All Our Names was a beautifully written story. Mengestu is clearly a very talented storyteller. The story is filled with a large amount of violence as the beginning of a strong bonding friendship is formed between two men through an African revolution. There is a parallel story also being told of one of the men and a relationship he becomes involved in with his social worker in Mid-West America. A common thread among both stories is the names that the characters are given throughout. Names was a prevalent theme throughout the novel. I very seldom give such thought to the title of a novel but All Our Names is so fitting and beautiful.