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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Me perdi demais nos personagens e a escrita sugava minha alma a cada capítulo, era um processo bifágico, mas o livro me comia mais do que eu o comia, apesar disso esse livro é longe de ser ruim, longe mesmo, ele é super bem escrito e é bom, mas eu não estou no momento, o que é uma pena
Haunting, compassionate, and accessible, this novel portrays a time period of Ethiopian history that few have attempted to depict. Although it is clearly a first novel because of its character simplifications, it is incredibly moving and memorable. Relative to it's ambitiousness in scope, I gave it 5 stars. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Hailu's family's trials and tribulations provide a strong foundation for understanding the events in Ethiopia toward the end of Emperor Haile Selassie's reign and the terror inflicted by the Derg.
The writer explores various themes in an interesting and captivating manner.
The revolution in Ethiopia highlights the rise of the educated elite who called for change to the feudal system, which had created a vast disparity between the upper and lower classes.
The vivid description of the Emperor's capture and killing brought tears to my eyes, showing how an icon and pan-Africanist was killed without regard for his contributions to his country and continent.
It was also disheartening to see how those who fought for change were, in turn, brutally killed and tortured by the Derg. It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
This raises the question: did those who called for the revolution act wisely? Would they have preferred to passively watch the monarchy ruin their country, or was facing human rights violations under the Derg the only alternative?
This is a book worth reading.
The writer explores various themes in an interesting and captivating manner.
The revolution in Ethiopia highlights the rise of the educated elite who called for change to the feudal system, which had created a vast disparity between the upper and lower classes.
The vivid description of the Emperor's capture and killing brought tears to my eyes, showing how an icon and pan-Africanist was killed without regard for his contributions to his country and continent.
It was also disheartening to see how those who fought for change were, in turn, brutally killed and tortured by the Derg. It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
This raises the question: did those who called for the revolution act wisely? Would they have preferred to passively watch the monarchy ruin their country, or was facing human rights violations under the Derg the only alternative?
This is a book worth reading.
Very well written, but difficult to handle emotionally!
A beautiful and painful book, following the end of the Ethiopian empire in 1974 and all the violence that came after. A story of a family and its neighbors, as the turmoil engulfs them, hurts and scars them, leaving destruction and some courage behind.
A must read, told beautifully. A fictional but enlightening tale about the Red Terror that engulfed Ethiopia once. (And with some hints to understand the country today...)
A must read, told beautifully. A fictional but enlightening tale about the Red Terror that engulfed Ethiopia once. (And with some hints to understand the country today...)
– When you are convinced that everything that happens is the will of God, what is there to do but wait until God has mercy? –
– His whole life had prepared him to accept the fact that in nearly everything, there would always be someone better. –
– Not about you? The who? Every single cause you've taken up has been to benefit the middle or upper class, people just like you. What do you know about what the poor really need? –
– Sometimes your pain isn't enough. –
– The body doesn't understand time the way we do. –
– One day, he would tell his father this: that the eyes die first, that we make our way to dust and ash blindly. –
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.
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.
første skjønnlitterære boken jeg har lest om den røde terroren i Etiopia, og wow den virker som den gjenspeiler realiteten ganske nøyaktig!! helt jævlig vondt
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes