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A review by aish_dols
Elsewhere Home by Leila Aboulela
4.0
"It seemed that the fate of our generation is separation, from our country or our family. We are ready to go anywhere in search of the work we cannot find at home."
Elsewhere, Home shifts between places people are from in Africa (like Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia) and where they live abroad, like Scotland, or London. It is a collection of stories that echo the significance of home, the imperfections of it, the longing when you're in a foreign country, how easy it is to forget but miss traditions and its people. The comparisons of those still rooted in their roots and those who would rather wash off scents of their homes from their skins after having tasted convenience in a foreign land. Between the lines are religion (Islam mainly, being a convert, practising in a foreign land.), racism, love, loss, homesickness, separation, worldly and spiritual struggles, home and abroad.
I found all thirteen stories intriguing but my favourites are The Museum (– a story about Shadia, an MSc in Statistics student in a British university whose colleague Bryan does his calculations as easy as a breeze and is interested in Africa, cuts his hair and pulls off his earring for Shadia, the engaged, homesick Sudanese girl). The Aromatherapist's husband (here a woman is more interested in the spirit world than her husband and two girls), Pages of Fruit (A devoted and avid reader after so much obsession with her favourite author finds out that the author she has always loved doesn't give her the same vibe as her books do), Circle Line (a 34 year old woman has to settle down and finds it difficult since her last relationship failed), Expecting to give (Chronicles of a pregnant woman whose husband always goes onshore) and Coloured Lights (The story of a woman whose brother died on his wedding day).
LeilaAboulela writes unpredictably. I absolutely recommend this. I enjoyed reading and her writing style is impeccable.
Elsewhere, Home shifts between places people are from in Africa (like Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia) and where they live abroad, like Scotland, or London. It is a collection of stories that echo the significance of home, the imperfections of it, the longing when you're in a foreign country, how easy it is to forget but miss traditions and its people. The comparisons of those still rooted in their roots and those who would rather wash off scents of their homes from their skins after having tasted convenience in a foreign land. Between the lines are religion (Islam mainly, being a convert, practising in a foreign land.), racism, love, loss, homesickness, separation, worldly and spiritual struggles, home and abroad.
I found all thirteen stories intriguing but my favourites are The Museum (– a story about Shadia, an MSc in Statistics student in a British university whose colleague Bryan does his calculations as easy as a breeze and is interested in Africa, cuts his hair and pulls off his earring for Shadia, the engaged, homesick Sudanese girl). The Aromatherapist's husband (here a woman is more interested in the spirit world than her husband and two girls), Pages of Fruit (A devoted and avid reader after so much obsession with her favourite author finds out that the author she has always loved doesn't give her the same vibe as her books do), Circle Line (a 34 year old woman has to settle down and finds it difficult since her last relationship failed), Expecting to give (Chronicles of a pregnant woman whose husband always goes onshore) and Coloured Lights (The story of a woman whose brother died on his wedding day).
LeilaAboulela writes unpredictably. I absolutely recommend this. I enjoyed reading and her writing style is impeccable.