Scan barcode
nikkitadcomeau's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
maitai's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love a book that takes you by surprise and this was definitely an amazing surprise. This is a collection of short stories. An extraordinary one. I was hooked from the first story. The stories were many and varied, so real, so raw and well written.
The stories depict different female Zimbabwean perspectives, a majority of whom are immigrants toiling away in the United States.
From the lady who falls for an American, to the lady who is undocumented and facing deportation, to the lady who returns to their home country for a short visit, to the sad sad tale of the lady who keeps racking up degrees to maintain her immigration status, to the lady who has just been hired in a white male dominated company, to the anguish of the mother who has raised her daughter in a foreign land, the lady who can't stand the snow, the lady who worries about whether her no was not firm enough, to the lady who has had enough of funding her relatives at home, to the young girl who struggles with her budding womanhood.
The stories are poignant, ironical, sad, frustrating and funny at times. Each story has unique observations and I was left yearning for more after each story. I loved that the stories each focused on women and their individual as well as collective challenges.
The author has a way of presenting each unique point of view in a fresh perspective. I found myself constantly thinking, "I had no idea" or "I never thought of it that way".
This is a book that must be read, one that lays out the prejudices and nuances facing African women in our society. This book lays bare extreme hardships and it was gut reaching to read some of the stories.
I would highly recommend this read and I am sure I will be reading this again.
The stories depict different female Zimbabwean perspectives, a majority of whom are immigrants toiling away in the United States.
From the lady who falls for an American, to the lady who is undocumented and facing deportation, to the lady who returns to their home country for a short visit, to the sad sad tale of the lady who keeps racking up degrees to maintain her immigration status, to the lady who has just been hired in a white male dominated company, to the anguish of the mother who has raised her daughter in a foreign land, the lady who can't stand the snow, the lady who worries about whether her no was not firm enough, to the lady who has had enough of funding her relatives at home, to the young girl who struggles with her budding womanhood.
The stories are poignant, ironical, sad, frustrating and funny at times. Each story has unique observations and I was left yearning for more after each story. I loved that the stories each focused on women and their individual as well as collective challenges.
The author has a way of presenting each unique point of view in a fresh perspective. I found myself constantly thinking, "I had no idea" or "I never thought of it that way".
This is a book that must be read, one that lays out the prejudices and nuances facing African women in our society. This book lays bare extreme hardships and it was gut reaching to read some of the stories.
I would highly recommend this read and I am sure I will be reading this again.
bearbookshelf's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Send Her Back and Other Stories was an enjoyable, above-average read that offers nuanced, multi-perspective commentary on the socioeconomic realities faced by Zimbabwean women immigrants in America. The majority of these stories - especially those at the centre of the volume: 'The Collector of Degrees,' 'Tsoro,' 'Unseen,' 'Noon,' 'Torture in Minnesota,' 'Ghost of my Mother,' and 'Imported Husband' - were true gems. Each of the narrative voices and experiences related felt individual while maintaining a consistent tone and form of writing, showing a simultaneous heterogeneity and homogeneity in the immigrant experience; relating how each immigrant is a singular being, yet immigrants are still treated, spoken of, etc. as a collective. Other stories in the volume, however, felt a bit flat. Some of the voices began to feel repetitive and the stories lost their individuality... falling into a generalised sense of experience and self. This was particularly true of the story 'Not So Micro' which overly relied on tropic examples of racist microaggressions and in doing so lost the sense of rawness and honesty the other stories possess. Overall, I think this was a good collection but it would be more successful if it were shorter and left the weaker stories out of the volume. I rated this book 3.75/5 stars.
malvord27's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rachel_23's review
4.0
Short stories are outside of my comfort zone - as a reader I enjoy character growth and resolution, which short stories rarely provide. That being said, this collection left a deep impression on me. I related to the woman in a male-dominated industry element of "Tsoro". As a white woman, this can be a struggle, yet I recognize that it must be even harder for immigrants and women of color. I love winter and snow, but "Torture in Minnesota" made me realize my privilege in having a warm car and home, being able to work from home or at least indoors, and owning warm clothes. The microaggressions and othering woven through all of the stories was heartbreaking and thought-provoking. This is a book that I'll revisit and one I'd recommend to anyone, but especially white Americans. Thanks you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access in exchange for my honest review.
solenophage's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Send Her Back and Other Stories explores the struggles of Zimbabwean women, particularly immigrants to the United States, through sixteen short stories following different women at key points in their lives. It delves into a variety of social issues including racism and colorism, misogyny, the cycle of poverty, and the flaws of the immigration system in a poignant way. With some of the stories, I felt there was a 'lesson' or a point to the story that was overtly told to the reader in a way that didn't necessarily make sense with who the narrator was and how they viewed their own actions. This made those stories and characters feel a little less genuine or real, but otherwise it was well-written with strong characters and evocative stories.
booksbakesbikes's review
3.0
Send Her Back is a collection of short stories that detail the experiences of Zimbabwean immigrant women to the US, and the many challenges they face.
I enjoyed the author's clear, strong voice; however, both her voice and the stories got a little repetitive. There were a few protagonists that stood out as distinctive, but many of them were indistinguishable from each other. I feel that the collection would have been stronger if it had some stories that felt more different from each other. Otherwise, I would almost prefer the stories be edited into a novel, with a single cohesive narrative. With the sameness of the narration and the characters, it almost felt like it could be a single story.
I will still definitely be keeping an eye out for future work from this author - I feel that with a little more time and experience, she could become a very powerful storyteller.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the ARC.
I enjoyed the author's clear, strong voice; however, both her voice and the stories got a little repetitive. There were a few protagonists that stood out as distinctive, but many of them were indistinguishable from each other. I feel that the collection would have been stronger if it had some stories that felt more different from each other. Otherwise, I would almost prefer the stories be edited into a novel, with a single cohesive narrative. With the sameness of the narration and the characters, it almost felt like it could be a single story.
I will still definitely be keeping an eye out for future work from this author - I feel that with a little more time and experience, she could become a very powerful storyteller.
Thank you to BookishFirst for the ARC.
curatedsymposium's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
becky_the_bookworm's review
4.0
This book was HARD. It clawed at my emotions in so many ways. US-born citizens should absolutely read this book because it makes you realize a) how lucky you are to have been born a US citizen and b) that immigrants, whether illegal are legal, are humans and not that different from you.
vickimarie2002's review
5.0
If you are looking for a book that will evoke all of your emotions, this is the book for you. It's a book of short stories of Zimbabwean women, who either live in Zimbabwe or have immigrated to America. Stories of women dealing with racism, doing what they can to become citizens and sending money back to support their spouse, family, extended family and so on. There are so many stories that will stick with me. Send Her Back and The Collector of Degrees shows just how difficult it is to actually become a citizen. They tried to do everything correctly, but the system just fails them. The Zimbabwean Dream really was upsetting. Rudo is doing the best she can to make a living for herself and her family. I won't give any spoilers, so you just have to read it. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, but then I read the From The Author, and that really made me love it more.