The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears

This is a magnificently simple book. Deceptively simple, like the Old Man and the Sea, in that you breeze through it and think "nice story" but when you pause for one moment and think about it, you realize that it is so much more than a nice story. A blend of the political uncertainties and accompany......more

Big disappointment. This is all about an Ethiopian refugee who's now been in Washington DC for 17 years and runs a grocery store in a poor neighbourhood. Now the author must know whereof he speaks, but I could hardly believe the picture he painted. In 17 years, we are to understand that Sepha, our i......more

He fled the revolution In Ethiopia and came to America, To a neighborhood in Washington DC where he opened up a grocery store. This was a quiet story, or so it seemed. But it could have Ben because the narrator had a soft voice, a masculine soft voice. And this added to the beauty of the story. He was......more

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears was the July selection for my book club, but I almost didn't read it because I knew I wouldn't be able to make the actual meeting. But, I decided to read it anyway and I'm glad I did. My expectations going in may have shaped my feelings about the book. I knew......more

It came down to two things for me: The narrator and the location. The narrator's voice is haunting and sweet. Tinged with sadness and hope, that at times made it difficult to bear. But it propelled me on, hoping to see this kind and pitiful man receive some happiness, some lasting beauty in his life......more