Reviews

Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste

ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition

4.0

Bloody torture & some horrifying moments, but I found this incredibly readable...

sssnoo's review against another edition

4.0

An excellent historical fiction book written about a little know (to Westerners) event in history. The horrific dictatorship following Haile Selasse’s reign in Ethiopia. The Dergue. If people are interested in understanding world cultures and want a change from the dominant WWII fiction pick up this book - or the authors new book. Learn some new history.

figgy_pudding's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

Brutal and harrowing and incredible. 

There were some odd switches to 1st person from 3rd person that didn't really work for ne very occasionally which is why it's not 5 stars

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Self harm, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Gore, Sexual violence, and Violence

amyjo25's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

• 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

4.5

mnworb's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

lisagray68's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

4.0

missnicolerose's review against another edition

5.0

An extremely graphic portrayal of the war and devastation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the 1970s, particularly as it affects the various members of one affluent family.

As a white American, I grew up with images of starving Ethiopian children on infomercials, and parents trying to get us to finish dinner by saying "There are starving kids in Ethiopia!". Unfortunately, it seems as if it became a cultural euphemism for excessively skinny body types in my region. Furthermore, I was never actually informed (in school or otherwise) as to the cause of this famine in Ethiopia nor the nationwide war and humanitarian crisis Ethiopians were facing.

Seeing each fictional family member's perspective and how it evolves throughout the conflict is particularly appealing. Mengiste has provided a range of political views and illustrates how a family and friends can either slowly be torn apart or alternately unite, when facing such a crisis.

kristy_102's review against another edition

4.0

The book follows a surgeon and his family through the overthrow of the Ethiopian monarchy and its aftermath. It is well-written, with characters who are complex enough that you understand all of their (often vastly different) perspectives and can sympathise with even those you might not expect. It is a fantastic commentary on the ways in which a regime or an idea can become more powerful than- and sometimes counter- the intentions of the people involved in it, and the ways in which both oppressors and oppressed can be similarly fighting for survival. It's certainly a page-turner, and at times a very gruesome one, but the author has a talent for balancing the horror of reality with a profound (but much more gentle) insight into the parallel reality they experience in unconsciousness.

It is fictional, but based on true events. Overall I think it offers good (and surprisingly objective) insight into a war I knew nothing about, while respecting the humanity of everyone involved enough not to pass judgement, which seems very gracious to me.

dawncasters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this fictionalized account of the Ethiopian revolution and the overthrow of the monastic government in turn for a faux-Marxist military regime. I read Mengiste’s latest book, The Shadow King, before I read this and while I enjoyed that book it was definitely more brutal and slower to work through. This book captivated me in her beautiful prose and her meticulous historial research. I’ve really been interested in reading novels that depict radical history within Third World nations and this book stood out for her dedication to expanding on the rise of the Derg. I think historical fiction can oftentimes do a better job of conveying the multiple perspectives and emotions that arise during a people’s revolution. As someone who sees himself as an anti-imperialist and burgeoning communist, I value books that came place me into key moments where history was in the making. Especially on the African continent in instances where people strove for liberation for colonialist powers. I hesitated to give this book a five because I think there were some moments where the plot was lost. But I really enjoyed the characters and the historical account of this moment in the Horn of Africa. I recommend it to people aware of the history but interested in exploring it more. 

soonerlit22's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0