Behold the Dreamers in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 06, 2019 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: politics, america, culture, africa, contemporary, book-club, debut, immigrant

I admire the way Imbolo Mbue wrote effortlessly this natural, very relevant and relatable story of immigrant lives in America. All the dialogues, the problems, the frustrations and emotional scenes are so genuine I felt like I have known the characters and was with them throughout the book. I also love hoe she portrayed New York City and America as the land of the dreams - but is it really? And the bittersweet, realistic ending! Would love to recommend this book to everyone who loves a great sto ...more

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Jan 23, 2019 Ra rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: scribd

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it is quite an engaging story that kept me reading late into the night, on the other something about it was flat.
The author tried to take on so many topical issues African illegal immigrants trying to make a go of it in America, the disconnect between the poor and the privileged few, the questionable ethics of Wall Street, gay and civil rights, and the quest for happiness that eludes both rich and poor. One way of redemption, we could surmis I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand it is quite an engaging story that kept me reading late into the night, on the other something about it was flat.
The author tried to take on so many topical issues African illegal immigrants trying to make a go of it in America, the disconnect between the poor and the privileged few, the questionable ethics of Wall Street, gay and civil rights, and the quest for happiness that eludes both rich and poor. One way of redemption, we could surmise from the story, is putting family first, accepting what cannot be changed and letting go of unattainable dreams.

The story is of Jende, a Cameroonian man who comes to America on a tourist visa, and tries to remain there as an asylum-seeker. He is joined there by his wife Neni and their son. Neni applies to college and has ambitious plans to become a pharmacist. Their life seems to be going swimmingly when Jende gets a job as a driver for Mr. Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Then the stock market crashes and everything takes a dowturn for the family, to which another baby girl is added in the turmoil.

The author is of African origin herself, yet it disturbed me how stereotypical her characterization of Africans appeared. They are driven by wanting all the things they are deprived of. They are set in their own ways. Gender roles are set in stone despite outward pretense to the contrary. Their desire to live in America is purely materialistic and to achieve it they contemplate, and sometimes make morally abhorrent choices. They slave away in America for material wealth yet they fail to see the spiritual side of it. At some point Neni frequents a liberal Church downtown, but her relationship with the Church was purely self-serving and had no element of moral guidance, she only sought justifications and ways to connect and remain in America. I felt that there is an undertone of self-berating in the African characterization, even when it comes to the handful of successful Africans. For example there are glaring flaws in the character of the successful lawyer, Winston, who has expensive taste and goes out with white women he never intends to marry.

The white people in the story came out also one-dimensional, with the exception of Cindy Edwards, who has deep issues. But still, they are mostly pursuing the same illusion of happiness with their fancy decorated houses, designer clothes and expensive receptions.

One reviewer pointed out that the action in the story resembled that of a soap opera, and I could not agree more. Especially toward the end Jende and Neni were like puppets following the script to its conclusion. Their behavior choices also became increasingly strange, selfish, defensive, self-justifying and childish. I felt that at ultimately they came away with all the vices, but none of the virtues of America. All they thought about was how they would look different from those at home, and how much richer they will be. What did they learn from the experience on a moral level? Not much. The white folk where a bit luckier in their development. ...more

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Feb 18, 2018 Katie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: female-author, book-club, _us-new-york-city, immigrant-refugee

Jende is a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem and working as a driver for a Lehman Brothers executive. He is in the process of applying for asylum while his wife, Neni, is in school on a student visa. Both Jeni and Neni become privy to the world of the wealthy American family for which Jendi works and all of their troubles and secrets. After the financial collapse of 2008, all of their lives are thrown into turmoil as they try to cope with their new reality.

This book wasn't bad, it just felt ...more

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May 11, 2018 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, literary-schmiterary, fiction, nyc

Nothing much happens in this book, but in a way it's a book about everything.

And let me laugh at myself now for declaring that a book about America and the immigrant experience is a book about "everything" - talk about a USA-centric POV! So, yes, I am a white American woman and, since I'm talking about my experience reading this book, I am centering myself.

This isn't my usual kind of book, and at first I was impatient for something to happen. I just don't "do" character-driven novels. I got ov Nothing much happens in this book, but in a way it's a book about everything.

And let me laugh at myself now for declaring that a book about America and the immigrant experience is a book about "everything" - talk about a USA-centric POV! So, yes, I am a white American woman and, since I'm talking about my experience reading this book, I am centering myself.

This isn't my usual kind of book, and at first I was impatient for something to happen. I just don't "do" character-driven novels. I got over that quickly, though, and became fully invested in the characters, I winced when bad things seemed about to happen, I even got a little choked up now and then. I look forward to seeing what Mbue writes next.

I was a little surprised, though, at how male-centric the story is. Of course Mbue is not the first woman to write a male main character (J.K. Rowling is an obvious example, with both Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike), but the women in this story are so dependent on their men, they rarely have any agency of their own. I actually double-checked to see that the author is a woman, I was starting to think I had confused one book for another (wouldn't be the first time).

As noted, this book is about America. It's about the America filled with streets paved in gold, the America of the unwelcoming ICE, the America of Wall Street, the America of beach parties, the America of childless unloved children, the America of bankruptcy, cheating, alcoholism, delusion, generosity, selfishness, hard work, kindness, love, hope, and dreams. And a few other Americas, too. But this isnt everyone's America; I don't think any one book written by one author could hold everyone's truth within its pages. I was listening to this audiobook during the week that Childish Gambino released his new song & video, "This is America." The two complement each other nicely.

I always like to look at the one & two star reviews of a book. The reviews for this book are fair, the complaints that I see are primarily: 1) nothing happens and the book rambles, 2) this does not accurately represent the African American experience, 3) this feels like a first novel. And those things are true. But none of those issues were part of my expectations for this book, so I was not disappointed. ...more

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Jan 14, 2017 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: popular-fiction, netgalley

This book is hard to review because of its complexities. All of the characters are complicated and well developed. Each is multi layered and has different and sometimes surprising ways of approaching life. There are also a lot of narrative surprises. Overall it's a story of New York and the Great Recession and how it effected people at all ends of the spectrum. Mostly it's a story of honest, hard working immigrants, trying to make a better life in America. ...more

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