The Penguin Book of Migration Literature

August 2, 2019

This opportune addition to Penguin's "Classics" series contains more than 30 selections about international migration. Most are personal reflections by migrants themselves or those close to them in various genres--memoir, fiction, poetry. Ahmad (English, St. John's Univ.) organizes entries into four loosely defined categories--Departures, Arrivals, Generations, and Returns--detailed in a 15-page introduction that familiarizes readers with the anthology's scope and challenges faced in choosing what to include. While some selections are self-contained, many are taken from longer works and lack accompanying contextual information. Ahmad uses vector arrows to show each contributor's sometimes complex migration movement; for example, from Ethiopia to Sudan, Italy, the UK and, ultimately, the United States. While almost exclusively limited to the past century of migrations, the work does lead off with part of Olaudah Equiano's The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: Or Gustavus Vassa, The African, Written By Himself from the 18th century. VERDICT With the exception of Viet Thanh Nguyen's The Displaced, no similar recent collection of evocative reflections on the migration experience exists. This will appeal to students and general readers, if only as a starting point for further exploration.--Charles K. Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In an era in which immigrants are increasingly demonized, Penguin assembles a well-curated collection of literature about the migration experience. Edited by Ahmad (English/St. John's Univ.; Landscapes of Hope: Anti-Colonial Utopianism in America, 2009, etc.) and featuring an eloquent introduction by MacArthur fellow Edwidge Danticat (The Art of Death, 2017, etc.), this compact but eye-opening book provides a sampling of literature, memoirs, and other writings about the experience of being an immigrant. To that end, the collection is arranged in a sequence that mimics what immigrants go through, starting with a section about "Departures," followed by "Arrivals," "Generations," and a single entry for "Returns," penned by Egyptian migrant Pauline Kaldas called, fittingly, "A Conversation." The breadth of Ahmad's selections is impressive given that she doesn't have a ton of space with which to work. "Departures" includes poetry from West Africa as well as more traditional and familiar entries from such authors as Salman Rushdie ("Good Advice Is Rarer Than Rubies") and a selection from Mohsin Hamid's bestselling novel How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia. The "Returns" section is equally diverse and includes poetry from Jamaican Claude McKay, a selection from the late E.R. Braithwaite's classic novel To Sir, With Love, and the celebrated writer and illustrator Marjane Satrapi's poignant graphic memoir Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. Finally, in "Generations," Ahmad presents poetry from Native American author Joseph Bruchac, two selections by David Dabydeen, and an excerpt from Zadie Smith's White Teeth. Given the breadth and depth of the genre, this is a first-rate starting point for exploring migration literature and is almost certain to be taught in schools in the near future. Don't miss the "Suggestions for Further Reading and Viewing" at the back of the text, which is also excellently curated. The book also includes work by Olaudah Equiano, Eva Hoffman, Dinaw Mengestu, and Hanif Kureishi. A welcome, pocket-sized introduction to migration literature.

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August 1, 2019
This timely, yet not political collection offers glimpses into experiences connected with global migration through the eyes of those who braved the journey. Divided into four sections around the themes of departures, arrivals, generations, and returns, it includes poems, short stories, and nonfiction, all of which trace a path traveled from one country to another. The array of 33 writers includes some well-known, such as Edwidge Danticat (who presents the foreword), Zadie Smith, Mohsin Hamid, Marjane Satrapi, and Salman Rushdie, along with rising stars who will be new to most readers, thereby providing a smorgasbord of perspectives and literary styles. Editor Ahmad's thoughtfully built anthology covers the span of 300 years and 30 countries, and readers will find satisfaction whether they read it section by section, or by randomly choosing selections as the mood strikes. Ahmad's introduction explains the concepts and reasons behind the structure of the book, information about the authors is also provided, as well as lots of suggestions for further reading and viewing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)