Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful combination of fiction and reality
Review: Although this book clearly mixes fantasy, history, myth, legend and reality, it does so in a very personal and effective way. For those who want to learn more about the "real" Ethiopia in the past twenty years, this book tells it in a compelling and authentic way. It doesn't matter if every name is accurate. For those of us who have lived in Ethiopia, the story rings true. Even more important for Americans, it shames us without necessarily blaming us, for ignoring Ethiopia for so long because of ideological differences not humanitarian needs. READ THIS BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: Educational, personal, and humours
Review: As an Ethiopian, I found this book to be an eye opener for what happened in my country during the past 20 years of our history. Ato. Nega writes his honest opinion and perspective on what happened and the thousands of innocent lives that were lost during those years. He is a man that is not afraid to write about the truth, even if the truth may not be the what we Ethiopians ever care to admit. Ato. Nega is also very humours. I will find the book to be easy to read, funny but most importantly a source of great education. It is my wish that more and more Ethiopians will follow the work of Ato. Nega and publish many more books. There is so much that needs to be written about Ethiopia and so few authors out there. Thank you Ato. Nega for your hard work!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A balanced and beautiful book
Review: I am an Ethiopian, the same generation as the author, but I am from another ethnic group, the Oromo, and poloitical group, Meason. Reading Nega's book has helped me come to terms with my past in ways that I can hardly begin to explain. Like most of our generation, I had taken part in gureela momevent when life became unbearable in towns. I had, initially, belonged to the same political party Nega belonged to--the EPRP. Unlike Nega, I saw the falasity of the party and changed tack early, joining the military Junta. Unfortunately, Meison didn't fare any better than EPRP. Notes from the hyena's belly is the kind of book I never thought an Ethiopian, particluraly someone from such a visious political group, the EPRP, would write. I salute Nega, I am proud of him. I can now reconsile myself with those Ethiopians that I have been avoiding for the last eleven years for political reasons. Africa's problems are not solved by recriminations, but by reconsiliations. Hope those Ethiopians with an axe to grind would see the beauty in this book and set aside their differences. Well done, Nega
Rating:
Summary: A Shocking True Story
Review: I don't think I have ever read a book on Ethiopia so shockingly accurate and painfully true. Mr. Mezlekia has crossed boundaries never attempted before, and should be commended for ably describing his own struggle and that of his family. Dreams and hopes of a young man being shattered by atrocities never imagined possible. For this he not only deserved the Mayor's award but the respect and gratitude of all his readers. I was deeply moved that as a true Ethiopian, he never forgot the family he had left behind and yearned to have his younger brother join him in Canada. May the memory of his Mam and Wondwossen live for ever through the pages of this incredible book.
Rating:
Summary: A Shocking True Story
Review: I don't think I have ever read a book on Ethiopia so shockingly accurate and painfully true. Mr. Mezlekia has crossed boundaries never attempted before, and should be commended for ably describing his own struggle and that of his family. Dreams and hopes of a young man being shattered by atrocities never imagined possible. For this he not only deserved the Mayor's award but the respect and gratitude of all his readers. I was deeply moved that as a true Ethiopian, he never forgot the family he had left behind and yearned to have his younger brother join him in Canada. May the memory of his Mam and Wondwossen live for ever through the pages of this incredible book.
Rating:
Summary: An engaging story
Review: I found this to be a very engaging story, with a good mix of local color, historical development and Ethiopian culture. The way it is written raises questions as to how factual all of the content is, but that does not make it any less interesting as a story. The weakest parts are his descriptions of political developments among Ethiopia's leadership, which frequently come across more as off-the-cuff characterizations you might here from someone in a bar rather than true insight. Despite being described on its cover by one reviewer "a glimpse into hell", the book does not dwell excessively on the gruesome things the author experienced, and even those do not fill up a great deal of the book, about half of which is devoted to his childhood which overall seems to have been pretty pleasant. This is not to marginalize the terrible things that did happen to him, his family or Ethiopia, the point just being that he does not dwell on them with excessive or graphic detail.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, an authentic Ethiopian story in english
Review: I mistakengly judged this book to be rubbish based solely on the cover. To my surprise, it turned out to be an exciting and adventurous story about growing up in eastern Ethiopia, in a town called Jigjiga. The author's aptitude for narration is pleasing, as he does not leave the reader to digress. One of the funniest parts of this book is when he talks about the farmer boy whom he befriended, and his hillarious use of the Amharic language.
Rating:
Summary: !!! Alright !!!
Review: I read "Notes From The Hyena's Belly" because my 7th grade English teacher assigned it to me personally. At first I honestly thought that it was going to be just a stupid autobiography, but it turned out to be excellent!!! "Notes From The Hyena's Belly" was a book that started from the very second Mezlekia was born, and told his story until he left Ethiopia later in his life. But this is not just a long autobiography that stuck strictly to the facts. It was VERY funny, and generally politically correct... :-D Combining fact with humor, Mezlekia creates an image of his life in Ethiopia so vivid, you feel that you are there, following him around. From school to church, each part of the book is beautifully orchestrated so that everything makes sense. The book moves at a quick pace, but not so fast that you don't have time to enjoy the occasional joke. :-D Hehehe. A good book. And the moral of THIS story is, if your teacher tells you to read a biography/autobiograohy of choice, take the fun way out and read this one!!!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: I read this book and thought it was one of the greatest pieces of lit I've read for a good while now. The Canadian cover is certianly much more appealling...A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: I read this book and thought it was one of the greatest pieces of lit I've read for a good while now. The Canadian cover is certianly much more appealling...A must read!
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