Books matching: exile experiences
29 result(s)
- #1
Save:'Before Night Falls' by Reinaldo Arenas is an intense autobiography that provides a unique LGBTQI perspective on life in Castro's Cuba. The book chronicles the life of Arenas, depicting his struggles as a gay man in a restrictive society, his experiences with exile, and his ultimate tragic death by suicide. Through vivid descriptions, the author captures the early years of Cuban communism, offering a confronting yet tastefully humorous insight into the challenges faced by individuals like him.
Arenas' memoir also delves into the political and social landscape of Cuba under Castro's regime, shedding light on the impact of the revolution on everyday life, the persecution of dissidents, and the harsh realities of Cuban prisons. The book portrays a celebration of life amidst adversity, highlighting the resilience and creativity of Cuban writers who were persecuted as dissidents in the twentieth century.
I was two. I was standing there, naked. I bent down and licked the earth. The first taste I remember is the taste of the earth. I used to eat dirt with my cousin Dulce María, who was also two. I was a... - #2
Save:'In a Free State' by V.S. Naipaul is a collection of thematically connected stories that explore themes of immigration, colonialism, exile, and cultural identity. The book includes three major pieces, each with distinct plots and characters, but all linked by the common thread of displacement and struggles in foreign lands. Naipaul's writing style is described as detached and impersonal, offering a strong, depressing feel to the stories and evoking a sense of dislocation and crisis for the characters.
The narratives in the book range from a young man's journey from Bombay to Washington and the regrets of his decisions, to a story of an English couple driving through an unnamed East African country amidst political upheaval. Naipaul's depiction of characters and settings, particularly in the titular novella, creates tension and a sense of impending horror, akin to a Hitchcock thriller, while addressing the difficulties of adjusting to new environments and cultures.
IT WAS ONLY a two-day crossing from Piraeus to Alexandria, but as soon as I saw the dingy little Greek steamer I felt I ought to have made other arrangements. Even from the quay it looked overcrowded,... 'The Country Under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War' by Gioconda Belli is a memoir detailing the author's journey from a disaffected young woman in Nicaragua, to her involvement in the Sandinista movement against the Somoza dictatorship, her life in exile, and her return to Nicaragua post-revolution. Belli's writing evocatively portrays her political awakening, involvement in clandestine activities, and interactions with powerful political figures like Fidel Castro, providing an insider's view of the Nicaraguan revolution. also delves into Belli's personal life, including her marriages, love affairs, and the challenges of balancing motherhood with her revolutionary activities.
'Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories' by Ghassan Kanafani is a collection of short stories that vividly illustrate the struggles and experiences of Palestinians. The titular novella follows three Palestinian men attempting to cross the border to Kuwait for a better life, showcasing strong and memorable characters facing palpable challenges. Kanafani's writing style is powerful and poignant, delving into themes of displacement, loss, and resilience within the Palestinian community.
- #5
Save:'When We Left Cuba' by Chanel Cleeton follows the story of Beatriz Perez, a teenager from a privileged Cuban family who flees to Palm Beach in the early 1960s. Determined to seek revenge against Castro for her brother's death, Beatriz gets involved in espionage with the CIA to work towards a free Cuba. The plot is described as complex and plausible, with detailed historical accounts and heartbreaking events that keep the reader engaged. The writing style is praised for immersing the reader in the story, with rich historical detail and engaging characters that bring the era of Cold War politics and Cuban exiles to life.
The thing about collecting marriage proposals is they’re much like cultivating eccentricities. One is an absolute must for being admired in polite—or slightly less-than-polite—society. Two ensure you’...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series The Cuba Saga ) - #6
Save:'Exile and the Kingdom' by Albert Camus is a collection of short stories that delve into themes of existentialism, absurdity of life, and human nature. Each story presents a unique and thought-provoking narrative, exploring the complexities of human emotions and actions. Camus' writing style is described as deep, meaningful, and filled with philosophical insights that challenge readers to contemplate the meaning of life.
AHOUSEFLY had been circling for the last few minutes in the bus, though the windows were closed. An odd sight here, it had been silently flying back and forth on tired wings. Janine lost track of it, ... "The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia" by Esther Hautzig is a poignant memoir depicting the experiences of a young girl, Esther, and her family who were arrested and exiled to Siberia during World War II. The narrative delves into the struggles and hardships faced by the Rudomin family as they work in labor camps in Siberia, battling hunger, cold, and deprivation. Through Esther's perspective, readers witness the resilience and hope that kept the family alive during their time in exile, providing a unique insight into the lesser-known experiences of Jews during the war.
