Rating: 
Summary: Interesting and insightful look at Ethiopia
Review: This memoir by Nega Mezlekia is a great personal account of what life was like growing up in rural Ethiopia during the later part of the twentieth century. The stories and vivid memories provided by Mezlekia are quite interesting, and help to paint a picture of what life was like growing up in the small town of Jijiga.The author does a marvelous job of intertwining history throughout the novel. For that reason, this book is recommended to all that are planning to travel to Ethiopia. But as aforementioned, this book is a great read and is truly recommended to all that are interested in personal narratives. My favorite parts of the book were the colloquialisms that Mezlekia included. For example, his description of time is quite hysterical, as he seems to greatly exaggerate the moments that dragged on during his life. I also found it amusing that "camels don't understand Amharic." The description of the flies as part of the community was also quite funny. In the end, the book was a great one and anyone with an interest in Ethiopia should check it out. At first, I thought the title was a bit of a stretch...then I visited Ethiopia and saw the hyenas firsthand!
Rating:
Summary: Where we've never been
Review: Truly enlightening look at a piece of history in Ethiopia and one family's journey to the modern day. Poverty, witchcraft, war and education play large roles is this story of the author's life. There are things we've never seen or heard of that educate us as to life on the Horn of Africa. An interesting companion to "Black Hawk Down", that makes us reevaluate our place in the world.
Rating: 
Summary: Disturbing in its Calm
Review: Wow. People may shudder at the comparison, but this book reads a lot like Angela's ashes. There is comedy in what most would call tragic situations. The story is, at times, gut-wrenchingly sad, but the narrator rarely reflects upon it as such. A funny, bright, evocative book that doesn't play either the "Africa-is-mystical&beautiful" game or the "Africa-is-savage-and-primal" card. Frankly, I'm glad, because both are a bit tried. Good book, good read.
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