closely from the protagonists’ perspectives. I have attempted as far as possible to replicate the inner thoughts of my characters as they described them to me.”
In this book, she has three main characters (Veronica, Daniel and Lilian) that fled the civil war in South Sudan to find shelter in the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Uganda.
Very quickly I was able to put to the back of my mind my skepticism and immerse myself in their stories.
It seems a wrong choice of words to say that I enjoyed this book. However, I completed this book in two sittings. The day I received it and starting late Monday night, 15 March 2021, into the early morning of Tuesday, 16 March 2021.
This book left me wanting to know more. How are they faring, coping in the pandemic? The book ends with saying that funds and resources to the camp were cut at the start of the pandemic.
I was happy the author is sharing profits: “The author will share the proceeds of this book with the Milaya Project, a non-profit organisation working with women’s collectives in Bidi Bidi settlement, connecting them with customers for their embroidered milayas. You can read more about them at milayaproject.org or follow them on Instagram @milayaproject.”
I plan to add this book to my personal library.
January 16, 2021
My goodness what an incredible read! This book is a true-life account of three young refugees fleeing from civil war in South Sudan and from the get go it is enthralling and compelling. The reader is taken on not one, but several journeys, each one of them told eloquently and honestly. These are raw, resonating stories and I think they will stay with me for a long long time. A gripping, all consuming book. Essential reading, highly recommended to anyone who likes learning about other peoples' lives.
January 8, 2021
This book is non-fiction, yet the way the author writes feels like a novel. At times it is heart-breaking, and yet the three main characters (Veronica, Daniel and Lilian) seem to find light in the darkest of places. Reading their stories has left me in total awe of their grit and determination - I often found myself rereading passages becuase I couldn't quite fathom how much they'd had to deal with in the short time they've been alive.
Everyone should read this. It's not a light-hearted easy read by any stretch of the imagination, and you may find yourself with tears in your eyes more than once but it's so worth it. It will stay with me for a long, long time. Ros writes so beautifully and has done an incredible job in telling the three tales of these refugees.
Everyone should read this. It's not a light-hearted easy read by any stretch of the imagination, and you may find yourself with tears in your eyes more than once but it's so worth it. It will stay with me for a long, long time. Ros writes so beautifully and has done an incredible job in telling the three tales of these refugees.
January 15, 2021
This story give me goosebumps and was very emotional. You cannot rush this story, you need time to read and absorb the storyline. It will make you cry.
This story is based on real life accounts of a refugee and it will make you think just how privileged you really are to live somewhere that you don’t need to struggle for the basic necessities that we all take for granted.
If you read one book to finish 2020 I recommend The end of where we began.
This story is based on real life accounts of a refugee and it will make you think just how privileged you really are to live somewhere that you don’t need to struggle for the basic necessities that we all take for granted.
If you read one book to finish 2020 I recommend The end of where we began.
February 28, 2021
I loved The End of Where We Begin. It is a beautiful, moving book about survival . With wonderful details of the life of three sudanese refugees and it actually gives us the glimpse of every refugee survival of political turbulents .
The story is a personal life experience which is shared by the survival to this author and how each of them were able to cope with the loss of people in his own ways and the author is able to translates those emotions in her writing, when i am reading i am able to see the daily life of a refugee camp through my vivid imagination .I cried when lilian loses her child and happy when in the end she met her child.The story of vivian who is trying to find a solace in her boyfriend and her shame when she came to know she was pregnant and the happiness after having a child. All of them are trying to live their life with a little happiness that they can hold .
There is still a hope in their heart ,they carry within that refugees will return to their country in the future.
When i was started reading it i was in dilemma what i have thought and what i have known about the trauma that the survival experienced will it be same whether i will be emotionally low or sad after
reading the book so yes i have felt heartache but in the end still find hope that still in the darkness of life there is a light in the end we just have to hold it and i am happy that i have read it.
Thank you for taking me a journey to this broken and imperfect world .
The story is a personal life experience which is shared by the survival to this author and how each of them were able to cope with the loss of people in his own ways and the author is able to translates those emotions in her writing, when i am reading i am able to see the daily life of a refugee camp through my vivid imagination .I cried when lilian loses her child and happy when in the end she met her child.The story of vivian who is trying to find a solace in her boyfriend and her shame when she came to know she was pregnant and the happiness after having a child. All of them are trying to live their life with a little happiness that they can hold .
There is still a hope in their heart ,they carry within that refugees will return to their country in the future.
