Do I have a diverse bookshelf? Pt 7: Immigration & Refugees
Immigration is a hot topic, according to our blog, and therefore it is important to include books about the many different types of immigrant experiences in the world—refugees included. I’ve read some really good books in this category, but what do I still own? Let’s see.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
Keys of the Kingdom by A.J. Cronin
Immigrant stories happen everywhere, and you can feel like an immigrant your entire life. This book is about Father Chisholm who is sent as a young Scottish priest to a remote China. It describes his life as he learns about the people and culture and how they learn about him. It describes the dissonance that occurs from his superiors who don’t live in China and from Chinese officials. It’s a book about faith, compassion and openness.
Fullblood Arabian by Osama Alomar
In the preface, we learn that the author was driven into exile from Syria and how he had to repatriate himself in the US. As the short story/poetry collection was published in 1999, this was before the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Anyway, this is a gorgeous book that bends several genres. It’s translated as well—and I always love a good translation. Oh! I wish I could post an excerpt! Check him out!
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman
This is a nonfiction account about how everyone had the best of intentions and failed miserably in helping a young girl because of cultural misunderstandings. She, Lia, is a Hmong refugee in the United States with a medical condition. Fadiman is meticulous in outlining all the culture clashes—historical, political, religious, scientific, etc—that shape the outcome. Truly, this is a book I still think about and mention even if its been 20 years since I read it.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Here we see the American experience is an immigrant experience. The Trasks come from the East Coast to California. The Hamiltons come from Ireland to America and then Salinas. Lee and his family immigrate from China and his parents work the railroad to Salinas, CA. It’s a family epic that shows how generation upon generation builds on top of, continues and breaks cycles. I’ve loved this book since high school.
Magnetic Refrain by Nicky Sa-eun Schildkraut
I got this poetry book after hearing the author read at a conference. Adopted by American parents from her native Korea, the author’s poetry explores this life between two cultures. It’s an interesting read about how it’s hard to find out where and how you belong.
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