Reason read: African Novel Challenge
Dinaw Mengestu was born in Ethiopia but came to the US as a child. He is American author. This is the story of two young men who come of age during the revolution. It is told in two voices; the voice of Helen (an American) and Isaac.The main themes are dislocation and self-reinvention. The author has won awards for his works and is the author of four novels. ( )

This is the second book that I've read by this wonderful young writer, already recipient of multiple grants and the prestigious MacArthur Award. In this novel he again explores themes of the immigrant experience and multiracial relationships, and recounts the main character's tumultuous travels from his native village in Ethiopia, through revolution in Uganda and then to America. The story in these chapters alternate with those of his arrival in the US, his life in a small Midwestern town and his hope for the future. A terrific novel and beautifully written!
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Such beautiful prose, and I felt like I was holding my breath from the beginning to the end. ( )

My main issue with this novel is that is lacked specificity and details to make me feel invested in what that characters were doing. Because of this, both Helen and Isaac's (both present day and past) actions seemed inscrutable. Their actions were clear enough, but there was little context to their behavior. I also felt such a huge disconnect between the parts of the book that took place in the past and the present day - the one character who is featured in both sections feels like two entirely different people rather than the same person who has matured. ( )

There are two intertwined stories in this novel, which alternates between two first person narrators, a Ugandan man called Isaac and Helen, a social worker from a small town in the American Midwest. Originally he is one of her cases, a refreshing change from the sadness of working with clients with terminal illnesses. They soon become friends, and then more.

Isaac’s story is one of his past, and of a close friendship between two university students, which will be tested by the upheavals of politics and civil war. Helen’s story is about coming to know Isaac, though I wondered at some points whether she actually does know very much about him, and where he’s come from.

The contrast between the two settings is sharp. While Laurel seems to be a peaceful place, Helen’s boss has some ominous warnings for her about racism and prejudice in that small semi-rural town.

A thought provoking and moving novel which left me wondering what would happen to the characters after I closed the book. ( )