First Published in Amharic in 1983, (and then banned rapidly after publication) Oromay has now been translated into English in it's entirety. And as a BONUS - it is now out in a very listenable audio-book as well!
I would like to thank both Penguin Random House and Highbridge Audio and of course Net Galley for the Advanced Listener copy.It was an honor to read/listen to this important novel.
I loved this cover, and was so excited to dive into this one. I had very few expectations, though I admit I did have some, given my personal experiences with Eritrea.
No Spoiler Summary (because spoilers are just the WORST) - Oromay ( an Eritrean word adapted from the Italian oromai meaning pointless or finished) tells the story of a fictional journalist's experiences embarking on the Red Star campaign in Eritrea. Set in Asmara, the reader is embedded into all the wild nights, political intrigue and exploits and front line action in what was a long, bitter conflict occurring over decades. Girma was a journalist and it seems this very personal novel is a fictionalized account of the actual Red Star Campaign and true events. (For those unaware, the Red Star Campaign was a large effort on the part of the Ethiopian Government to eliminate the Eritrean insurgency.) To call this a "historical fiction" novel somehow, seems incorrect, however. It has a much different feel to it, and- overall, I'm not sure what to call it. It's being sold as a Spy/Thiller, but that somehow doesn't quite capture the essence of this novel. This is more like autobiographical fiction, rather than historical fiction- and it's autobiographical fiction that the author may have paid for with his life. It's hard to tell though, what is fact, and what's fiction so, likely best to enjoy as fiction. Oromay surprised me with a compelling narrative of revolution, love and betrayal. This book was banned (In Ethiopia) very soon after it was published, and Girma himself, vanished soon after, which solidified interest in both the author and the novel itself.
I consumed the novel like a sweet delicious coffee. There's treachery, intrigue, gruesome battles, romance, and a dramatic ending that leaves the reader thinking about the nature of life and death for a long time to come.
The narration was performed by Beru Tessema and it was perfection. For many English readers- the amount of unfamiliar names with unusual spellings will be daunting. With Beru Tessema, these all rolled off the tongue naturally and kept the story moving forward. Some readers may find the way the story unfolds to feel a little slow- but I'm going to encourage readers to stick with it. The sort of slow measured feel seems to reflect how the campaign itself rolled out over Asmara. The novel pulls the reader in deeper and deeper, just as the Red Star officials were pulled into Asmara and Eritrea, not all at once, but slowly over a period of weeks. One warm evening at a time.
Did I find myself rooting for one character in particular? Not really- this isn't that sort of novel where a hero emerges out of rubble. instead, as a reader I found that my understanding of life and death and the choices made in difficult times broadened with each unfurling chapter - making this a rather remarkable piece of fiction. It is a book in translation - David DeGusta and Mesfin Felleke Yirgu are the translators, and I did have to check a few times to be sure it was a translation. I can't speak to the accuracy, but I can say that it was very readable.
For me this novel is as much of a love song to Eritrea, as it is a an anti-war statement. Oddly, Eritrea was the first place I worked in Africa - kicking off multiple trips across the continent to provide medical education and care over decades. My experiences in Asmara were full of adventure, drama and joy. I was very young and had an incomplete understanding of the politics of the region. (which may be part of the reason I enjoyed my time there so much.) Girma's descriptions of Asmara took me back to the city. His descriptions of night life within Asmara brought back a lot of memories of a city that has strongly held on to some Italian influence. Indeed, I experienced some chills and surprise as I realized the hospital he described was the very same hospital I have worked at- decades later. As is noted in the novel, Asmara is a small place, and to know I'd been in literally the same places gave the novel a bit more meaning as I devoured it.
This novel is perfect for book clubs, students, readers of John Lecarre, and Phillip Kerr. I wish I'd had the opportunity to read it prior to jetting off to Asmara myself, as the conflict there is nuanced and a bit difficult for outsiders to fully grasp. If you're looking for a book in translation, or a book to diversify your shelf- I recommend this as an option!
STATS
First Published February 2025
Pages: 416
Available as an Audio Book : Yes
Trigger Warnings: war, violence, grief, infidelity, body horror, body injury
(this is not a full list, read responsibly)
Well, I didn't even know Eritrea was a country. Sounds like an interesting read. Did it feel dated because it was written so long ago?
ReplyDeleteHi - I mean there were no cell phones or things like that, but it felt like - appropriate to the setting. Would you call All Quiet on the Western Front Dated because it was not written last year?
ReplyDelete