When i was started reading it i was in dilemma what i have thought and what i have known about the trauma that the survival experienced will it be same whether i will be emotionally low or sad after
reading the book so yes i have felt heartache but in the end still find hope that still in the darkness of life there is a light in the end we just have to hold it and i am happy that i have read it.
Thank you for taking me a journey to this broken and imperfect world .
March 14, 2021
A MUST READ! If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. The End of Where We Begin tells the story of three refugees, Lillian, Daniel and Veronica as they flee from a war torn, South Sudan.
I was reluctant to read this as the overview mentioned some triggering topics but decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did. The Stories of Lillian, Daniel and Veronica kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. In addition to following each individuals story, it was educational to learn about the wars and experience of refugees as they flee and life in refugee camps.
This was the first time in a very long time that I struggled to put down a book. While not an easy read due to the subject matter, I could have easily finished this in one sitting as each individuals story was well written and told in such a respectful way. I found myself rooting for the individuals and feeling sad with each obstacle they encountered. Despite their experiences, seeing each of them persevere through adversity was a reminder to never give up.
While all their stories were moving, Lillian’s story was perhaps the most emotional for me to read and one that I thought of often. The book continues up to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which was a stark reminder that these individuals are real people and not made up characters to tell a story.
I’ve learned so much from reading this book including ways to support individuals in refugee camps. I cannot express my utmost gratitude for having the privilege to read this book and learn about Lillian, Daniel, Veronica, Asha and James.
A big thanks to the author, Ros Russell, for providing a copy for me to read as well as @Booktasters
I was reluctant to read this as the overview mentioned some triggering topics but decided to give it a try and I’m so glad I did. The Stories of Lillian, Daniel and Veronica kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. In addition to following each individuals story, it was educational to learn about the wars and experience of refugees as they flee and life in refugee camps.
This was the first time in a very long time that I struggled to put down a book. While not an easy read due to the subject matter, I could have easily finished this in one sitting as each individuals story was well written and told in such a respectful way. I found myself rooting for the individuals and feeling sad with each obstacle they encountered. Despite their experiences, seeing each of them persevere through adversity was a reminder to never give up.
While all their stories were moving, Lillian’s story was perhaps the most emotional for me to read and one that I thought of often. The book continues up to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic which was a stark reminder that these individuals are real people and not made up characters to tell a story.
I’ve learned so much from reading this book including ways to support individuals in refugee camps. I cannot express my utmost gratitude for having the privilege to read this book and learn about Lillian, Daniel, Veronica, Asha and James.
A big thanks to the author, Ros Russell, for providing a copy for me to read as well as @Booktasters
January 22, 2021
The End of Where We Begin by Rosalind Russell is a moving story about the plight of refugees and the hardships they have to endure.
Uprooted from their homes, they have to rebuild their lives from scratch in an alien place. The grief of losing a husband or a child or both combined with poverty and hunger snuff out hopes among the refugees. This book recounts the stories of three such people who, even after losing all, dared to hope, smile, and brought a smile to others’ lives.
Through the stories of Veronica, Daniel, and Lilian, Russell sketches the lives of millions of refugees whose worlds were turned upside down in moments. Many of their lives are still stuck in limbo, unable to go back to their restive countries and unable to start a new life in the host country.
The book is written in a straightforward language with extraordinary depth. The candor with which the survivors tell their stories made me feel as if I was the one interviewing them. The transition between the different points of view was smooth.
The epilogue is even more thought-provoking highlighting the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the already meagre resources in the refugee camp. This is not a light read, so, please proceed with caution. However, the book is extremely timely considering there are currently more than 70 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.
A deceptively beautiful cover betrays the heavy content inside. However, I loved reading The End of Where We Begin. Reading it resulted in a profound emotional journey for me.
It is recommended for people seeking a non-fiction book on refugee story that reads like a novel.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
Uprooted from their homes, they have to rebuild their lives from scratch in an alien place. The grief of losing a husband or a child or both combined with poverty and hunger snuff out hopes among the refugees. This book recounts the stories of three such people who, even after losing all, dared to hope, smile, and brought a smile to others’ lives.
Through the stories of Veronica, Daniel, and Lilian, Russell sketches the lives of millions of refugees whose worlds were turned upside down in moments. Many of their lives are still stuck in limbo, unable to go back to their restive countries and unable to start a new life in the host country.
The book is written in a straightforward language with extraordinary depth. The candor with which the survivors tell their stories made me feel as if I was the one interviewing them. The transition between the different points of view was smooth.
The epilogue is even more thought-provoking highlighting the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the already meagre resources in the refugee camp. This is not a light read, so, please proceed with caution. However, the book is extremely timely considering there are currently more than 70 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.
