Mezghebe’s Debut: Just “What You’re Looking For” https://ift.tt/7mLead3
One of the greatest joys of reading is getting lost in a new setting. We read to immerse ourselves in new experiences that enrich us, and in doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of humanity. Therefore, reading becomes an act of power: expansive, magical. And that magic is alive on every page of Bsrat Mezghebe’s debut novel, I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For.
The story follows three Eritrean women living in Washington, D.C., on the eve of Eritrean Independence. Lydia, a restless thirteen-year-old, is the American-born daughter of Elsa, a former rebel fighter in the Eritrean Ethiopian War. Lydia’s hunger for answers about her mother’s past drives her to desperate lengths, while Elsa — now running a hot-dog stand on the National Mall — does everything in her power to outrun the memories she has carried across the ocean. Living in the same building is Mama Zewdi, the family matriarch whose storyline explores the tension between duty and desire as she weighs the possibility of marriage against the dream of running her own restaurant.
From the moment I opened this book, I found myself thinking, this is storytelling at its finest. It is particularly difficult to reconcile the tremendous skill of Mezghebe’s prose with the fact that this is her first novel. Her writing is fresh and poignant, infused with a rich understanding of culture that places her in conversation with authors like Yaa Gyasi and Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie. If you can only make time for one novel this year, let it be this one.
Though the story is set in Washington, D.C., Eritrea serves as the gravitational center point of the novel. Each character orbits the country in some way: Lydia seeks roots she has never touched; Elsa tries to bury a past that refuses to stay quiet; and Zewdi reflects on the life she left behind. Mezghebe’s characters are always thinking about their homeland, whether consciously or subconsciously: “Eritrea, the shape of a key tiled 135 degrees, was always visible to their eyes and invisible to the rest of the world.”
What makes Mezghebe’s work so compelling is the way she threads Eritrea into the emotional fabric of the narrative. The war is not simply a historical backdrop but a living force that shapes the diaspora community in D.C. Mezghebe writes with awareness of how conflict reverberates across generations, and by doing so, gives voice to a country often overlooked in global consciousness.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its portrayal of community. Mezghebe brings to life the warmth and humor of Eritrean social circles in D.C., where people gather to celebrate, argue, gossip, and grieve together. Her dialogue sparkles with wit, making for many laugh-out-loud moments. A highlight is when Zewdi reflects on the myth of the American Dream: “They should have called it the ‘American Debt’ since that was the only way to afford it.” The line lands with a combination of humor and truth, a testament to Mezghebe’s sharp observational eye.
Mezghebe truly nails the small social cues that reveal who people are, using that insight to craft characters who are deeply, unapologetically human. Lydia’s cousin, Berekhet, who travels from Eritrea to stay with Lydia and her mother, is particularly well drawn. A sardonic teenager, Berekhet often views the world through humorous eyes, commenting on society in a way that will land with readers today. “’Adults want to know your profession so they can label you,” he tells Lydia in a mocking tone. “‘She’s a lawyer — she’s successful. He’s a musician — he’s not a serious person.’” It’s precisely these sharp, funny, and quietly revealing moments that bring the novel to life and make for a conclusion that remains with the reader long after.
No matter who you are or where you come from, Mezghebe’s writing will resonate. Her work feels especially relevant to today’s cultural landscape, bringing visibility to lives that history tends to ignore. So if you’re searching for your next great read, Mezghebe’s debut is where you’ll find it. I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For is sure to make you laugh and cry all at once, and what better way to brighten your reading year?
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