In high school, I began to dig my way into Ethiopian history, and began to understand myself as a young man formed by multiple narratives. Dinaw Mengestu begindigethiopian Change image and share on social
I was always curious about the anxiety a person would feel when you open your mouth and you have an accent. You could have a Ph.D. or be a lawyer, but as soon as you say something, you may be diminished in the eyes of someone else. Dinaw Mengestu accentanxietycurious share on social
As for most writers, language is vital for me: a writer's ability to render a fictional world - characters, landscape, emotions - into something original that alters or deepens my understanding of both literature and life. Dinaw Mengestu abilityaltercharacter share on social
As a writer, it's a great narrative tool to have that character who is slightly detached but at the same time observant of his reality, because I think that's pretty much what being a writer is - being there, watching and internalizing. Dinaw Mengestu characterdetachgreat share on social
The MFA program did one great thing for me: It taught me how to be a better reader and critic. Nothing I wrote during my time at Columbia remains - but learning how to really deconstruct a work of fiction - that, of course, is a permanent part of me now. Dinaw Mengestu columbiacriticdeconstruct share on social
I told my parents I was going to be a doctor and then a lawyer, but I never believed it and never tried. Dinaw Mengestu believedoctorlawyer Change image and share on social
Personally, it's a comfort and happiness to know that my work is taken seriously and is not marginalised and put in a box of ethnic immigrant writing in America. Dinaw Mengestu americaboxcomfort Change image and share on social
I wrote my first book without being to Ethiopia since I was two years old. Dinaw Mengestu bookethiopiawrite Change image and share on social