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rottyreads's review against another edition
5.0
Send Her Back and Other Storiesby Munashe Kaseke
[Barnes & Nobel] Blurb: In Send Her Back and other stories, Munashe Kaseke offers an awfully intimate, fresh telling of the immigrant Black woman experience in the United States, equally awash with a myriad of challenges as well as the joys of exploring a new world.
★★★★★
What a powerful book. I loved the differing perspectives in these stories. I really value the insight and perspectives from different cultures. "Was he a jerk or simply an American?" As an American, I'm screaming, "NOOOOOOO he's the one who's wrong!!!" but I can totally see where she would be confused. I empathize with these stories, and I get wanting to help your family in your county. But as a white woman, I don't have those same deeply engrained bonds and ties. My gut is to say, just cut them off. But in the next breath I'm aching for the bond of Dear Aunt Vimbai. I know you can't have it both ways. I am deeply grateful for this look into the lives and experiences of Immigrant Black Women in America.
I loved the arc of this book. The author notes this at the end, but as she was writing, you can tell that she was able to find some peace in her writing. The characters and stories start out sad and hopeless, and at the end there is hope and happiness. I'm a sucker for a HEA (happily-ever-after). There are so many stories in here that I want to know more. I want them to have their own moments. Their own stand-alone books. But, I guess that's the point of short stories, to leave you wanting more.
I so deeply want to dive into each chapter in this review and talk about it all. But this is a review and not book club, and I don't want to spoil the experience for others. But I highly recommend this book for others.
Thank you Munashe Kaseke for sharing these stories with me and others. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC Audiobook to review.
Overall: ★★★★★ Overall
Narration: ★★★★★ Narrator
[Barnes & Nobel] Blurb: In Send Her Back and other stories, Munashe Kaseke offers an awfully intimate, fresh telling of the immigrant Black woman experience in the United States, equally awash with a myriad of challenges as well as the joys of exploring a new world.
★★★★★
What a powerful book. I loved the differing perspectives in these stories. I really value the insight and perspectives from different cultures. "Was he a jerk or simply an American?" As an American, I'm screaming, "NOOOOOOO he's the one who's wrong!!!" but I can totally see where she would be confused. I empathize with these stories, and I get wanting to help your family in your county. But as a white woman, I don't have those same deeply engrained bonds and ties. My gut is to say, just cut them off. But in the next breath I'm aching for the bond of Dear Aunt Vimbai. I know you can't have it both ways. I am deeply grateful for this look into the lives and experiences of Immigrant Black Women in America.
I loved the arc of this book. The author notes this at the end, but as she was writing, you can tell that she was able to find some peace in her writing. The characters and stories start out sad and hopeless, and at the end there is hope and happiness. I'm a sucker for a HEA (happily-ever-after). There are so many stories in here that I want to know more. I want them to have their own moments. Their own stand-alone books. But, I guess that's the point of short stories, to leave you wanting more.
I so deeply want to dive into each chapter in this review and talk about it all. But this is a review and not book club, and I don't want to spoil the experience for others. But I highly recommend this book for others.
Thank you Munashe Kaseke for sharing these stories with me and others. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC Audiobook to review.
Overall: ★★★★★ Overall
Narration: ★★★★★ Narrator
thebookkeepers's review against another edition
2.5
2.5 stars I wanted to love this more than I did. The collection of short stories was missing a cohesiveness. Each was told in different tenses and from new characters, but the Voice of each was extremely similar & I often had to struggle to find a grounding.
Some stories were what I expected based off the cover and blurb while others were not. I felt most of the stories were solemn and described the main character’s life being led not for themselves but at the expense of others. Many of the descriptions of Zimbabwe men & culture only painted more stereotypical pictures in my mind, which I had hoped the author was to dispel. I’m not sure if this was meant to be satirical? But this isn’t a collection I particularly enjoyed.
Some stories were what I expected based off the cover and blurb while others were not. I felt most of the stories were solemn and described the main character’s life being led not for themselves but at the expense of others. Many of the descriptions of Zimbabwe men & culture only painted more stereotypical pictures in my mind, which I had hoped the author was to dispel. I’m not sure if this was meant to be satirical? But this isn’t a collection I particularly enjoyed.
marianeedstoread's review
5.0
This is a collection of short stories about American women who have immigrated from Zimbabwe. Each one is a unique glimpse into the struggles and triumphs these women face in the US. One is a physicist who isn’t taken seriously by the white men she works with. Another hides her developing body for fear of becoming a woman on the receiving end of unwanted attention from men. There’s the college dropout who ends up living in her car just so she can send money home to her family. Or the woman whose husband can’t stand that she’s successful. Or the need for an endless collection of degrees to keep a student visa.
I found each story affected me in such different ways. As a female, I can certainly relate to many of the women’s stories but they are also unique to the African women from Zimbabwe. They are completely different from American black women yet are often lumped as “African” without the distinction of which country they are from. These stories are short in length but deep in their message. Females, immigrants, BIPOC can all relate to these stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mukana Press for this advance readers e-copy. The novel will be available on 7/25/22. This review can be found on IG @maria.needs.to.read and on Goodreads
I found each story affected me in such different ways. As a female, I can certainly relate to many of the women’s stories but they are also unique to the African women from Zimbabwe. They are completely different from American black women yet are often lumped as “African” without the distinction of which country they are from. These stories are short in length but deep in their message. Females, immigrants, BIPOC can all relate to these stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mukana Press for this advance readers e-copy. The novel will be available on 7/25/22. This review can be found on IG @maria.needs.to.read and on Goodreads
sreddous's review
5.0
Challenging, suspenseful, and even uncomfortable in all the best ways.
