becky's review
Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb
this book was a surprise gem that exceeded my expectations. it's about a british-born white muslim woman who grows up in morocco after her hippie parents are murdered there. the book alternates between her life in harar, ethiopia, where she goes on a pilgrimage as a teenager and then settles down, and london, ten years later, after the ethiopian civil war forces her into exile. oftentimes i find novels that shift back and forth between two time periods to feel forced or awkward, but this one flows beautifully. gibb's writing is fluid and poetic and filled with lush, rich imagery, especially in the sections that take place in harar. the novel also elegantly addresses some fascinating themes, most notably questions of identity and the tension between religious belief and human nature. it makes sense that gibb was educated as an anthropologist, because this novel is so full of information about ethiopia and islam that, in addition to being moved by the story, i felt like i actually learne...more
mm makes me want to read it :)
