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Beneath The Lion's Gaze (2010)

by Maaza Mengiste(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0393071766 (ISBN13: 9780393071764)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

review 1: Uncompromising and brutal. Be aware that the book contains scenes in which a young boy is tortured with a needle. I wish that scene hadn't stayed with me.I think the reason why Beneath the Lion's Gaze is so disturbing is that Mengiste is so successful at crafting realistic and compelling characters. This is not a beach read, but it is required for anyone interested in the spectre of political violence that hangs over much of the world.
review 2: The subject is unique and the writing good, the pacing decent and the book readable. I just didn't find the characters very deep or compelling, and I was never really brought into the narrative. In terms of teaching you about the specifics of this time period and this conflict, it does that, but as a human drama, I d... moreidn't find it very compelling on the page. I also didn't find any of the scenes disturbing, unlike what other people have said. Like most other books it seemed to be dubbed down for the general reader. I'm not saying Ms. Mengiste can't write, she can, but these days you've gotta compromise to get pubbed by the conventional industry. less

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