The time was June 1941 and the place was Vilna, a city in the north-eastern corner of Poland. And I was ten years old and took it quite for granted that all over the globe people tended their gardens ...- #8
Save:Disoriental by Negar Djavadi is a gripping narrative that delves into the lives of an intellectual family forced to flee Iran due to political turmoil. The story follows Kimia and her family as they navigate the complexities of exile in Paris, highlighting the traumas, relationships, and resilience they encounter along the way. Through a non-linear structure, the author weaves together the family's past in Iran with their present struggles in a foreign land, offering a poignant reflection on identity, history, and the impact of political upheaval.
The wing of Cochin Hospital dedicated to medically-assisted procreation has been a construction site for several months. From what I understand, the building’s going to be torn down, and the departmen... - #9
Save:Set largely in China, readers become acquainted with the families of Sparrow and Kai at the Shanghai Conservatory in the 1960s, pulling the narrative forward from the Communist Revolution to the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square and even providing updates after that event. The book shows a relationship between mathematics and music. As a genealogist, I was particularly drawn to the mentions of the Book of Records. As a musician, I was drawn to the rest of the story. The writing was strong. A more in depth knowledge of twentieth century Chinese history would make the work more enjoyable than it already was. The book was well deserving of its shortlisting for the Man Booker Prize. Thien's magnum opus reminded me of The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes, a fictionalized biography of Shostakovich trying to survive under the thumb of Stalin. Thien's book is an ambitious, multi generational, multi layered story, beginning in Vancouver but focusing on the cultural revolution in China. Thien's quiet writing belies the emotional depth of a story that describes people trying to endure and retain their human spirit through their love of music and art. It is advisable to pay attention because, although brilliant, this is not an easy read that has many characters and a lot happening with the risk of significant ramifications. By the time I reached the events at Tiananmen Square I was completely hooked. I wish I had known more about Chinese history and government before I started. This is a novel of epic scope and ambition, a complex family story that starts in the China of the 1950s and ends in the present day. The pivotal events are the Cultural Revolution, and specifically the destruction of the Shanghai Conservatory and the denunciations of the musicians there, and the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and their violent aftermath. There are also many other themes largely musical but also some intriguing digressions on Chinese writing and mathematics. Thien's characters are memorable and I found the book compulsively readable and moving. For most of the book I thought this was one of the best books I had read all year, but later I felt a little let down, firstly because of a glaring factual error in which she claims that Bach and Busoni were born 300 years apart the true figure is no more than 181 and also because the story lost a little impetus and clarity of focus towards the end. I still think it is the best book on the Booker shortlist and would make a worthy winner. This is a wonderful written family saga of recent Chinese history with a lovely focus on music, epic novels and love. A young man watches China transform after a brutal civil war, falls in love with western music, endures the Cultural Revolution and throughout the events leading up the Tienanmen Square massacre. Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeline Thien is a multi generational novel about the Chinese Cultural Revolution and afterwards that puts all other multi generational novels to shame. It's really good, combining wonderful and vibrant character studies with excellent writing and story structure. Thien deserves all the praise she's received for this book. Marie is a girl living Vancouver, Canada, with her mother, her father having returned to China and committed suicide, when they are joined by Ai ming, a college student fleeing China in the aftermath of Tiananmen Square. She leaves them to go to the US in hopes of being granted asylum and Marie never sees her again. In adulthood, Marie undertakes a search for Ai ming, who may have returned to China. As her search goes on, the story is told of how Ai ming and Marie's family were connected and goes further back to the story of Ai ming's parents and grandparents, as they survive WWII, Mao's reign as dictator and on into the turmoil of Tiananmen Square. It's a lot of history, and a quantity of characters, but Thien juggles the storylines adeptly and makes each character from Big Mother Knife to Marie herself, vivid and complex. This is a novel well worth reading. Also, it's a page turner.
IN A SINGLE YEAR, my father left us twice. The first time, to end his marriage, and the second, when he took his own life. That year, 1989, my mother flew to Hong Kong and laid my father to rest in a ... - #10
Save:'The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty' by Sebastian Barry follows the life of Eneas McNulty, a simple man caught up in the troubles of Ireland, accused of a crime he didn't commit. Forced to leave home, Eneas becomes a wanderer, experiencing loss, vulnerability, and the destructiveness of the Irish civil war. Sebastian Barry's writing style is described as lyrical, poetic, and engaging, portraying the tragic consequences of sectarianism in 20th century Ireland through beautifully drawn characters and gorgeous prose.
In the middle of the lonesome town, at the back of John Street, in the third house from the end, there is a little room. For this small bracket in the long paragraph of the street’s history, it belong...
