I hope everyone is staying warm. Argh, did your area get the dreaded “Arctic blast”? Well it was quite brutal here, but now it seems to be leaving, and this week we should see temps back in the 30s F (+3C), hooray. That’ll be easy and good for when we board our flight to California later this week. Christmas is almost here, and the reading days for 2016 are coming to an end. My reading has slowed a bit amid the holiday rush and festivities, but still I’m getting to some great books. I hope to squeeze in a couple more before the year’s end.
This week I finished Imbolo Mbue’s debut novel “Behold the Dreamers,” which was mentioned to me by my sister, who had read it for a book club group. Wow, what a great book it would make for a discussion. It turned out to be one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s neat when that happens — when you’re not expecting to come across a Favorite Book of the Year and then sometime during your reading of it a light goes on in your head and you think: “Whoa, this is one of them.” Have you had that happen? Well, I had the light go on with Imbolo’s “Behold the Dreamers.”
I guess I didn’t know much about it when I picked it up, but the story hooked me right away. It’s about an immigrant family from Cameroon that tries to make ends meet living in Harlem New York. Jende and his wife Neni love America and want to give their 6-year-old son the opportunity for a better life, but they need decent-paying jobs while working towards getting their papers for a more permanent status in the States. So all is good when Jende lands a job as a chauffeur for a senior executive named Clark Edwards at Lehman Brothers. In time, Jende gets to know the wealthy Clark and his family, and Clark’s wife Cindy offers Neni a job at the Edwardses’ summer home in the Hamptons. Things seem promising for Jende and Neni’s all-consuming dreams of staying in the U.S. — that is until Lehman Brothers collapses and the lives of all four are upended.
Yes, this novel is set amid the troubled times of the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. It’s not your average immigrant tale I can assure you. It grabbed me by my lapels so to speak and had me racing through it. I liked how the story delved into the lives of both the immigrant family’s and those of the white executive’s. Neither is all good or all bad. The novel paints a more realistic, complex picture of both couples, each wanting the best for their kids. And under the strains, the marriages of both are put to the test.
I felt for Jende and Neni who struggle so desperately to get their U.S. residency papers. I remembered when I came to Canada — it’s not exactly easy living in another country; there’s a lot of procedures, application paperwork, and hassles. It’s a long, long process, believe me. For the immigrants in this story, it was far worse. Among other things, they didn’t marry into it like I did.
“Behold the Dreamers” is pretty gushy about “America” and all of its opportunities. It felt a bit weird reading about it like that — I’m sure I take too much for granted being from the U.S. and perhaps don’t see it so unblemished as the characters in the novel do. But by the end, the story also reveals the high price people can pay for living in the land of opportunity — not only in terms of financial obligations and how much people have to work but also in terms of stress and other things. Each of the characters in the book is pushed to a breaking point, and you wonder along with them: at what cost is it worth it?!
It reminded me slightly of T.C. Boyle’s 1995 novel “The Tortilla Curtain,” which I also read this year and loved. That novel about a Mexican illegal alien couple and a white yuppie couple whose lives collide in California suburbia was more satirical than this one, but this novel has little of that in it. I’m totally impressed that “Behold the Dreamers” is a debut novel, which it didn’t seem like, by an author from Cameroon who came to New York in 1998. I watched an interview of Imbolo on video talking about the book and she seems like a breath of fresh air. If you have time, check it out here.
Also this past week, I saw the movie “Allied” with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard. For some reason, I was preparing not to like it — as if it had a high bar to clear, but then I liked it quite a bit. So I’m glad I went. It’s fun too that Pitt plays a Canadian intelligence officer in the film who says his dream place is Medicine Hat, Alberta, which is just a few hours away from here. That got a few guffaws from the audience.
Anyways, the movie is set in WWII and Pitt’s character meets a French resistance fighter played by Marion Cotillard on a mission behind enemy lines. Later they meet up in London, and you are led to wonder whether one of them is betraying the other. Both Pitt and Cotillard are pretty good in this, and the screenplay by Steven Knight, who also wrote “Eastern Promises,” “Locke,” and “Pawn Sacrifice,” moves fairly quickly. I wouldn’t say “Allied” is an award winner, but I did find it entertaining. And who doesn’t want to look at the magnetism of these two stars?
What about you, have you read “Behold the Dreamers” or seen “Allied,” and if so, what did you think?