These stories offer unique perspectives from a few different experiences that immigrants can have. It doesn't feel like it "speaks for all immigrants" as a monolith -- it just shows that these are some of the many problems and choices that immigrants and their families can face. For people who are in these communities, I imagine that there are raw and relatable things reflected here, and for people who aren't in these communities, it's eye-opening to see how even little difficulties can just pile and pile up.
Even in short-story format, it's easy to get immersed in all the decisions the characters make. Not all of the characters are "good people," but that just makes the topics and struggles and thought processes even more realistic and diverse here. Really thought-provoking stuff..
These stories offer unique perspectives from a few different experiences that immigrants can have. It doesn't feel like it "speaks for all immigrants" as a monolith -- it just shows that these are some of the many problems and choices that immigrants and their families can face. For people who are in these communities, I imagine that there are raw and relatable things reflected here, and for people who aren't in these communities, it's eye-opening to see how even little difficulties can just pile and pile up.
Even in short-story format, it's easy to get immersed in all the decisions the characters make. Not all of the characters are "good people," but that just makes the topics and struggles and thought processes even more realistic and diverse here. Really thought-provoking stuff..
bookreviewswithkb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
thank you Mukana Press and Goodreads for the gifted copy!
each story in this collection covers an important aspect of the immigrant experience and/or of the lived experience of the challenges of navigating life through multiple different and competing cultural narratives. they are stories that need to be told.
i think there is a lack of emotional depth that left me feeling untethered to any characters or to the plot. i wasn’t moved emotionally in the way i expected and wanted to be. i also thought many of the stories have abrupt endings that feel rushed
each story in this collection covers an important aspect of the immigrant experience and/or of the lived experience of the challenges of navigating life through multiple different and competing cultural narratives. they are stories that need to be told.
i think there is a lack of emotional depth that left me feeling untethered to any characters or to the plot. i wasn’t moved emotionally in the way i expected and wanted to be. i also thought many of the stories have abrupt endings that feel rushed
deirdreanais's review
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.0
kalynaobyrne's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
I wanted to like Send Her Back More than I did. The author had a strong voice but both her voice and the stories got repetitive and were missing a cohesiveness. Each short story was told in different tenses and from new characters but the voices of many of the characters were very similar. Especially listening to this on audio if I wasn’t paying attention it could be hard to tell when a new chapter started. I think I would have enjoyed the collection more if the stories had felt more different from each other.
It was easy to forget these stories were works of fiction while you were reading. Some of the stories I really enjoyed and thought they were extremely powerful and some fell flat for me. As a white American I do think there is value in reading this.
This book is extremely thoughtful and I can’t deny the value in these stories even though overall this book was not my favorite. This book was a 3.25 for me.
It was easy to forget these stories were works of fiction while you were reading. Some of the stories I really enjoyed and thought they were extremely powerful and some fell flat for me. As a white American I do think there is value in reading this.
This book is extremely thoughtful and I can’t deny the value in these stories even though overall this book was not my favorite. This book was a 3.25 for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Gaslighting and Sexual assault
nici2023's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! It was so wonderfully written, but heartbreaking for the most part. Although it is fiction, it seems to me to show the true experience of an immigrant. I listened to the audio book and really liked it. The narrators voice and pacing were perfect for me. Even with an accent, she was easily understandable. I would recommend Send Her Back to anyone! I'll definitely keep Munashe Kaseke on my list of authors to keep an eye out for new works! Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
2treads's review
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
- He stares at his youngest in my arms, her head resting comfortably on my shit hole shoulder - excerpt from the story Send Her Back
Kaseke's stories are rife with immigrant experiences, questions of identity, belonging, and home. Stories that use characters in this way to question leaving and returning to their homeland, yearning for equal footing as immigrants, will always resonate with me.
But as she takes us through each scenario, each relationship, we see the common thread of reaching back, trying to hold on to parts of what/who was left behind, what can be kept and passed on, and the struggle that is inherent in just being not from there.
The stories drip with honesty and vulnerabilities, of how women and girls lose their voices in relationships, are used up and objectified by men, the sexualisation of young feminine bodies, the imbalance of power in marriages, homes, and social gatherings; yet still there is a defiance and strength that is evident in these women, who move towards a life of independence and self-actualization.
Kaseke's stories are rife with immigrant experiences, questions of identity, belonging, and home. Stories that use characters in this way to question leaving and returning to their homeland, yearning for equal footing as immigrants, will always resonate with me.
But as she takes us through each scenario, each relationship, we see the common thread of reaching back, trying to hold on to parts of what/who was left behind, what can be kept and passed on, and the struggle that is inherent in just being not from there.
The stories drip with honesty and vulnerabilities, of how women and girls lose their voices in relationships, are used up and objectified by men, the sexualisation of young feminine bodies, the imbalance of power in marriages, homes, and social gatherings; yet still there is a defiance and strength that is evident in these women, who move towards a life of independence and self-actualization.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual assault
rara2018's review
3.0
These stories took me ages to get through, not because they were bad (though I didn’t always love Kaseke’s writing style) but just because they all felt so real. Some of the stories were dark and heartbreaking, while others felt so hopeful. The diversity of immigrant experiences in the US was explored in such a thoughtful way that really made me sit and think. My favorite stories, in particular, were "The Collector of Degrees", a story about a person desperately doing all they can to stay in America (told in the second person which always makes for such an interesting narrative style) and "Imported Husband", which I found oftentimes difficult to read, but still a tremendously important story. While not a new favorite, I do feel like I’ve grown through this reading and am looking forward to reading more books by African authors in the future.