MoMo’s Book Diary recommends this remarkably honest memoir.
Terrorist’s attacked the Bataclan Theatre in Paris in November 2015, killing 88 victims.
One of these was Hélène Leiris. Hélène was a wife and mother.
This memoir was written by Hélène’s husband, Antoine. The version I read had been translated from native French and is well written and I found it fascinating, while heartbreaking.
I, along with thousands of others, read the letter which Antoine posted on Facebook a few days after the tragedy. The letter was addressed to the perpetrators in which he vowed that he, and his son, would survive and be happy – the post went viral.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this heart-breaking memoir.
Synopsis
What matters most in life? How do you build a happy life when terrible things happen? What is left behind when you lose the person you love the most?
One night last winter, Antoine Leiris was at home looking after his son while his wife, Hélène, was at a concert with friends. Suddenly he started receiving text messages from friends asking if he was ok. Turning on the TV, Antoine watched the terrorist attacks in Paris unfolding around him and tried to call Hélène. She didn’t answer. That night Hélène was killed, along with 88 other people, at the Bataclan Theatre.
Three days later, Antoine wrote an open letter to his wife’s killers on Facebook. He refused to be cowed or to let his 17-month-old son’s life be defined by their acts. ‘For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom,’ he wrote. Instantly, that short post caught fire and was shared thousands of times around the world.
You Will Not Have My Hate is an extraordinary and heartbreaking memoir about how Antoine, and his baby son Melvil, endured after Hélène’s murder. With courage, moral acuity, and absolute emotional honesty, he finds a way to answer the question, how can I go on? This is the rare and unforgettable testimony of a survivor, and a universal message of hope and resilience. This book is a guiding star for us all in perilous times.
| AUTHOR | Antoine Leiris |
| BOOK TITLE | You Will Not Have My Hate |
| PUBLISHER | Random House UK – Vintage Publishing |
| DATE OF PUBLICATION | 27/10/16 |
| PRINT LENGTH | 99 pages |
| ISBN | 9781911215349 |
| OBTAINED: | NetGalley |
REVIEW PUBLISHED:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Antoine Leiris on Twitter
Antoine Leiris on Facebook
Antoine Leiris on GoodReads
MoMoBookDiary 
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