A deceptively beautiful cover betrays the heavy content inside. However, I loved reading The End of Where We Begin. Reading it resulted in a profound emotional journey for me.
It is recommended for people seeking a non-fiction book on refugee story that reads like a novel.
A complimentary digital copy was provided to me by the publisher for review. It does not affect my opinion of the book.
March 24, 2021
What an absolutely incredible book. This was such a different read to anything I’ve ever read before and oh my, was it worth it! I read 80% of it in one sitting one Sunday because I simply couldn’t put it down!
The story focuses on 3 individuals caught up in war-torn South Sudan and their refugee stories. The author explains the situations so clearly, and in great detail without the book being overly non-fictional or a heavy read.
The characters, who are based on real refugees and their stories, are so inspirational and heartbreaking all at the same time. The epilogue explains how the Covid19 pandemic has affected the refugee camps which was interesting too because it’s not what we hear about on the news and it really makes you think.
This book is a truly incredible read and I recommend it to everyone, even if it’s not your usual style of book of choice - you won’t be disappointed!
The story focuses on 3 individuals caught up in war-torn South Sudan and their refugee stories. The author explains the situations so clearly, and in great detail without the book being overly non-fictional or a heavy read.
The characters, who are based on real refugees and their stories, are so inspirational and heartbreaking all at the same time. The epilogue explains how the Covid19 pandemic has affected the refugee camps which was interesting too because it’s not what we hear about on the news and it really makes you think.
This book is a truly incredible read and I recommend it to everyone, even if it’s not your usual style of book of choice - you won’t be disappointed!
April 25, 2021
A humbling true life account of young refugees in South Sudan and Uganda, the complex contexts and dark places they have to navigate, and the amazing cases of courage, strength, resilience and the responsibility of hope they show. The story that dominates western news is 'how much our world has changed in the past 18 months". It is without considering the constant struggles and dark places many people have had to go through, some for a life time, well before covid struck. And now that the west is touched, it ripples on to refugees and people submitted to catastrophic decisions of so-called leaders.
Read this stunning, deeply powerful account of civil war's toll and what courageous humans make of it.
Read this stunning, deeply powerful account of civil war's toll and what courageous humans make of it.
February 18, 2021
This is such a powerful book hitting on three very different refugees and the battles they all face. Set in south Sudan we are with them through some years and see how they struggle but carry on no matter what.
October 31, 2021
It was a really good read and it has left me feeling very grateful for everything I have been given, however I’m not sure how to feel reading a book about the perspectives of refugees when it’s written by a white Londoner. It doesn’t mention if any of the people whose stories the author retold were compensated but a share of the profits is going to charity which is something I suppose.
December 3, 2022
I've seen people mention this book for the past 18 months and rave about it and now I see why. Following three people, from different backgrounds, who flee the civil War in South Sudan up to early 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
Well worth a read to see why people flee.
Well worth a read to see why people flee.
March 4, 2021
This book really opens your eyes to the blight of refugees and as others have said, makes you think of them more as people and individuals instead of just a stat. Easy to read and hard to put down.
February 5, 2021
An amazing beautiful book.
This is an intriguing story about refuges and all the traumatic experiences they go through. It was an eye opener and these people keep going despite all the set backs. Very wel written and the characters are well chosen.I am glad I read this book.
This is an intriguing story about refuges and all the traumatic experiences they go through. It was an eye opener and these people keep going despite all the set backs. Very wel written and the characters are well chosen.I am glad I read this book.
January 31, 2021
The End of Where We Begin is a heart wrenching story of life among ruins and devastation of civil war. The story of survivors in a refugee camp their struggles both inner and outer, the will to just go through the day and life, the hardships physical and metal; and their losses not just materialistic but also their loved ones sometimes not even knowing whether their loved ones are alive or not and if alive if they were safe.
Though the story is based in Sudan’s Bidi Bidi Camp it universal and the characters replaced by any one in any refugee camp all over the world. The war not only affects the poor and the affluent alike. And no one side is a winner. Everyone suffers. This point effectively put across by the author and vividly put across the futility of strife and war.
Though the story ends on a somewhat happy note for the protagonists; a ray of hope amongst despair. The only sore point for me was the alternating storylines which brings an interruption to the continuation but thus was soon ignored as the book progressed and pulled me in.
