Habeshaviews’s Weblog

Gracha Kachiloch, that literally translates to the ”Gray Bells” is one of the greatest books written in contemporary Ethiopian literature.

The Amharic book narrates the story of a young boy growing up in northern part of Ethiopia. It is not the usual mainstream kind of book saying;

wededechiw wededat

yizuat geba belelit.

Through the life experiences of the main character, Mezgebu, the writer criticizes Societal beliefs , customs ,religion and tradition. As the story takes us through the life cycle of the character we see society being looked at in the eyes of a child, a young boy , a young man and a grown up.

The writer, Adam Retta, is well known amongst Ethiopians for his Chekov like short stories and specially the compiled book ,Mahlet.

Reading Adam’s new book,Gracha Kachiloch, reminded me of the book ”One Hundred Years of Solitude” By the Latin American writer Garcia Marquez. Similar style and criticism.

It definitly deserves a chance in to your list of ‘to be read’ books !