A review by kristy_102
Beneath the Lion's Gaze by Maaza Mengiste

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.