All Our Names
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014
272
Novel • Fiction
Uganda, Chicago • 1970s
2014
Adult
18+ years
All Our Names by Dinaw Mengestu, published in 2014, follows a young man from a small African village who travels to Kampala to study literature amid revolutionary fervor, forming a deep bond with a politically active friend named Isaac. As Isaac becomes more entrenched in the revolution, the narrator flees to the American Midwest, where he navigates an interracial romantic relationship with a social worker named Helen. The book contains depictions of violence and racial discrimination.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Nostalgic
Bittersweet
Mysterious
5,519 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Dinaw Mengestu's All Our Names is praised for its poignant and nuanced portrayal of identity and displacement, with strong character development and evocative prose. However, some critics feel the dual narrative structure can be disorienting, and certain plot elements lack depth. Overall, it’s a compelling read that powerfully explores the immigrant experience.
Readers who appreciate All Our Names by Dinaw Mengestu are often drawn to profound explorations of identity, political upheaval, and cross-cultural relationships. Fans of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun and Junot Díaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao will find Mengestu's narrative compelling and thought-provoking.
5,519 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
272
Novel • Fiction
Uganda, Chicago • 1970s
2014
Adult
18+ years
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