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aoifemoore's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
naomiflopes's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ourwhovian's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The story was definitely compelling and I will never forget the main characters, Jende and Neni. I am pretty sure that the author was trying to convey the theme of "family is everything", but that theme seemed lost on the Edwardes side of the story. Comparing the different perspectives and values of family between these two families was extremely eye-opening for me, yet it felt that the author had to explicitly restate the theme in order to prevent it from being lost amongst the characters' shifting motivations.
curlyc90's review
4.0
An absolutely relevant story about American Dreams. Two very different families get entangled in this novels. Both a family fighting for their dreams. The struggle, the happiness, and the loss of what it takes to get there. This book was a slow start for me but that's not to say I didn't find it enjoyable and relatable. I really liked it and the unexpected twist in the ending.
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
This is a poignant story of an immigrant family trying to make a life in the US. The juxtapositioning of their situation with that of a wealthy, white American family makes the story all the more heart-wrenching.
africanbookaddict's review against another edition
3.0
!!! https://africanbookaddict.com/2017/09/11/behold-the-dreamers-by-imbolo-mbue/
I read Behold the Dreamers back in June and its really been on my mind ever since. I’ve even been apprehensive about posting this book review because I feel my interpretation of this novel is quite judgmental as I’m interpreting the book’s happenings through my 1st generation privilege of never having experienced immigration ordeals. I recently discussed this novel with my parents and through our discussion, they made me aware of my Ghanaian-American privilege and encouraged me to try and accept Jende and Neni’s struggles as their (the characters’) truth and the truth of many Africans who strive to achieve the ‘American Dream’.
Reading and interpretation of text is highly subjective. The ways readers interpret and find meaning of books they read depends on their politics, morals, level of education, socio-economic status etc. I read this novel through a middle-class, 1st generation, pro-Africa/Black lens, so it was quite difficult for me to read and understand characters express self-hate and shame towards their African origins. Since Jende and Neni were of lower social class in Cameroon, was their xenocentrism of their country of origin justified? Most immigrants I know (of both lower and middle social classes) actually start deeply appreciating their countries of origin when they move to live in the States… but I do realize that for some folks, getting to America is truly their ultimate dream.
The ending of this novel felt realistic and made me appreciate Jende’s character evolution – flaws and all. While I disliked how Mbue perpetuates our self-hate through the characterization of Jende and (mostly) Neni, Behold the Dreamers strikes up conversation around immigration, identity and the need for African countries to better cater to their citizens (instead of us relying on living in Western nations to fulfill our dreams). In my opinion, this novel is popular because it perpetuates American nationalist views with African self-hate as a bi-product of it’s success.
Other compelling immigrant tales which I highly recommend over Behold the Dreamers are: So The Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist, Americanah by Chimamanda N. Adichie, Minaret by Leila Aboulela, Beyond the Horizon by Amma Darko.
I read Behold the Dreamers back in June and its really been on my mind ever since. I’ve even been apprehensive about posting this book review because I feel my interpretation of this novel is quite judgmental as I’m interpreting the book’s happenings through my 1st generation privilege of never having experienced immigration ordeals. I recently discussed this novel with my parents and through our discussion, they made me aware of my Ghanaian-American privilege and encouraged me to try and accept Jende and Neni’s struggles as their (the characters’) truth and the truth of many Africans who strive to achieve the ‘American Dream’.
Reading and interpretation of text is highly subjective. The ways readers interpret and find meaning of books they read depends on their politics, morals, level of education, socio-economic status etc. I read this novel through a middle-class, 1st generation, pro-Africa/Black lens, so it was quite difficult for me to read and understand characters express self-hate and shame towards their African origins. Since Jende and Neni were of lower social class in Cameroon, was their xenocentrism of their country of origin justified? Most immigrants I know (of both lower and middle social classes) actually start deeply appreciating their countries of origin when they move to live in the States… but I do realize that for some folks, getting to America is truly their ultimate dream.
The ending of this novel felt realistic and made me appreciate Jende’s character evolution – flaws and all. While I disliked how Mbue perpetuates our self-hate through the characterization of Jende and (mostly) Neni, Behold the Dreamers strikes up conversation around immigration, identity and the need for African countries to better cater to their citizens (instead of us relying on living in Western nations to fulfill our dreams). In my opinion, this novel is popular because it perpetuates American nationalist views with African self-hate as a bi-product of it’s success.
Other compelling immigrant tales which I highly recommend over Behold the Dreamers are: So The Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist, Americanah by Chimamanda N. Adichie, Minaret by Leila Aboulela, Beyond the Horizon by Amma Darko.
jmiles758's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Miscarriage
kcrawfish's review against another edition
4.0
Behold the Dreamers is an excellent picture of the faces at the heart of immigration into the United States, as it follows a family from Camaroon's struggle to fulfill their American Dream.
Neni and Jende Jonga arrive in New York full of hope, which is a bright light in the midst of the hard living in New York City. They marvel together over everyday things and work hard so that their children can have a better life. Diligence and a constantly grateful attitude seems to slip softly out of every pore, giving them happiness in the midst of exhaustion, bringing goodness to them in the midst of so many who've been beaten down by life. They really are "the dreamers" of America.
