Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of Cockroach
Biography & Memoir· Rwanda

Cockroach

by Scholastique Mukasonga
Aggregate Editorial Score30/100
Published 2006French
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Published in 2006, Cockroach established Scholastique Mukasonga as one of the defining voices in biography & memoir. In 'Cockroach', Mukasonga recounts her family's experiences during the Rwandan genocide, offering a deeply personal narrative that sheds light on the horrors and aftermath of the tragedy. The memoir is a powerful testament to survival and resilience, providing an intimate look at the impact of the genocide on individuals and families. Mukasonga's writing is both haunting and beautiful, making it a significant contribution to Rwandan literature. Themes of genocide, family, survival run through the work.

Book Details

AuthorScholastique Mukasonga
Published2006
Country of Origin🇷🇼 Rwanda
LanguageFrench
Category✍️ Biography & Memoir
Editorial Score30/100
About the Category

✍️ Biography & Memoir

True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

Explore all Biography & Memoir books →
Country of Origin

🇷🇼 Rwanda

This book is part of Rwanda's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from Rwanda →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 2006, Scholastique Mukasonga's Cockroach is a work of biography & memoir that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with genocide, family, survival, memory gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. Critics and institutions have consistently placed Cockroach among the notable works of its period. Our aggregate score of 30/100 is compiled from 1 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals. The appeal of Cockroach lies partly in its refusal to offer easy answers. Its exploration of genocide, family, survival, memory is sustained, textured, and genuinely thought-provoking in ways that stay with readers well after the final page. Cockroach reflects Scholastique Mukasonga's place in a wider literary tradition. The book's concerns resonate with Rwanda's broader cultural preoccupations, even as they reach beyond any single national context.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

The New Yorker
notable · global
20060
✍️
About the Author
Scholastique Mukasonga
Rwanda
View Author →

Scholastique Mukasonga is a Rwanda author whose work in biography & memoir has earned recognition from readers and critics alike.

The Tribe Manager
The Leadership Companion
The Tribe Manager
Leading People the Way Evolution Intended
Manage with human nature, you get loyalty. Manage against it, you get quiet quitting.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
literary-fiction

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Ocean Vuong· 2019
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score93/100
Cover of The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between
biography-memoir

The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between

Hisham Matar· 2016
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score91/100
Cover of Orange Is the New Black
biography-memoir

Orange Is the New Black

Piper Kerman· 2010
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score90/100
Cover of Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
biography-memoir

Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster

Svetlana Alexievich· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score89/100
Cover of Unbowed: A Memoir
biography-memoir

Unbowed: A Memoir

Wangari Maathai· 2006
★Nobel Prize in Literature
Editorial Score78/100
Cover of Schindler's Ark
biography-memoir

Schindler's Ark

Thomas Keneally· 1982
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score76/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cockroach about?

In 'Cockroach', Mukasonga recounts her family's experiences during the Rwandan genocide, offering a deeply personal narrative that sheds light on the horrors and aftermath of the tragedy. The memoir is a powerful testament to survival and resilience, providing an intimate look at the impact of the genocide on individuals and families. Mukasonga's writing is both haunting and beautiful, making it a significant contribution to Rwandan literature.

Who wrote Cockroach?

Cockroach was written by Scholastique Mukasonga, from Rwanda. First published in 2006.

What awards has Cockroach won?

Cockroach has received the following recognition: notable critical recognition.

Is Cockroach worth reading?

Cockroach is a well-regarded book with an aggregate editorial score of 30/100 on 50 Best Books. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in genocide, family, survival.

Where can I buy Cockroach?

You can buy Cockroach on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Cockroach?

Cockroach is classified as Biography & Memoir. True accounts of real lives, told by the subject or a biographer.

What country is Cockroach from?

Cockroach originates from Rwanda's literary tradition. Explore more books from Rwanda on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

✍️More Biography & MemoirBrowse all Biography & Memoir books🇷🇼Books from Rwanda🇷🇼 Rwanda literature📅2000s BooksPublished in the 2000s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time