The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears

If you live in DC, this story is a must read. I read this book sitting on a bench in Logan’s circle, having walked along the same blocks the book’s main character Sepha Stephanos had because I missed the G2 bus mentioned. Mengestu has an incredible way of pulling you into a setting and into a character’s head. Sepha Stephanos is not your average protagonist: he is soft spoken and deeply introspective, constantly anxious yet unmotivated to change is situation, confused about how to approach his love interest Judith yet sleeps with prostitutes, running from his life in Ethiopia yet unsure how to leave it behind. These internal conflicts leave the character seeming very raw and human. His relationships with other immigrants Joe and Kenneth and his uncle provide multiple perspectives on the reality of the American Dream and motivations for seeking it while Stephanos’ burgeoning relationships with Judith and her daughter Naomi personalize this account of DC gentrification, drawing themes of hope and starting anew across class lines. This book lives on the edge of so much contrast- rich and poor, black and white, American and African. Although we get to know Stephano’s on an intimate level, his friends’ quirk of naming African dictators and coups contributes to the larger political nature of this story.Mengestu’s story of an African Immigrant fits neatly in with the larger genre of African Immigrant literature alongside greats like Adichie. The ability of the story to be so specifically set in Logan Circle and feel so universal creates a spellbinding story, one whose lack of resolution feels frustrating yet appropriate. The struggle for acceptance and identity feels relatable to many, but the context in running from a father dead because of Stephano’s own political ambitions appeals to the larger publishing world in pursuit of stories of pain and suffering. I recommend this book to those who actively question the world they live in- while the story itself is excellent, I believe you miss the point if you only learn Stephano’s story.

Mengestu's debut novel brings to life the American immigrant experience in a touching way. The novel is about an Ethiopian immigrant, Sepha, and his experiences in the Washington DC area over a seven month period in the 1970s. Mengestu captures the hopes and dreams, as well as the struggles and disappointment, of those coming to this country for a better life than in their native land.Sepha owns a small neighborhood grocey story around Logan Circle, a community underground gentrification. We see his hopes for a more prosperous and successful business grow as work crews start renovating local buildings. Most notably, Sepha decides to start selling sandwiches and buys fresh deli meats and promotes this to what he hopes will be his new clientele.The two dimensions of this book I found so rewarding are the interplay and relationships of the various characters with Sepha as well as the ups and downs of Sepha's experience representing the broader ebb and flow of immigrant experience.Judith, a single white academic restores a four story brick neighborhood in the building and moves in with her wiser-than-her years 11 year old Naomi. The depth of Naomi's character was wonderful -- a somewhat sassy, precocious but sweet girl. We see Naomi take to Sepha and a deep bond created between the two of them -- Sepha becomes a father/older brother figure to her. Especially poignant was the joy and fun they had reading of the Brothers Karamazov together in the store.At the same time Sepha begins to fall for Judith and we see the impact that race and language has on their relationship. Once again, the hope of a bright future gives way to the dim reality of the struggle most first generation immigrants face.Mengestu ultimately crafts a very satisfying and enjoyable read. It brings smiles and laughter to the reader as well sadness and disappointment -- working both at the character level but at the broader level of immigrant experience. Mengestu is a young author that you'll want to keep your eye out for in the future.

I picked Dinaw Mengestu's first book after being recommended it by my brother who went to the same MFA in Writing program as him at Columbia. I had heard about his newer book How to Read the Air but had not yet read it. I very much enjoyed The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears. It is a beautifully written book that keeps your attention throughout, moves quickly, and is completely enjoyable and a sensitive piece of work. The story is about a younger man named Sepha Stepanos who fled the Ethiopian Revolution many years ago and came to Washington D.C. Like many new immigrants he isn't quite sure what job to do so after living with his uncle for a while and working in a hotel, he opens up a convenience store in a newer and what was supposed to be a soon to be flourishing neighborhood. He meets up with two other African friends from other parts of the continent and they share stories and experiences as they too go through their own trials and tribulations trying to make it in America. Soon, a new family moves into the neighborhood--a single mom Judith and her daughter Naomi. Sepha becomes close with them and particularly the daughter who hangs out at his store after school. Sepha can't quite determine what sort of relationship he should have with Judith but clearly enjoys being a father figure to Naomi. The neighborhood and his store quickly go downhill and Sepha needs to decide how he will react to both. A very good book that I highly recommend.

A beautifully written book that captures the crush of disappointment and the strength of the human spirit. This writer moved from a refugee hauling luggage fir a racist employer in Capital hill dc to a small store owner and then got his MFA at Georgetown and became a writer of note...and he has not forgotten the hundreds of thousands who are still stuck in a purgatory of dead end low wage jobs, lousy housing, and racist employers. Lyrical beautiful book. If you want sugar coating look elsewhere, but if you want unvarnished and heartbreaking truth, this is your book!

Only book I re-read as soon as I had finished it. Beautiful descriptive passages and words to give you pause for thought. Witty exchanges in conversations. I was there with the main character in his little convenience store seeing every detail so wonderfully described. I felt sympathy and sadness with the main character Stephanos, but it is not a sad book, just one I will always re-visit. I could go on, but can only recommend it highly.

The amount of notes and little pictures on virtually every page was way too distracting and spoiled the read of a great novelShould have been made clearer on the site

Ho scoperto, con grande delusione, che "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears" non è altro che "Children of the Revolution", libro che avevo già acquistato e letto con piacere ma non tanto da volerne un'altra copia con un titolo diverso. Esperienza più unica che rara. Maniera singolare di vendere lo stesso libro due volte cambiandone titolo. Mi piacerebbe che qualcuno spiegasse.

Nicely written, well crafted. The story and the main character Sepha Stephanos resonate with me, partly because I'm half-Ethiopian myself and having lived in both Ethiopia and Europe, mostly though due to the gentle writing that still packs a punch. I really felt for Sepha and at the same time felt annoyed becasue he'd given up and allowed himself to be gupled up by his trauma- not saying that the trauma of a childhood ruptured by a dictatorship, and losing your home and family, then hope, missing people and the past, and never being fully at home in either culture is something that is easily overcome.

Great book Great condition.