A story that one will read again and again
Thanks @BookTasters for this great book
Though the story is based in Sudan’s Bidi Bidi Camp it universal and the characters replaced by any one in any refugee camp all over the world. The war not only affects the poor and the affluent alike. And no one side is a winner. Everyone suffers. This point effectively put across by the author and vividly put across the futility of strife and war.
Though the story ends on a somewhat happy note for the protagonists; a ray of hope amongst despair. The only sore point for me was the alternating storylines which brings an interruption to the continuation but thus was soon ignored as the book progressed and pulled me in.
A story that one will read again and again
Thanks @BookTasters for this great book
December 4, 2020
4.5 🌟 Thank you to the author @ros__russell the publisher @impressbooks and @lovebookstours for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The End Of Where We Begin tells the extraordinary true stories of Veronica, Daniel and Lilian, three refugees within the Bidi Bidi camp in Uganda, after they have fled their homes in South Sudan. Each chapter is told from one of their POV's, starting in 2012, up to the present day. An epilogue even provides up to date details about how covid has affected the refugees.
Shining a light on recent history, this tells us about the horrors of the civil war in South Sudan and the frightening lengths young mothers like Veronica and Lilian had to go through to get to safety. Ros Russell, a journalist with many years experience, interviewed over 50 refugees over many months. As she says in her author's notes "This was a generation who should have been the first to grow up in a peaceful, independent South Sudan, but quickly they saw the lives they hoped for violently disappear".
Within the first few pages, I knew this was going to be a special and powerful book. It's not for the faint hearted but you will be rewarded with an authentic and truthful story, which is beautiful, personal, touching, heartbreaking but most importantly, hopeful. The strength and courage of the refugees shines through their stories.
I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.
And an added bonus, Ros is sharing the proceeds of this book with @milayaproject a non profit organisation working with women's collectives in Bidi Bidi.
"We have a passion for our land...Most of us don't know about greener pastures elsewhere. In the dry season, we go to the Nile. In the wet season, we graze our cattle. We think South Sudan is the best place on earth. To leave is not seen as success, it is shame"
The End Of Where We Begin tells the extraordinary true stories of Veronica, Daniel and Lilian, three refugees within the Bidi Bidi camp in Uganda, after they have fled their homes in South Sudan. Each chapter is told from one of their POV's, starting in 2012, up to the present day. An epilogue even provides up to date details about how covid has affected the refugees.
Shining a light on recent history, this tells us about the horrors of the civil war in South Sudan and the frightening lengths young mothers like Veronica and Lilian had to go through to get to safety. Ros Russell, a journalist with many years experience, interviewed over 50 refugees over many months. As she says in her author's notes "This was a generation who should have been the first to grow up in a peaceful, independent South Sudan, but quickly they saw the lives they hoped for violently disappear".
Within the first few pages, I knew this was going to be a special and powerful book. It's not for the faint hearted but you will be rewarded with an authentic and truthful story, which is beautiful, personal, touching, heartbreaking but most importantly, hopeful. The strength and courage of the refugees shines through their stories.
I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.
And an added bonus, Ros is sharing the proceeds of this book with @milayaproject a non profit organisation working with women's collectives in Bidi Bidi.
"We have a passion for our land...Most of us don't know about greener pastures elsewhere. In the dry season, we go to the Nile. In the wet season, we graze our cattle. We think South Sudan is the best place on earth. To leave is not seen as success, it is shame"
December 4, 2020
A truly powerful book that was hard to read at times. The book follows the lives of three Sudanese refugees and their hard trials they face leading to the time they get to the Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world’s largest refugee camp. It really brought a range of emotions reading the struggles of the three individuals. The book makes you think of the different circumstances people face that has different access to resources such as food. The cover is beautifully simple and draws you in and doesn’t give anything away in relation to the book.
January 16, 2022
In order for a book to be given five stars it has to change my life in some way, whether that be how I see the world, how I think or compel me to action in some way. This book did all three.
We follow the lives of three real people living in South Sudan when civil war erupts during ...
Veronica, a teenager lonely and friendless after the death of her father, she finds solace in her first boyfriend, and together they flee across the city when the fighting breaks out.
Daniel, the son of a colonel, also makes his escape, but finds himself stranded by the River Nile, alone and vulnerable.
Lilian is a young mother, who runs for her life holding the hand of her little boy Harmony until a bomb attack wrenches them apart, forcing her to trek on alone.
After epic journeys of endurance, their lives cross in Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world’s largest refugee camp.
There they meet James, a counsellor who helps them to find light and hope in the darkest of places.
This was an extraordinary book which was so intimately written by Russell that it was sobering at times to remind myself this was not a work of fiction, that these brutal events I was reading really happened. Veronica, Daniel and Lilian are young with aspirations for their future and it is heartbreaking to see just how much the war takes away from their lives.
