Scan barcode
farkle's review against another edition
3.0
This was my second Ethiopia book. At first it read as if was another character's story, set in the same place and time, their lives overlapping. But unlike Cutting for Stone, Mengiste's book shows glimpses of many characters, how their lives intersect and diverge only to come back together again. There is no coming up for air in this book. The weight of history bears down; the weight of each action and its consequence a burden for each characters. The author confronts memories of this time, which may have been better left in the past, but she brings to light a country and period that deserves to be remembered specifically for its tragedies and horrors.
izzyergh's review
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
confusedvicky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
hannia222's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lipglossmaffia's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
hotkoolaidpotato's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, and Police brutality
Moderate: Body horror, Self harm, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Excrement, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
generalalarm's review against another edition
4.0
Heavy and difficult, but insightful and enriching. This book takes you into the hearts and minds of the people who are part of Ethiopia's 1974 coup d'etat, either by choice, or by unlucky accident. The book is truly agonizing. It doesn't flinch from difficult topics or pull its punches in any ways. Perhaps because of this, it works well both as a character study and an examination of an entire family caught up in the revolution, each of whom must make hard choices about their personal beliefs and values in the face of danger.
dgrachel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Set at the beginning of the Ethiopian revolution in 1974, this is a really hard book to read. Mengiste does not shy away from details of torture tactics used by The Derg, the group that overthrew the emperor. The whole novel is brutal and sad. I listened to the audiobook version, which is brilliantly narrated by Steven Crossley. While I found it challenging to remember names and family relationships via audio, I don't think I would have finished the book in print format. Crossley's voice kept me engaged, even when the plot either ground to a slog or when the cruelty became too much.
summernajjar's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
nkfanning's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0