“There is magic in Gaël Faye’s writing. A luminous poetic quality that sheds light on history without tempering it—probing, with supreme clarity, the secrets of a country and a family. Through the beauty of his style, he speaks humanely and compassionately about the worst atrocities. This book is unforgettable.”—Leïla Slimani, internationally bestselling author of The Perfect Nanny
“[Faye’s] spare, lucid prose . . . explores the aftermath of the genocide of 1994. . . . A nuanced exploration of conflict and the meaning of resolution.”—The Economist
“Vividly contrasts childhood innocence with darker themes . . . adeptly structured . . . a powerful account of a country’s fragmentation.”—Financial Times
“A bold and uncompromising book.”—The Guardian
“A work of rare, poetic and haunting qualities, on memory, identity and justice, and the humanity that horror might beget. Memorable and utterly, captivatingly brilliant.”—Philippe Sands, author of East West Street
“[Jacaranda is] a novel about time and its effects, about what it does to people, to memory, to places. . . . But Faye’s book is above all a novel that speaks out against silence.”—Le Monde
“[A] multibranched vérité-fiction . . . Jacaranda’s architexture fills in the gaping memories with the buried truths that imperil trusted friendships, vindicate familial intimations, and appease consciences.”—World Literature Today
“A deeply felt exploration of memory, inheritance, and the possibility that something beautiful can emerge from the worst type of atrocity . . . populate[d] with vivid and morally complex characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“[Jacaranda evokes] the fragile beauty of the world and resilience in the face of the wounds of exile. A novel of memory and reconstruction, Jacaranda portrays souls scarred by history but driven by the desire for reconciliation.”—Institut français
“A novel of painful beauty, whose gentleness of tone only serves to underscore the horror of the genocide and the difficulties of its aftermath.”—Madame Figaro
“An extraordinary life force emanates from these pages.”—La Croix
