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The God Who Begat a Jackal
The God Who Begat a Jackal: A Novel | Nega Mezlekia
6 posts | 2 read | 6 to read
A Library Journal Best Book Nega Mezlekia's memoir Notes from the Hyena's Belly was described in the New York Times Book Review as "the most riveting book about Ethiopia since Ryszard Kapuscinski's literary allegory The Emperor and the most distinguished African literary memoir since Soyinka's Ak appeared 20 years ago." Mezlekia now offers a first novel steeped in African folklore and teeming with the class, ethnic and religious struggles of pre-colonial Africa. In The God Who Begat a Jackal, the 17th-century feudal system, vassal uprisings, religious mythology, and the Crusades are intertwined with the love between Aster, the daughter of a feudal lord, and Gudu, the court jester and family slave. Aster and Gudu's relationship is the ultimate taboo, but supernatural elements presage a destiny more powerful than the rule of man. With Mezlekia's enchanting storytelling and ironic humor, readers glimpse African deities that have long since weathered away and the social cleavages that have endured through time.
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review
Bookworm54
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Pickpick

Managed to get a couple of hours in for #20in4 finishing my #Ethiopia #FoodAndLit read

I loved this. It reads like a fairytale that is based in African folklore. Kind of weird and dreamy in style so it won‘t be for everyone.

Forbidden love, magic, religious fervour and rebellion, war, sacrifice and revenge. This book has a bit of everything! The folklore included was intriguing, and the historical information at the end really wrapped it up!

Butterfinger Great review. 3y
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookworm54
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This book is so weird with the mixing of folklore into a historical fantasy, and I love it!
But I just stumbled across this seemingly benign quote and it tickled me.

“A small army of volunteers was dispatched in search of an Englishman - it was thought one might be roaming the region renaming rivers and mountains.”

#FoodAndLit #Ethiopia

LitStephanie Haha! What is the saying--if you ever see an Englishman standing over a map with a pencil, slap it out of his hand? 3y
Bookworm54 @LitStephanie I hadn‘t heard that before but I love it! Haha 3y
40 likes2 comments
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Bookworm54
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I am so excited to read this for #FoodAndLit #Ethiopia

Aside from the beautiful cover (and my equally beautiful bookmark from Christmas!) it promises a mix of history (and castes), African folklore, and forbidden romance!

I have just finished part 1 and it is so good! There is a lot to take in, but it is setting the scene for the two main characters, and I can‘t wait to see how it progresses 😍

Butterfinger How intriguing! I love everything about this post. 😍 3y
Come-read-with-me Stacked! 3y
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review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ This story is told in a combo of typical narrative but mostly a heavy dose of folktale epic. Don't expect much in the way of character growth, because that's not the purpose of the book. However, the gorgeous writing & dense worldbuilding carried me through & still made me invest in the characters. I loved the mythic hyperbole & how well balanced it was to seem absurd at times but still make sense in the context of the story. #blackathon

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hissingpotatoes
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It is the stale breath of Death on his open and vulnerable neck that immortalizes the hero, that lends a fireside story its luster.

#blackathon

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Tianarose
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@StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego @TheKidUpstairs @ShelleyBooksie my revamped top picks. All under 400 pages this time!

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego What is the one at the bottom? 5y
Tianarose @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Sadly one that‘s almost 500 pages. That‘s a copy of (edited) 5y
ShelleyBooksie @tianarose - the only one I've read is The Wonder 5y
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TheKidUpstairs Only one I've read is The Wonder 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Ah ok. Well I haven't read any! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I'm intrigued by the tagged book though. 5y
Tianarose @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I am too! The author immigrated from Ethiopia. I‘m torn on which to pick.😬 I may have to get my kids to be tie-breakers. 😂 5y
38 likes7 comments