Also I want to wish everybody who reads my blog Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for stopping by and for making it such a great year at The Cue Card. I really appreciate all of your comments and insights and think very highly of all of you. It’s been great this past year getting to know my regular readers.
Our weather’s been crazy – it was in the 40s yesterday and then the high 60s today. It’s supposed to be back in the 40s tomorrow.
I love immigrant stories so Behold the Dreamer sounds really good to me. I’ve never been a big Brad Pitt fan so hadn’t even considered Allied but it sounds good too.
Sounds cold for your area Kathy. Yeah Behold the Dreamers really held me as an immigrant story so I think you’d like it. Have a great week.
Darn! Behold the Dreamers was on my list of must read books this year but when it came in at the library I was drowning in other books and deadlines so I let it slide. But Yay! Now I know it will be worth getting to early in the New Year.
I love the acting of Marion Cotillard and am happy to know you enjoyed the movie. It will go in the queue.
Have a lovely Christmas! It is supposed to be sunny and balmy here in So Cal.
I have enjoyed your blog so much this year and look forward to much more in 2017.
Thanks Judy so kind of you to say. I’ve enjoyed your blog too! I’m sure you will get to Behold the Dreamers. It’s a pretty quick read once you get to it. I’m excited about So Cal and will be in the OC area to see folks & siblings. Have a wonderful Christmas !
Behold the Dreamers sounds very good. Stories of immigrants to America are very common. However, in the hands of a good writer, they can still yield some great fiction.
I agree Brian. This immigrant story really stood out to me. I guess they often make fascinating tales when done well. Enjoy your Christmas and thanks for stopping by this year.
The weather here has been so up and down! So great to hear good things about Behold the Dreamers – I’ve passed the audiobook a few times in Overdrive, but I should give it a shot 🙂
Oh yes Shannon, if it’s available in Overdrive, you should check it out. I’d imagine the audio would be good. If you liked the novel Shelter, then you probably like this one. Enjoy your Christmas.
I heard great things about Behold the Dreamers from Sarah @ Sarah’s Book Shelves. I would like to read it as I am an immigrant too. I’m glad you liked Allied; it’s already on my wishlist.
I have enjoyed your posts all this year. Have a very Merry Christmas, you and your family! Enjoy the trip to a warmer climate.
Oh thanks Carmen so nice of you to say. Glad I got to find your blog too. Where are you originally from? Yeah Behold the Dreamers is worth reading. I thought it was done well and had quite a bit of heart behind it — though it’s not an easy story. But I think the author put some of her experiences into it.
Oh, I love the sound of Behold the Dreamers. It seems like a story that will resonate for those who have grabbed onto the dream, only to find that there is much more to it all. The timing couldn’t have been easy, either, with that whole financial crisis we all had in 2007-2008.
I will look for this one. Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Yes exactly Laurel, there’s more to it than the immigrants bargained for. It’s a bit sad but I guess it shows how much the financial crisis really reverberated. It’s a good read; I think you’d like it. It has good pace! Enjoy your Christmas.
Yes, to the Arctic Blast reaching us here in CO–below zero at nights and below 10 during the day, but the wind started blowing last night and we woke up to above freezing temps this morning. I actually went out without gloves and heaviest coat today.
I like the looks of the Allied movie.
Hi Jane, yeah that Arctic Blast was bad for awhile. Luckily it finally left here. Glad you survived it in Colorado. Ouch that’s cold! Happy Holidays.
Dear Susan! I passed by in haste to wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS. I will read this review calmly next week.
Sure RT, no problem. Thank you! Have a wonderful Christmas yourself!
Have fun in CA–will have to check out that flick.
Yep good times here! I hear there was a big snowstorm back home. Uh oh.
Through your review I have captured your enthusiasm for this book. Behold the Dreamers sounds absolutely captivating. And you know what? I terribly want to read it. Not immediately, but in the near future.
Susan, I’m going to shock you, but I’m not a fan of BP or MC. So I’ll see the movie when it is on TV.
Finally, it’s always a pleasure to visit your blog. Read your adventures of all kinds.
Thanks RT, I appreciate your thoughts. Hopefully there will be many more adventures in 2017. Happy New Year to you & your family.
Thank you for this post, Susan. I love your thoughts on ‘Behold The Dreamers’. I went to it without any expectations too, and it really worked on me. Now we have a good author in our list, and we can look forward to reading her next book. It will be great if it becomes a movie too.