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annreadsabook's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Something I found interesting was Mengiste’s characterization of certain players on the Italian side, particularly a young Jewish Italian photographer who usually complies with his orders out of fear of being returned to a dangerous situation at home and occasionally finds himself questioning the morality of his position. I don’t think Mengiste means to absolve folks like this man of their culpability and complicity in the human atrocities that took place during the invasion—instead, I believe she sought to show the complex nature of evildoing. In this same vein, Mengiste depicts the leaders of the Ethiopian factions as being deeply flawed characters themselves. Even the people we tout as heroes, Mengiste shows us, are humans who, behind closed doors or even in the open, can be destroyers.
Still more fascinating is the fact that Mengiste modeled this story on the experiences of her own great-grandmother—I can imagine the kinds of emotions Mengiste must have felt during the writing process. This novel is a challenging, beautifully written tribute to the Ethiopian women whose contributions and experiences have often been overlooked.
I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoy historical fiction—a word to the wise, though, that this is very heavy on the historical component! Please also be sure to check out The Storygraph for content warnings on this book, as it deals with some heavy subject matter.
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, War, Rape, and Violence
tenten's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, and War
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death and Antisemitism
magalis's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content warnings for rape and pedophilia (child brides in their early-teens).
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Death
Minor: Mental illness, Child death, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Misogyny
zoes_human's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Minor: Antisemitism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Death, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
ragna_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Genocide, Sexual harassment, Antisemitism, Colonisation, and Death
wngwendy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Rape, War, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Xenophobia and Antisemitism
vaniavela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, and Death
Minor: Death of parent
athenaia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Racism, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War
aargot1's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Slavery, Gun violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, War, Death, Confinement, Colonisation, and Rape
blessing_aj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, War, Rape, and Racism