All Iowa Reads selection

The 2012 All Iowa Reads title is Tracy Kidder’s “Strength in What Remains,” only the second nonfiction book in the program’s nine-year history. “Strength in What Remains” tells the story of Deogratis, or Deo, who as a 22 year old medical student barely escapes the Hutu slaughter of Tutsis in Burundi. He arrives in New York City in 1994 with no English skills and $200. The story moves back and forth, from Africa to New York. And although the horror of events in Africa is almost indescribable, living poor on the streets of New York as a young black man with no money is not an easy life either. Deo is helped by remarkable, generous people, but, the personal courage and fortitude needed to prevail is his. The library has a copy of this book on the new non-fiction shelf. This selection is also the pick of the Solon Book Club for the May discussion.