Jende gets a job as a chauffeur for a Wall Street lawyer, and his life changes dramatically. The two families' fates become entwined. The low-income, adult immigrants from West Africa interact on a daily basis with this very wealthy, American-born, New York family. The Jonga's thoughts on the Edwards' lives were always unpredictable and fun to read, just as the bizzar habits and attitudes of both families shocked me along. I particularly loved this quote from Jende on attitude in your work (he's talking to the Edward's oldest son who doesn't want to take on his opportunity at an ivy league education):
It's quotes like these that litter the novel, as the Jonga's decipher upper-class American life—it's so different from their own. It's sad to see their own lives in Africa discounted by Mrs. Edwards occasionally.
Mrs. Edwards, now there was an interesting character. They were all so human, and Mrs. Edwards represents those who are consumed by our problems, who can't move on and think we're entitled to self-pity and an easy life because of hard things. Neni Jonga was her foil—strong, facing her problems head on. Together, they represented the options you have when you react to issues in your life. It's countless other encounters like this that make the novel such an interesting read.
The Jonga's have only one perceptible thing standing between them and their goal for happiness: Green Cards. They begin the long process of fighting a legal battle that will drain them: spiritually and financially. They are determined to win:
They begin to fight their battle, and it's a slow, sad decent into hopelessness from there. The immigration process can be brutal, and when a major collapse of the economic system hits New York City, that hopelessness grows, turning Neni and Jende into people they're not.
Jende and Neni were so real to me. They had very real (and sometimes horrible) flaws, but that just served to make me love them more for their humanness. A personal look at what coming to America means, emotionally and financially, to those who so desperately want to be here.
More awesome reviews = http://rantingsravingsbookreviews.blogspot.com
Neni and Jende Jonga arrive in New York full of hope, which is a bright light in the midst of the hard living in New York City. They marvel together over everyday things and work hard so that their children can have a better life. Diligence and a constantly grateful attitude seems to slip softly out of every pore, giving them happiness in the midst of exhaustion, bringing goodness to them in the midst of so many who've been beaten down by life. They really are "the dreamers" of America.
Jende gets a job as a chauffeur for a Wall Street lawyer, and his life changes dramatically. The two families' fates become entwined. The low-income, adult immigrants from West Africa interact on a daily basis with this very wealthy, American-born, New York family. The Jonga's thoughts on the Edwards' lives were always unpredictable and fun to read, just as the bizzar habits and attitudes of both families shocked me along. I particularly loved this quote from Jende on attitude in your work (he's talking to the Edward's oldest son who doesn't want to take on his opportunity at an ivy league education):
"I don’t want to be a lawyer. I’ve never wanted to be a lawyer.”
“But why?”
“A lot of lawyers are miserable,” Vince said. “I don’t want to be miserable.”
“My cousin is a lawyer.”
“Is he happy?”
“Sometimes he’s happy, sometimes he’s not. Is there anybody who is happy all the time? A man can be unhappy doing any kind of work.”
“Sure.”
“Then why can you not just think you will be a happy man no matter what kind of work you do?”
It's quotes like these that litter the novel, as the Jonga's decipher upper-class American life—it's so different from their own. It's sad to see their own lives in Africa discounted by Mrs. Edwards occasionally.
Mrs. Edwards, now there was an interesting character. They were all so human, and Mrs. Edwards represents those who are consumed by our problems, who can't move on and think we're entitled to self-pity and an easy life because of hard things. Neni Jonga was her foil—strong, facing her problems head on. Together, they represented the options you have when you react to issues in your life. It's countless other encounters like this that make the novel such an interesting read.
The Jonga's have only one perceptible thing standing between them and their goal for happiness: Green Cards. They begin the long process of fighting a legal battle that will drain them: spiritually and financially. They are determined to win:
No, he wasn’t going to think about what he would do in Cameroon. He wasn’t returning. That was never the plan. He’d done everything the way he had planned to. He was in America. Neni was here with him. Liomi was an American boy now. They weren’t going back to Limbe. Oh, God, don’t let them deport me, he prayed. Please, Papa God. Please.
They begin to fight their battle, and it's a slow, sad decent into hopelessness from there. The immigration process can be brutal, and when a major collapse of the economic system hits New York City, that hopelessness grows, turning Neni and Jende into people they're not.
Jende and Neni were so real to me. They had very real (and sometimes horrible) flaws, but that just served to make me love them more for their humanness. A personal look at what coming to America means, emotionally and financially, to those who so desperately want to be here.
More awesome reviews = http://rantingsravingsbookreviews.blogspot.com
shareen17's review
4.0
This book should absolutely only be consumed by audiobook. The reader with his accents and even singing at times, is fantastic. This book about two families, one a financially struggling family from Cameroon hoping for a green card and the other whose father works for Lehman Brothers in 2008, is engaging and feels realistic. Each character does something pretty terrible at some point in a time of high stress, but I still found myself really invested in their stories.