GLORY is a political satire inspired by the unexpected fall of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president for almost 40 years until his removal by a coup. Bulawayo leverages biting prose and witty conversations to portray the events leading to the fall of a long-time autocrat, the advancement of a new president who promises change but repeats dictatorship, and finally, the rise of the disenfranchised to take back their power and fight for liberation. But all the characters in the story are animals!

As a lover of satire, I thoroughly enjoy how Bulawayo writes about the oppressors, their thoughts, actions, and general disregard for the well-being of their people. While some reviews stated the repetitiveness of her writing, I personally adore this insertion of repetitive words and phrases that sometimes last a whole page; artistically, I think it strengthens the point of how brutal the regime is with a deep sense of sarcasm. But this writing style is likely not something everyone will enjoy.

GLORY reminds me a lot of BoJack Horseman, my all-time favorite TV series with anthropomorphic animals; both star animals as characters and utilize satire to discuss heavy topics. GLORY is a brilliant story that examines the cruelty of totalitarian rule and the resilience of the oppressed. It is a book that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you cry. GLORY is political satire at its finest.