Behold the Dreamers: A Novel
A compulsively readable debut novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the American Dream—the unforgettable story of a young Cameroonian couple making a new life in New York just as the Great Recession upends the economy
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Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
382 pages
What’s it about?
Jende is a Cameroonian immigrant who has come to the United States to make a better life for his family. He cannot believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Wall Street executive Clark Edwards and increases his salary to 35,000 a year. Now his only problem is getting that green card…
What did it make me think about?
This is a very readable novel that examines the immigrant experience in America. The author juxtaposes the lives of Jende and his family with the lives of his Wall Street employer and his family.
Should I read it?
I kind of shied away from this novel because it was another “Oprah Pick”. Not sure why as I usually like her picks…. I was thinking it would just be depressing. I am so glad I finally picked this one up. Mbue does such a good job of portraying the difficulties of immigration in America without becoming militant or preachy. She also deftly handles the pain and humanity present in all the people in America- rich and poor. This is a good one!
Quote-
“Who traveled to America only to return to a future of nothingness in Cameroon after a mere three months? Not young men like him, not people facing a future of poverty and despondency in their own country. No, people like him did not visit America. They got there and stayed there until they could return home like conquerors- as green card- or American passport- bearing conquerors with pockets full of dollars and photos of a happy life”
If you like this try-
The Reugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Girl at War by Sara Novic
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
382 pages
What’s it about?
Jende is a Cameroonian immigrant who has come to the United States to make a better life for his family. He cannot believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Wall Street executive Clark Edwards and increases his salary to 35,000 a year. Now his only problem is getting that green card…
What did it make me think about?
This is a very readable novel that examines the immigrant experience in America. The author juxtaposes the lives of Jende and his family with the lives of his Wall Street employer and his family.
Should I read it?
I kind of shied away from this novel because it was another “Oprah Pick”. Not sure why as I usually like her picks…. I was thinking it would just be depressing. I am so glad I finally picked this one up. Mbue does such a good job of portraying the difficulties of immigration in America without becoming militant or preachy. She also deftly handles the pain and humanity present in all the people in America- rich and poor. This is a good one!
Quote-
“Who traveled to America only to return to a future of nothingness in Cameroon after a mere three months? Not young men like him, not people facing a future of poverty and despondency in their own country. No, people like him did not visit America. They got there and stayed there until they could return home like conquerors- as green card- or American passport- bearing conquerors with pockets full of dollars and photos of a happy life”
If you like this try-
The Reugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Girl at War by Sara Novic
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar
I read this book for my bookclub & liked it a lot more than I thought I would. Although it takes place 11 years ago, it is very relevant today with our current immigration issues. This is the story of Jende Jonah, a Cameroonian immigrant who came to America, with his wife & son, in search of a better life. Jende gets a job as a chauffeur for an executive at Lehman Brothers. The collapse of Lehman Brothers sets off a chain of events that threaten to destroy the dreams of Jende & his wife, Neni. They are forced to make an impossible choice. I thought it was very interesting how different Jende & Neni tried to solve their immigration issues. It was not what I expected at all. This is a very character driven story that explores marriage, race, & cultural issues while trying to chase the American dream.
I mean… I didn’t like the end at all. I really wish Jende would’ve taken Clark up on his last offer because it could’ve definitely worked out in the end. I thought they were gonna fight a bit harder to stay in the country… maybe open a business with the money they saved.. I just didn’t like that they completely gave up considering Neni and the children had a bright, promising future. But maybe there will be a part 2… overall a great book.
Follows the story of Jende and Neni, Cameroonian immigrants who desperately want to live in the U.S. Jende starts work as a chauffeur for Mr. Edwards who works for Lehman Brothers. The story is about the struggles of the two families. Jende is constantly being asked to help support family back home. The Edwards’ have their own personal problems. Their oldest son wants to go to India to find himself and Mrs Edwards has doubts of her husband’s fidelity.
I liked this book except for the one part where Neni confronts Mrs. Edwards. Jende did not agree with her actions but it cannot be undone. They have to live with the consequences.
I liked this book except for the one part where Neni confronts Mrs. Edwards. Jende did not agree with her actions but it cannot be undone. They have to live with the consequences.
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