But their stories are also full of inspiration despite surviving an insurmountable level of adversity they continue to strive forward in their lives, albeit different from what they imagined but not allowing their circumstances to restrain them in aspects they can control.
I particularly found the work James provided around mental health counselling for the occupants of the camp to be fascinating and to see the impact that had on our three narrators was inspiring.
The rich detail provided of life within the camp challenged my limited understanding of refugee camps and forced me to confront some privileged ignorance on my part in which the further reading / charitable organisations to the rear of the book I was grateful for to begin to broaden my understanding. This was especially apparent when at the end of the book we return during the time of the current pandemic and learn of the impact this once again had on their lives, something I selfishly had not ever considered during this past year.
We follow the lives of three real people living in South Sudan when civil war erupts during ...
Veronica, a teenager lonely and friendless after the death of her father, she finds solace in her first boyfriend, and together they flee across the city when the fighting breaks out.
Daniel, the son of a colonel, also makes his escape, but finds himself stranded by the River Nile, alone and vulnerable.
Lilian is a young mother, who runs for her life holding the hand of her little boy Harmony until a bomb attack wrenches them apart, forcing her to trek on alone.
After epic journeys of endurance, their lives cross in Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world’s largest refugee camp.
There they meet James, a counsellor who helps them to find light and hope in the darkest of places.
This was an extraordinary book which was so intimately written by Russell that it was sobering at times to remind myself this was not a work of fiction, that these brutal events I was reading really happened. Veronica, Daniel and Lilian are young with aspirations for their future and it is heartbreaking to see just how much the war takes away from their lives.
But their stories are also full of inspiration despite surviving an insurmountable level of adversity they continue to strive forward in their lives, albeit different from what they imagined but not allowing their circumstances to restrain them in aspects they can control.
I particularly found the work James provided around mental health counselling for the occupants of the camp to be fascinating and to see the impact that had on our three narrators was inspiring.
The rich detail provided of life within the camp challenged my limited understanding of refugee camps and forced me to confront some privileged ignorance on my part in which the further reading / charitable organisations to the rear of the book I was grateful for to begin to broaden my understanding. This was especially apparent when at the end of the book we return during the time of the current pandemic and learn of the impact this once again had on their lives, something I selfishly had not ever considered during this past year.
March 29, 2021
The End of Where We Begin By Rosalind Russell - Powerful book describes the truthful , powerful , heartwrenching and hopeful events of the refugees of the South Sudan.
I would greatly appreciate the efforts of the Author - Rosalind Russell and salute the courage of protagonists who even didn't hesitate to share their real names in account.
Book cover is awesome , Title reminds that the End is the new beginning. It gives hope to live , get education and fulfil dreams.
Civil war is quite dangerous - it's against humanity. Conflict become more dangerous if it's along tribal divisions. Protagonists described their real events , situations , hardships , struggles , harassment faced , poverty caused by unprecedented events in the country.
Actually I cried when I read the events of molestation of young girls and their devastating moments.
I won't write names of protagonists since everyone is unique in book . Every character described in the book will give you hope, love and you will learn about humanity that's bigger than religion and region.
Mentioned Covid has affected the refugees in camp so you can guess book is latest account.
I hope this book gets attention , refugees may change , place of events may change but the ordeals of refugees are remain same.
I do appreciate the Author Rosalind Russel for describing the efforts of humanitarian organisations- UNHCR and other organisations working to help
refugees in Bidi Bidi.
I would greatly appreciate the efforts of the Author - Rosalind Russell and salute the courage of protagonists who even didn't hesitate to share their real names in account.
Book cover is awesome , Title reminds that the End is the new beginning. It gives hope to live , get education and fulfil dreams.
Civil war is quite dangerous - it's against humanity. Conflict become more dangerous if it's along tribal divisions. Protagonists described their real events , situations , hardships , struggles , harassment faced , poverty caused by unprecedented events in the country.
Actually I cried when I read the events of molestation of young girls and their devastating moments.
I won't write names of protagonists since everyone is unique in book . Every character described in the book will give you hope, love and you will learn about humanity that's bigger than religion and region.
Mentioned Covid has affected the refugees in camp so you can guess book is latest account.
I hope this book gets attention , refugees may change , place of events may change but the ordeals of refugees are remain same.
I do appreciate the Author Rosalind Russel for describing the efforts of humanitarian organisations- UNHCR and other organisations working to help
refugees in Bidi Bidi.
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