The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears

By: Dinaw Mengestu

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Ethiopian émigré Dinaw Mengestu is a skilled observer of people who offers a colorful debut work of fiction. Insightful and swiftly paced, this novel evokes past and present in the course of its compelling narrative. It's the `70s, and one D.C. neighborhood is undergoing big changes. In the mix is Ethiopian grocery owner Sepha Stephanos - a man with a complex past who fled his homeland after seeing his father brutalized by themilitary. He hopes for new prospects in D.C.'s gentrification process, but his store is struggling. Next door to his apartment building lives Judith, a successful white woman working to renovate her house. As Sepha bonds with Judith and her biracial, 11-year-old daughter Naomi, he is inevitably subject to the mounting pressures of race and class that are in flux around them.©2007 Dinaw Mengestu (P)2008 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

Mengestu has told a rich and lyrical story of displacement and loneliness. I was profoundly moved by this tale of Ethiopian immigrant's search for acceptance, peace, and identity. (Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns)

This is not a story for only an immigrant audience. The author, Dinaw Mengestu, writes in a way that makes this a universal story. In doing so, he does what the best writers accomplish. ( The Oregonian)

[W]onderfully written and moving. ( Esquire)

Terrific story

I liked it all -story and characters and reader kept me very interested to the end

Life unfulfilled

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no

Any additional comments?

the book drags on from one disappointment to the next. Good news is never realized, the main character just constantly struggles in a depressing story of an immigrant's life trying to realize a better life in the US.

Overall Experience - Beautiful

This is a book about the struggle of leaving your home and family, and trying to build a new life elsewhere. The book looks inside its characters, it's not action packed. If you expect a happy ending, don't read it. Moreover, if this were a "feel good" book, the book would not be as affecting. The writing is beautiful, as was the narration. Full disclosure: I didn't expect to be drawn into this book but I loved it. I will be reading more from this talented author!

Enchanting!

Beautiful story about an Ethiopian man who immigrated to America in the seventies and owns shabby grocery store in Logan Circle. Covers the immigrant experience, love and gentrification. I really enjoyed every word.

Fantastic Narrator

What did you like best about The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears? What did you like least?

The narrator was incredible. The voices of different characters were clearly distinguishable. He did a great job with the reading.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was a bit anti-climactic.

Was The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears worth the listening time?

Yes!!!