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applegnreads's review against another edition
4.0
A story of immigration and DC and Africa. Interesting.
alexcopsey's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
1.0
its hard to like a book when i don’t like the main character i’m sorry!! also this was written a little too simplisticly for my ap english tastes but…
romeri's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Murder
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
nimbus2105's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
heatherwardlaw's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
breevee's review against another edition
5.0
This book is beautiful and poignant, while still reading, as my lit. professor says, "like butter". Threaded through with imagery and parallels alluding to Dante's Divine Comedy, Mengestu offers one of the most objective views of the issue gentrification in literature, as well as delving into topics like race, the treatment of immigrants in the US, and the dissolution of the American Dream.
sujuv's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that made me want to learn about the context that created the main character. In this case, that would be the Red Terror in Ethiopia. Granted, so far my research has involved reading a Wikipedia entry, but I love it when a fictional book that is in no way didactic about politics or even culture spurs you to learn more because you have connected so completely with the main character. This sounds silly, but I was driving and saw a slender, Black man who walking down the street and thought, with great excitement, "is he Ethiopian?" A great book makes you aware of the world in a different way - in my case, apparently, a kind of silly way - and this book is just that. I look forward to reading his new one.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
Clearly a first novel, that feels like a very well done writing exercise.
The protagonist is frustratingly slow to action, as the novel is slow to plot, but he sure is philosophical.
Maybe it's great and I wasn't in the mood.
The protagonist is frustratingly slow to action, as the novel is slow to plot, but he sure is philosophical.
Maybe it's great and I wasn't in the mood.