Even in the darkest moments in the world, people always find a way to come together, support one another, fight for what is right, and help each other survive. This list focuses on stories that take place during dangerous and deadly moments in history, where civil war, genocide and violence have broken out. But even when the worst horrors are enacted, people find comfort in one another and lend a helping hand, whether to loved ones or strangers. These five books portray stories where — in the face of unfathomable loss, violence, displacement and exile — radical goodness, hope and human kindness prevail.
Human Acts by Han Kang
Human Acts is just that — a portrayal of the human acts that destroy us, and the ones that bring us back together. During the brutal violence of the Gwangju Uprising in South Korea in May 1980, a young boy named Dong-Ho is killed. The story paints a portrait of political unrest and the struggle for justice as those affected by Dong-Ho’s death and the violent massacre grapple with the event. From friends to prisoners to editors and mothers, the collective heartbreak leads a series of characters toward hope and helps them find their voice.
This award-winning novel is what The Millions called an exploration of “the capacity for cruelty alongside that for selflessness and dignity.” The fictionalized account of this historic event exposes the harsh reality of oppression and humanity’s ability to keep on living in the face of it.
We Never Knew of Darkness by Dennis Snyder
We Never Knew of Darkness begins with the smell of sweat and stale blood – and the furtive whispers of child soldiers as they rolled past, packed shoulder to shoulder in a flatbed truck. It is May 1994, during the gut-wrenching and unconscionable violence of the Rwandan genocide. The historical novel follows a young man named Elijah – from vengeful soldier to addict and prisoner-of-war, from spiritual death to an impossible redemption. Seeking vengeance for the rape and slaughter of his 17-year-old sister, Elijah embarks on a difficult journey.
Written by a doctor who led the first medical team into Rwanda following the genocide, the story has a realistic, first-hand-account feel to it as a team of volunteers in a makeshift hospital tend to those wounded during this horrifying act of violence. The selflessness and unflagging dedication of the team of medical volunteers – Elijah toiling with them – expose the goodness of humankind.
(Read the review on BookTrib)
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Author Christy Lefteri is the daughter of refugees, and accurately taps into the suffering of her characters with her heartfelt storytelling of the plight of Syrian refugees. Finding it difficult to walk away from their treasured memories of family and country, Nuri and Afra are forced to leave the civil war in Syria behind them. Nuri, a dedicated beekeeper, feels pressure to make it safely to England. His wife, Afra, an accomplished artist who was blinded during an explosion that tragically kills their young son, is more reluctant to leave.
Nuri must be Afra’s eyes and her caretaker as they embark on this necessary, yet dreaded trip, filled with dangerous sea crossings and smugglers, as they venture to safety through Turkey and Greece. Through it all, they grapple with the trauma and grief of leaving their home behind as it becomes a war zone. This emotional story of a once-happy couple demonstrates the toll that war takes on a human’s soul, and embraces the hope that still exists, even in the worst of circumstances.
(Read the review on BookTrib)
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
This family saga, which spans the decades from 1938 to 1994 and continents from Europe to South America, begins at the height of the Spanish Civil War. Victor is an army doctor, and Guillem, his younger brother, is a soldier fighting fascism against Franco’s forces. But when Guillem dies in battle, he leaves behind Roser, his pregnant widow. Victor and Roser must unite, unwillingly, in marriage, as they embark on a ship to Chile, seeking refuge. They share a happy life together until history repeats itself, and a dictator takes hold of Chile, forcing them to flee once again.
The unlikely couple embraces exile as the rest of Europe erupts into war. A difficult journey awaits them as they face trial after trial on a new continent, but they remain hopeful about their eventual return to Spain. A Long Petal of the Sea details the struggle for freedom and the endless search for “home” in the midst of exile, with the help of unexpected alliances and connections.
(Read BookNationbyJen’s review on BookTrib)
Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni writes about three sisters on the cusp of adulthood, daughters of a well-regarded Hindu physician in a Bengal village not far from Calcutta, who are caught up in the cataclysmic, disastrous events following the 1947 partition of India. A turning point comes for the family when their father, Dr. Nabakumar, is called to his clinic to tend to victims of a riot, and instead becomes one of the casualties. Afterward, even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home. Their story is a microcosm of what millions experienced in India and Pakistan following independence from the British Empire, a time when neighbor was pitted against neighbor and families were torn apart. Independence is a captivating love story and an inspiring tale of familial sacrifice and devotion at a time in history filled with strife.
(Read the review on BookTrib)
