A powerful first novel that engages the tumultuous events of today: at once an intimate portrait of a group of young Arab Muslims living in the Uni...
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reviews
Jan 18, 2009
Weavre
rated it: 
Aziz Arkoun ... illegal immigrant, former Algierian terrorist, coffee entrepreneur, friend, brother, and son ... Harbor offers rich, complex characters in its protagonist and his companions.
As the editorial cover blurb and other reviewers have mentioned, the primary question Adams raises is, "Who is a terrorist?" Is Aziz a terrorist because he killed in order to survive when he lived in Algieria, one of the most politically unstable places on Earth? After all, given opportu More...
As the editorial cover blurb and other reviewers have mentioned, the primary question Adams raises is, "Who is a terrorist?" Is Aziz a terrorist because he killed in order to survive when he lived in Algieria, one of the most politically unstable places on Earth? After all, given opportu More...
Jun 09, 2011
Jeruen
rated it:
I recently finished this book. This is a book by Lorraine Adams, entitled Harbor.
It starts by telling the story of Aziz, an Algerian stowaway, who tried for the third time to sneak into a ship heading for Boston. On the third time, he succeeds, and his adventures start there, from his health problems due to the harsh environment in the ship's bowels, to his being involved in a criminal ring in the city of Boston.
The narrative is very engaging, but if one looks at the bigger p More...
It starts by telling the story of Aziz, an Algerian stowaway, who tried for the third time to sneak into a ship heading for Boston. On the third time, he succeeds, and his adventures start there, from his health problems due to the harsh environment in the ship's bowels, to his being involved in a criminal ring in the city of Boston.
The narrative is very engaging, but if one looks at the bigger p More...
Nov 17, 2011
Liana
rated it:
The story begins with a young Algerian escaping his country as a stowaway on a ship headed for America. He hooks up with his cousin and they proceed to move into a crowded apartment full of immigrants in East Boston. From there, the story jumps around a bit, going back and forth from Aziz's previous life pretending to be a man named Nazzar, who was sought out by an infiltrating cell of terrorists in their army camp abroad to the present day where they are running from the FBI who is seeking th
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Nov 20, 2008
Regulator
rated it: 
As current as the headlines, this debut novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lorraine Adams takes a penetrating look at the marginal lives of a group of Arab Muslims living in the United States and Canada. The story begins in Boston Harbor, where Algerian immigrant Aziz Arkoun swims ashore from a tanker. It's his third attempt to escape from his country and he's finally successful in reaching his destination. Ill and disoriented from his experiences—and knowing little English—Aziz conne
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Mar 27, 2009
Carol
rated it: 
SPOILERS AHEAD: This book received several book awards: NOTE TO SELF: STOP BUYING BOOKS BECAUSE OF AWARDS! I found the story disjointed & confusing to follow. It attempts to explain the difficulties encountered by illegal immigrants from Algeria who arrived as stowaways on oil freighters. Though the CIA shadows this group of loosely related men for nearly 5 years, they are unable to prove any terrorist aims. The men are involved in identify & other types of theft. It is a depressing tale,
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Apr 30, 2010
AG
rated it:
Gets off to a great start, then goes into a complete incomprehensible freefall. The author seems to realize about 50pp. in that she has no idea what to do with her story or her characters, and she doesn't seem to really care. If it's actual insight into America, immigrants, terrorism, and the darkest corners of the human psyche you want -- or if it's just an amazing book you want -- skip this and head straight to A Day and A Night and A Day, easily the best book I read last year.
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Jun 02, 2009
Sarah
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 01, 2008
Lundy
rated it:
This novel raises several troubling questions:
How can we effectively combat terrorism, if we don’t understand the language and culture?
How much do we know about other cultures/ places like Algeria?
Can we even accurately identify the real terrorists versus people desperately looking for a better life and trying to stay hidden from scrutiny.
To what extent has involvement by the US and other countries like France created atmospheres of chaos, violence More...
How can we effectively combat terrorism, if we don’t understand the language and culture?
How much do we know about other cultures/ places like Algeria?
