Such a fine collection of stories from an author I MUST read more from (she also has one of the best names I've ever come across). There are no weak stories in this collection but a few of them stand out as masterful (The Curse of Beauty and Fear, for me).

One of the aspects that really impressed me about this collection is Mukasonga's use of narrator. At times her narrators are kept at a distance from the protagonist and at other times up close and terrified but they always feel like the voice of a community. It is an interesting mix of memoir and witness. I'm not sure how much of these stories are autobiographical but they use all the tools and striking details of memory to create a compelling narrative.

Highly recommended!