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katiez624's review against another edition
4.0
As the child of immigrants, the immigrant experience is one that has ceaselessly fascinated me. It is uncanny how similar the experiences are of first- and second-generation immigrants, regardless of the country of origin. Assimilating into a new culture and looking for a sense of belonging are common struggles that permeate many immigrant stories.
This collection of essays by a variety of writers captures the heart of the immigrant experience. The stories span immigration of all types, from East to West, West to East, and even into neighboring countries.
Although each writer has his/her own distinct style, these stories are articulate and skillfully done. There were quite a few that resonated deeply with me, while others seemed more disjointed. I have no doubt this collection is one that will speak to a lot of people.
This collection of essays by a variety of writers captures the heart of the immigrant experience. The stories span immigration of all types, from East to West, West to East, and even into neighboring countries.
Although each writer has his/her own distinct style, these stories are articulate and skillfully done. There were quite a few that resonated deeply with me, while others seemed more disjointed. I have no doubt this collection is one that will speak to a lot of people.
jennu__u's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A really well curated collection of essays! After reading each essay, I genuinely felt as if my perspective of the world had been challenged, even if just microscopically, and that is a sign of a great piece for me. Added together, this book is a beautiful portfolio of all the magic and trauma of immigration, and a wonderful tribute to the migration of people around the world.
laura_ge's review
informative
reflective
3.5
Like so many other essay collections, I liked some essays a lot more than others. The standouts for me were "Why We Cross the Border in El Paso" and "Arab Past, American Present." As a whole, this collection of essays explores themes of immigration, forced assimilation, and the ways various ethnic groups preserve their cultures through food, language, and religion.
bookish_by_elle's review
4.0
A country is impossible to contain; a people are impossible to boil to the silt of parchment. A map is only one story. It is not the most important story. The most important story is the one a people tell about themselves.
There isn't much I would like to say about this anthology other than I liked it just fine. There were some pieces I enjoyed more than others but I liked them all for the most part. These are not all immigration stories and they do not all center the US (what I personally enjoyed most about this book). But these are stories about people and how they discover, occupy, interact with foreign spaces, spaces where they are different, where they don't necessarily fit in.
There isn't much I would like to say about this anthology other than I liked it just fine. There were some pieces I enjoyed more than others but I liked them all for the most part. These are not all immigration stories and they do not all center the US (what I personally enjoyed most about this book). But these are stories about people and how they discover, occupy, interact with foreign spaces, spaces where they are different, where they don't necessarily fit in.
altlovesbooks's review
4.0
This was kind of a mixed bag of essays about the immigration experience, told by people who have lived it. On one hand, I thought the writing style was pretty great throughout (I see others disagree here, which is fine) and the emotion in most of these stories is pretty plain to see. Lots of feelings of longing, loss, identity, several stories were heart achingly sad and others thought provoking. "The Wailing" by Nadia Owusu stuck with me because of the juxtaposition of professional funeral wailers from the United Nations African Wives Association wailing for three days in modern Rome, and the disassociation the author feels between them and what she remembers of her father. "Mourning My Birthplace" by Natalia Sylvester was also memorable, where a woman who migrated from Peru said goodbye to a beloved grandfather once then and then again later.
There's a lot to like here, even for people like me who don't have that personal connection with the immigration issue. The essays are extremely diverse, written predominately by female writers, and really is a good read for anyone interested in a different point of view.
There's a lot to like here, even for people like me who don't have that personal connection with the immigration issue. The essays are extremely diverse, written predominately by female writers, and really is a good read for anyone interested in a different point of view.
friendlypoet's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Colonisation, Death of parent, Deportation, Islamophobia, Terminal illness, Dysphoria, Racism, Classism, Child death, and Misogyny
sunflowerjess's review
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Beautiful, intimate, and thought-provoking.