Can we even accurately identify the real terrorists versus people desperately looking for a better life and trying to stay hidden from scrutiny.
To what extent has involvement by the US and other countries like France created atmospheres of chaos, violence More...
Aug 04, 2011
A complex and compelling fictional account of Algerian immigrants in the American northeast. Adams's supremely empathetic prose reflects the lives and destinies of her characters: blurry, broken, and beautiful. Highly recommended.
Feb 08, 2011
Deb
rated it:
While this is not an easy read, it is important. Lorraine Adams creates memorable characters that offer a glimpse of the US viewed through the eyes of illegal immigrants from Algeria. More significantly, she has provided a notion of what motivates such young men. Superb.
Nov 20, 2008
Jennifer
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I need to re-read this book to write a meaningful review. I found it to be a beautifully written exploration of the formation of self, told through the lens of the American immigrant experience. The story had mystery and depth.
Dec 17, 2008
Christy
rated it: 
This book was OK but I was hoping for so much more. At times it was hard to follow and the book insert promised so much more. It was, what I thought, a disappointing read. I would have put it aside but read it on a recommendation so I kept on plowing through.
Nov 10, 2010
Nerve-wracking! Wanted to like it, but didn't, and quit mid-way into the book. I was drawn in by early chapters but then just kept waiting, waiting for shoe to drop.
Jul 29, 2011
Cheryl
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A complex story of refugees and illegals from Algeria. It tells gracesfully slowly and inexorably how humans interpret, misinterpret ambiguities, blurred existences.
Oct 06, 2011
Georganne
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The author raises the question: "Who is a terrorist?" What makes this book so good is that there is no easy answer. Fascinating read.
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Jul 25, 2011
Peggy
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Really different...glad I didn't pick it for book club...it's not a book for everyone. I did find it interesting but hard to follow.
Sep 08, 2010
Becky
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Liked reading the thinking processes of the characters. Found some parts hard to follow when the writing jumped between present and past.
Jul 29, 2011
06 long list-orange prize; new york times and wash post most notable book; entertainment weekly #1 fiction book of the year
Jul 10, 2011
Jim
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A topical tale of the difficulties of illegal immigrants in the west, looked at from the perspective of one such immigrant, Aziz.
May 05, 2011
Sue
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Algerians trying to survive in the U.S. Eventually accused of terrorist activities.
Jul 10, 2010
Jacqui
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This is a difficult but compelling book. It requires the reader to put aside stereotypes of post 9/11 Arab issues as well as possess the ability to jump back and forth between time and setting. I did not feel that this book was as insightful as Garden of Last Days by Dubus, but still believe it to be important.
Aug 18, 2009
Rachel
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One of the best books my book club has read this year. I'm impressed by Lorraine Adams' ability to portray Algerian characters as a white American.
Jun 05, 2008
Paul
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Despite prose that sometimes obscures rather than clarifies, this is a profoundly interesting book, with complex characters struggling to make sense of their lives in the US after leaving behind violence, love, and family in a rapidly deteriorating Algeria. The Anti-Terrorism task force characters, who come in near the end, are necessarily less-complex and therefore less believable, but nonetheless this finishes with a nice sense of the complexities of the intersections of multiple lives.
Oct 15, 2007
Leah
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This book was so beautiful,but also shockingly realistic. I learned alot about Algerian culture from this novel, and it demonstrates another side of the Arabic culture--a side that many people don't notice. The protagonist of the book is about as innocent as one could get, but has gone through so much in spite of being so young. A good cast of characters (although not all are by definition good people) shows that evil can not be a person, but a feeling, desire, lie, etc. Very good book!
Aug 18, 2008
Brent
rated it:
Fictional account of Middle Eastern illegals that move here for a better life and the prejudices of American's in a pre-9/11 world.
Did I Like It?
Alright. Interesting to see what goes through the minds of the Middle Eastern folk, and then what we as Americans think about them.
Did I Like It?
Alright. Interesting to see what goes through the minds of the Middle Eastern folk, and then what we as Americans think about them.
Mar 20, 2010
Susie
rated it:
I couldn't really get into this. I gave it about a hundred pages and then gave up on it.
