Hi there,
I am new to this site but very intrigued...I have begun research on immigration and would like recommendations on classic works such as novels, personal accounts, books (i.e. academic books), etc. on immigrants (infused with cultural-related notions such as Lost in Translation)...I am looking for North American authors but am also open to any books from around the world.
I have read the following:
Lost in Translation
The Kite Runner
The Arrival
The Namesake
The Polished Hoe (Canadian author, excellent book)
Black like Who?
The Joy Luck Club
Immigrant Blues
I saw the tag on immigration.
Do you have any other recommendations? I know there must be some touchstone books that I am missing, please help!
Thanks.
Ruth
The first book that comes to mind is
Out of This Furnace, though I'm not sure that it's precisely what you're looking for.
In a UK context (not your main focus I know) I would suggest
Brick Lane by Monica Ali. By the way although, not being a Londoner, I had no knowledge of this street/road previously I now see that it has quite a history - probably just an illustration of the idea that once something comes to your notice you come across references to it everywhere.
You may want to join the group Reading Globally. They have a lot of great suggestions on international books of all kinds (mostly fiction). It's a really great active group.
Jasmine - Bukherjee
About an Indian girl who becomes American.
Add all the books you mentioned to your catalog, tag them immegration, and then get recommendations (Profile / recommendations ) based on that tag.
As a further check you can try the new "DO other people think I'm likely to like it, (where other people are hopefully only those who've catalogged books they like) feature" Which can be found by clicking on the work page for each of the recommendations.
My suggestions:
GentsForeigner neither of which is US based or even non-fiction.
Message edited by its author, Jan 9, 2009, 10:21am.
Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee - This is my favorite novel about immigrants by a lesser known author. The author is Korean-American.
'Tis by Frank McCourt (nonfiction) - but read
Angela's Ashes (about the author's life in Ireland) first. The author is Irish-American.
Message edited by its author, Jan 9, 2009, 11:33am.
This message has been deleted by its author.
"Thousand Pieces of Gold" a biographical novel
by Ruthanne Lum McCunn-The story of Lalu/Polly Bemis's journey from 1871 northern China to Shanghai to San Francisco and the American West. The American-born Chinese author also wrote
"An Illustrated History of the Chinese in America" and "Chinese American Portraits: Personal Histories 1828-1988"
I own and have read "Thousand Pieces of Gold", have yet to find and read the others.
speaking of gold,
Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor (as well most of his work)...
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (short stories)
The Distant Land of my Father by Bo Caldwell --- kind of a twist on the immigration idea. It is narrated by the daughter of an American family living in Shanghai. The mother and daughter return to America during the Japanese invasion, but Shanghai is all the daughter has ever known.
Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels
Young boy emigrates from Nazi-occupied Poland, to Greece, and finally to Canada.
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