This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it. thanks for letting me have an advance copy. I'm new to this author.

A well written memoir - this book will have you going through all your emotions - shock, fear hurt, pain, but also positive ones like laughter and happiness.

I can't recommend this book enough..

Beautifully written, heart breaking read. So very brave to share such a tragic and intimate chapter. Just lovely.

Antoine Leiris is a young Parisian husband, and father to 17-month old Melvil. One night in November 2015, his wife Helene went to a heavy metal rock concert in the Bataclan: she never came back, nor did the 130 others who died there that night. On the following day, Leiris posted a message to the terrorists on Facebook ~ “I'm not going to give you the gift of my hate. I don't have time for you, I've got to wake Melvil, give him his snack, then we'll play like any other day. For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you by being happy and free. So, no, you won't have his hate either.”


The words he dashed off on Facebook spread worldwide, and in the months that followed, he explored his response in more depth: his first panicked attempts to find out what had happened at the Bataclan, his deep suspicion of the professional comforters at the mortuary, the way the mothers in Melvil's nursery clubbed together to bring prepared meals every day for the little boy. (unused to different food, Melvil ate none of them, but the pots “nourished our hearts with a sweet maternal tenderness”.) In time, he learns, he adjusts, but he never recovers. He does, though, offer the gift of a deeply reflective, uniquely French, commentary on the defeat of death.

Hi,

Thanks so much for giving me access to this title. I read it a little while ago but it was at a point when I had a bit of a break from reviewing. I did take some notes as I was reading but I feel a bit too much time has passed now for me to do proper justice to it. I really enjoyed it though and hope this doesn't deter you from approving me for future titles.

Thanks,

Kevin.

Like many others I watched the footage of the Paris attacks of November 13th 2015 in utter horror; around 130 people died that night as the French capital came under attack from terrorists, with many more injured both physically and emotionally. Antoine Leiris relates the deeply personal story of the death and loss of his beloved wife Helene at the Bataclan Theatre, a story echoed in the hearts of many families and friends following that dreadful night.
It is a short book, but oh boy does it pack an emotional punch. Antoine speaks from the heart; his love for his wife and hope for his now motherless son are heartbreakingly honest, and the open letter to the terrorists a battle cry of defiance and courage, declaring that his son will defy their act with the person that he will become despite their violence.
Easily a five star read, not just because of the emotive topic, but because it is written so well!

Fascinating to read about these terrible events from the perspective of someone who has lost a loved one = not what I expected at all!

This felt way too private, like an intrusion into someone's life. And yet, at the same time, it never felt quite intimate enough. More like a facebook post than a thoughtful look at grief. Still heartbreaking, but just did not pack the punch it needed.

"With a burst of machine gun fire, they shattered our puzzle. And after we have put it back together, piece by piece, it will no longer be the same."

"You will not have my hate" is a tough read. Antoine's wife, Hélène, was one of the victims of the terrorist attack of november 13th at the Bataclan theatre in Paris.
Antoine shares how did he got the news, how he moved on with his life, how he got strenght from their son. And it just make your heart ache really bad. And then he shares how tough it was just to cut their little boy nails and you just laugh out loud in the middle of all those tears.

"On Friday night, you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you will not have my hate. (...) For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom."

What a special book. Leiris gives a poignant and open account that touches the heart. My admiration for him is huge and whilst I agree with him that this is a book he should never have had to write, he has written it with such beauty and honesty that I have been recommending it to everyone I know as THE book to read this year.

You Will Not Have My Hate

This is one of those books that is bittersweet. It's heart wrenching, knowing this book was written based completely on real life events.

I read this book in one evening, it pulled on my heart strings and made me want to wrap my own family in my arms and not let go.

Much respect to Antoine for sharing this very personal journey that he never asked to embark on.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book, with thanks to Netgalley and the publisher. 4*

Oh my, what an incredibly sad yet beautifully written little book. Antione’s Facebook post went viral when he first posted it, the message of love something people could hold onto in a time of grief and horror.

The book covers the night when Antoine couldn’t get hold of Hélène, the dawning realisation something has happened and the frustrations of a little boy who doesn’t know what’s going on and wants his mother. It was so heart-breaking to read of Antoine explaining to him that she wasn’t coming back.

If anyone has a right to be angry it’s Antione. But his testimony shows how hate doesn’t bring anyone back, doesn’t make the world better. He can raise his son with good values and kindness, he can raise him how Helene would have wanted.

Originally written in French, Sam Taylor has done an amazing job of translating into English. It’s an emotional read but an important one in this day and age of using hate as a weapon. Use love and happiness instead.

On 13th November 2015, terrorists attacked ordinary people out to enjoy an evening concert at The Bataclan in Paris. This book is one husband's truly dignified account of life after losing his wife Helene there.in the attack Leiris, a Parisian journalist was at home babysitting their young son Melvil, when he heard the news about the attack. Three days later, Leiris wrote an open letter to the terrorists who had torn his family apart - 'you shall not have my hatred' he told them, 'for as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom' he writes of 17 month old Melvin.

The book recounts Leiris's enforced new life without his love and Melvin's mother, Helene. He never asked to be pushed front and centre, but the undeniable honesty and bravery of his letter has put him there. So few words, such a brave and dignified message to those wishing to destroy a way of life held so dear by so many.

It's never going to be an easy read, but it is an important one and so, so well told. He may not want to be a hero, but Leiris has raised his head above the parapet and with the quietest and most dignified of words has shouted the loudest of messages to those seeking to break innocent people with their terrorism. A book of quiet grace that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Amazing. Astonishingly and just utterly amazing. This is a book you will never forget.

A really gripping and heartbreaking account of the events of a tragic night and the aftermath. I thought it was a very courageous thing to write and lay yourself open to. My thoughts and best wishes go out to all the survivors and relatives of the Bataclan tragedy.

A short, but very heart breaking account of the dreadful time in Paris. To lose one's wife under such horrific circumstances and to have to cope with a baby at the same time, brings life and death into absolute contrast. Very eloquently written, so descriptive and with such passion. With the strong message of not allowing terrorism to take over his life or that of his child's is so admirable.

This is the simple, true, straight from the heart account of a man who lost his wife in one of the 2016 Paris terrorist attacks. It is written with such feeling that you can identify with his sadness even though you can never feel exactly what he is going through. Despite the horror of the story there is humour as well when he recounts his child's reaction to the situation. A beautiful short book that anyone who has ever lost anyone will be able to empathise with..

Sometimes you read a book, and then read it again to make sure you haven't missed anything. This is one such book. Recommended.

I found this true story about a man whose wife died in the terrorist attack in France so touching.

His every word and story telling captivated me from the beginning until I finished the book. To be honest, I was emotionally exhausted when I was done and I could only wonder how and from where he drew his strength.

He went through so much pain...losing his wife in a barbaric way. However, he was able to rise above it despite his pain. Through his pain, he tells this story that makes the reader feel his raw pain.