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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I like the balance this book strikes. The author succeeds in conveying the need of immigrants/refugees to indulge in nostalgia for their native homeland, while tempering it with some acknowledgment of the very flaws that caused them to flee in the first place. He refrains from making this the...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “It does give you a picture of the hopelessness of the immigrant's life, but it wasn't really satisfying, lots of unsolved ends.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Excellent portrayal of immigrant life in Washington D.C. A beautiful tale of dreams deferred.”
Lattelle S wrote this review Wednesday, November 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Not impressed.”
Kimberly R wrote this review Tuesday, November 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It does give you a picture of the hopelessness of the immigrant's life, but it wasn't really satisfying, lots of unsolved ends.”
Sabine G wrote this review Thursday, June 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Worthwhile memoir-novel by an Ethiopian immigrant living in D.C. and running a convenience store in the 1970's. The themes were interesting, the plot a bit slow. I wish, mostly, that the story had continued on for us to discover how the author eventually ended up graduating from Georgetown and becoming a writer, because there's no hints of it in the book, which ends on a note more dark than hopeful. ”
Janice H wrote this review Thursday, June 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I just loved this book about an Ethiopian immigrant who owns a small grocery store in a rundown D.C. neighborhood...I like the way you learn about his history slowly as the story unfolds, and how the author weaves the main character's history with his present day actions. He really captures the sense of loneliness and loss the main character experiences but also shows his strength and intelligence. This was one of those books I couldn't put down and was sorry to see end.”
Ginger M. wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Interesting observations of an immigrant living in D.C. The book covers a five month period in his life, with thoughts and philosophies from the old country mixed in. The narrator was likable, and the story kept my interest.”
Jane W wrote this review Saturday, May 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“I like the balance this book strikes. The author succeeds in conveying the need of immigrants/refugees to indulge in nostalgia for their native homeland, while tempering it with some acknowledgment of the very flaws that caused them to flee in the first place. He refrains from making this the only theme, however. He instead dilutes the references to an "African perspective" or "Ethiopian perspective" by highlighting the inner struggles shared by all humans! He addresses man's self-doubt and tendency to think they don't measure up to what their parents/society/colleagues would want them to be.
Stephanie C wrote this review Sunday, May 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
In the story, Sepha also expresses insecurities about his worthiness in relation to a love interest. These things paralyze us, force us to stay the same or to not pursue passions. Maybe "pursue passions" is even too strong. "Accept ourselves" might be a better way to put it. Everyone can relate to these themes. This is the great success of the novel.
I like how apolitical it is, how universal. I also enjoy the fact that he doesn't act like civil war and the plight of his people is at the heart of every decision he makes. Many immigrants feel guilt about living a "better" life in adopted homeland -- including Sepha -- but other novels kind of make you think that is at the forefront of their minds all of the time. Life is a grind, with routines and benign responsibilities, so of course this isn't true! IN the same way a mother or teacher wishes to apply theory to how she raises a child and is confronted with the reality of...well, a child!...refugees have bills to pay and new community expectations to consider and they are not always thinking of their past in a conscious manner.
I could relate to nearly every character and at some point in my life have BEEN a little like each of them. I recommend this book.”“Really incredible writing and a well told story about the African diaspora.”
Meera S wrote this review Wednesday, April 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Loved it!”
Roberta M wrote this review Friday, April 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
““The beautiful things that heaven bears” is a line from a passage in Dante’s Inferno, in which Dante is emerging from hell. According to one of the characters in the book, “no one can understand that line like an African because that is what we lived through. Hell every day with only glimpses of heaven in between.” The passage is definitely a metaphor for Sepha’s story, whose existence seems to be just one long, endless trudge through life. I enjoy books like this that give me a glimpse of life in a different culture than my own, but I think that in some ways this book is a little too subtle. For example, when the “series of racial incidents disturbs the community”, I wouldn’t have known they were racial incidents if the back of the book hadn’t said so. They could just as easily been class-based as race-based. Also, the pacing of the story was difficult for me to follow. The story jumps back and forth in time, and once in a while I would lose track of where I was in the timeline. I think I would have enjoyed learning more about the culture than just about Sepha. Overall, this was a well-written novel, but it left me wanting more — or maybe, just something different.”
miyurose wrote this review Monday, February 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
