Books matching: immigration experience
100 result(s)
Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas is a light and amusing memoir that chronicles the author's experiences as an Iranian immigrant in the United States during the 1970s. Through a series of anecdotes, Dumas provides insights into her family's journey from Iran to Southern California, capturing the challenges and humor of adapting to a new culture while navigating the complexities of identity and belonging. The book offers a blend of cultural observations, language barriers, and familial dynamics, all narrated with a touch of humor and warmth that resonates with readers.
Our move to Whittier was temporary. My father, Kazem, an engineer with the National Iranian Oil Company, had been assigned to consult for an American firm for about two years. Having spent several yea...- #2Jobby:
Save:'Job' by Joseph Roth is a novel that follows the life of Mendel Singer, an ordinary Jew living in a Jewish community in Russian Eastern Europe. The story is a modern-day take on the biblical character Job, as Mendel faces extreme adversity and struggles with faith and hope while navigating through challenges such as family tragedies, immigration to America, and personal losses. Roth's writing style is described as clear, poetic, and fable-like, capturing the tension between keeping faith and losing hope in the face of hardships.
Carlos Bulosan's 'America Is in the Heart: A Personal History' is a memoir novel that delves into his experiences as a Filipino immigrant in America during the Great Depression. The book vividly portrays the struggles faced by Filipinos in the twentieth century, highlighting themes of racism, oppression, and the pursuit of a better life. Bulosan's writing style is direct and unambiguous, offering a raw and honest account of the challenges and hardships endured by immigrants in America.
I was the first to see him coming slowly through the tall grass in the dry bottom of the river. He walked with measured steps and when he reached the spreading mango tree that separated our land from ...Kim Thuy's novel 'Vi' follows the journey of a young Vietnamese girl named Vi and her family as they navigate the aftermath of the Vietnam War and resettle in Canada. Through a series of brief sketches, the book explores Vi's coming of age, her experiences as a refugee, and her struggles with identity and belonging in a new country. Thuy's writing style is described as poetic, minimalist, and exquisite, capturing the essence of Vietnamese culture and the complexities of Vi's personal growth.
I WONDER IF THE openness regarding personal details derives from the tropical temperatures that discourage the shutting of doors, windows, and walls; the lack of space between the two or three generat...- #5
Save:'Reproduction' by Ian Williams is an experimental family saga that spans generations, exploring the complexities of relationships and unconventional family structures. The novel follows the lives of characters like Felicia, Edgar, Army, Oliver, Heather, and Riot, delving into themes of immigration, choices, and living with consequences. The book is uniquely structured, with four parts that jump through time and perspectives, incorporating elements like short stories, poems, and fragmented narratives.
Before she died her mother was prickly. Before her mother died she was. One more time. Before her mother died she, her mother, was prickly. One more time. Before her mother died she, her mother, prick... - #6
Save:"In Other Words" by Jhumpa Lahiri is an autobiographical book where the author shares her journey of learning and writing in Italian. Lahiri's deep dive into her emotional landscape regarding her study of Italian, the struggles she faced, and her determination to become fluent in the language are central themes in the book. The narrative explores Lahiri's decision to move her family to Italy for total immersion in the language, showcasing her frustrations and achievements in becoming proficient enough to write in Italian.
The book is a unique departure from Lahiri's previous works, as she delves into her personal experience with language and cultural identity. Through the lens of her immersion in Italian, Lahiri reflects on themes of self-discovery, belonging, and the complexities of straddling multiple identities. The narrative is layered with metaphors and analogies, providing readers with a glimpse into Lahiri's journey of falling in love with a new language and the challenges she faced in expressing herself authentically in Italian.
We talk about our lives, about the state of the world. We do an avalanche of exercises, arid but necessary. The teacher corrects me constantly. As I listen to her, I take notes in a diary. After each ... "The Land of Open Graves: Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail" by Jason De Leon is a compelling ethnography that delves into the harrowing experiences of undocumented migrants crossing the Sonoran Desert to reach America. De Leon's research exposes the systematic violence migrants face, shedding light on the inhumane practices of the U.S. government in border control. Through interviews and vivid descriptions, the author humanizes these migrants, giving them a voice and highlighting the complexities of immigration policies and the struggles faced by those seeking a better life.
De Leon's writing style is comprehensive, emotional, and scientifically rigorous, providing readers with a deep understanding of the realities faced by migrants. The book not only serves as an exposé of U.S. border policies but also emphasizes the importance of addressing immigration as a human rights issue. With a focus on the four fields of anthropology, De Leon's work offers a thorough exploration of the experiences of border crossers, engaging readers in a critical conversation about immigration and violence in the U.S.
Drive out in the late afternoon to one of the many hills on the outskirts of the tiny Arizona town of Arivaca and look west. You will see the golden sun creep behind the Baboquivari Mountains. The van...- #8
Save:In the midst of winter, a minor traffic accident brings together three individuals with complex pasts - an immigrant caregiver, a visiting scholar from Chile, and a widowed professor. As they navigate through the present time story, intertwined with each person's backstory, they develop relationships and face unexpected challenges. The novel delves into the characters' histories, exploring themes of migration difficulties, political injustices, and personal tragedies, all set against a backdrop of a blizzard in New York City.
At the end of December 2015 winter had not yet reached Brooklyn. As Christmas approached with its jangle of bells, people were still in short sleeves and sandals, some of them celebrating nature’s ove... - #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 ... 'The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race' by Jesmyn Ward is a collection of essays and poems that provide insight into the experiences and perspectives of African Americans in the United States. Inspired by James Baldwin's work, the book is divided into three sections: Legacy, Reckoning, and Jubilee, covering the past, present, and future of race relations. The essays and poems touch on topics such as police brutality, historical injustices, and the ongoing struggles faced by the black community in America.
Through powerful and emotional writing, the contributors in this book offer a poignant reflection on the state of race relations in the US today. The collection elicits a range of emotions, from anger at continued racism to hope for the future, and provides a platform for black voices to be heard and understood. With a variety of perspectives and writing styles, the book aims to shed light on the complexities of race in America and spark conversations about prejudice and inequality.
It was an acquaintance’s idea to go there, to Baldwin’s house. He knew from living in Paris that Baldwin’s old place, the house where Baldwin died, was near an elegant and renowned hotel in the Côte d...
