A review by lindseyzank
Waiting for an Angel by Helon Habila

4.0

The opening story, which Habila won the Cain prize for, is beautifully imagined and told. The open-ended finale to Lomba's story allows for a hope that is much needed in Africa today. The other stories, though they do connect to the first one, are not as strong. I was on the edge of my seat during the suspenseful scene following the protest, but left feeling disjointed and a bit confused during some of the other scenes. Because the novel as a whole is so short, I had a hard time feeling intimately connected to any of the characters (even Lomba at times). Habila's style of writing is poignant and fluid; the style of this particular narrative is a bit choppy, though. Despite my gripes, I definitely recommend Habila's first novel, if nothing more but to give you a taste of his work, because his second novel is stronger.