Emigrating Home
by Yasseen | Biographies & Memoirs | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0759692319 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0759692319 Global Overview for this book
2 journalers for this copy...
1st Books Library 2002. Paperback, 325 pages.
The blurb:
The War on terror of 2001 and the Suez Crisis of 1956 made some Arabs in the U.S. and Britain go home. This was relatively easy for those brought up in the Middle East, but what about those who were not? What happens when Westerners of Middle Eastern descent decide to “go home” to the East?
Emigrating Home, a factional memoir, may provide some insights into this.
Yasseen, born in Jamaica and educated mostly in Britain, leaves England on his first visit in Egypt and eighteen months after Suez. There, his Egyptian father and stepfamily welcome him, but he knows almost no Arabic and little about Egypt. This, combined with his Egyptian looks, serves to embroil him in misunderstandings.
His father tells him he must try to be “less of a George and more of an Egyptian.” To this he replies: “If you’d wanted less of a George, you should have brought me up as more of an Aly.”
Life isn’t easy for Yasseen, but he feels accepted and stays.
***
Note from the author:
Those who decide, as I did, to ‘emigrate home’ should remember that this story is a factional memoir, not a guide, nor is it DIY advice. The action takes place in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s of the last century. The world has changed since then.
The blurb:
The War on terror of 2001 and the Suez Crisis of 1956 made some Arabs in the U.S. and Britain go home. This was relatively easy for those brought up in the Middle East, but what about those who were not? What happens when Westerners of Middle Eastern descent decide to “go home” to the East?
Emigrating Home, a factional memoir, may provide some insights into this.
Yasseen, born in Jamaica and educated mostly in Britain, leaves England on his first visit in Egypt and eighteen months after Suez. There, his Egyptian father and stepfamily welcome him, but he knows almost no Arabic and little about Egypt. This, combined with his Egyptian looks, serves to embroil him in misunderstandings.
His father tells him he must try to be “less of a George and more of an Egyptian.” To this he replies: “If you’d wanted less of a George, you should have brought me up as more of an Aly.”
Life isn’t easy for Yasseen, but he feels accepted and stays.
***
Note from the author:
Those who decide, as I did, to ‘emigrate home’ should remember that this story is a factional memoir, not a guide, nor is it DIY advice. The action takes place in the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s of the last century. The world has changed since then.
Not quite what I expected. I thought Yasseen would tell more about his experiences in Egypt but I was wrong. The Egyptian part is the smallest one in the book.
Most of the stories are about his Jamaican family members. Occasionally, I got confused not knowing if the story is set in Jamaica or in England. Besides, there's a thin line between memoires (and often also autobiographies) and sheer fiction. Like many of them, also Emigrating Home includes such detailed conversations and facts that really make the book more fictional that it IMO should be. [A] factional memoir, says the author. I wouldn't call it that.
Nevertheless, I like the way Yasseen writes and found the last part of book (the one that took place in Egypt) interesting even if he didn't tell much about his acculturation process or cultural differences and difficulties he must have faced. Perhaps they were meant to be in the sequel — if there is or ever will be one...
Yasseen is, btw, also a bookcrosser although he's never been active member. Actually, that's how I found out about this book in the first place. I'm interested in Egypt and was once browsing through Egyptian BC'ers.
***
Emigrating Home is now reserved for Annimanni's All About Africa VBB. It doesn't set that much in Egypt but the author is Egyptian because that's what he chose to be. I think this book represents African literature quite well since it reminds us of Egyptian multiculturalism.
Most of the stories are about his Jamaican family members. Occasionally, I got confused not knowing if the story is set in Jamaica or in England. Besides, there's a thin line between memoires (and often also autobiographies) and sheer fiction. Like many of them, also Emigrating Home includes such detailed conversations and facts that really make the book more fictional that it IMO should be. [A] factional memoir, says the author. I wouldn't call it that.
Nevertheless, I like the way Yasseen writes and found the last part of book (the one that took place in Egypt) interesting even if he didn't tell much about his acculturation process or cultural differences and difficulties he must have faced. Perhaps they were meant to be in the sequel — if there is or ever will be one...
Yasseen is, btw, also a bookcrosser although he's never been active member. Actually, that's how I found out about this book in the first place. I'm interested in Egypt and was once browsing through Egyptian BC'ers.
***
Emigrating Home is now reserved for Annimanni's All About Africa VBB. It doesn't set that much in Egypt but the author is Egyptian because that's what he chose to be. I think this book represents African literature quite well since it reminds us of Egyptian multiculturalism.
Released 13 yrs ago (3/2/2011 UTC) at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to okyrhoe who won the book in Annimanni's All About Africa VBB raffle. Enjoy!
Edited to add that there's something wrong with the way the site reads time. I put the book in the mail box today, March 3rd, around 5 pm.
Editing again. I wasn't the site misreading the date, it was the computer. I made the release note at the library and didn't even think to check which date their computer had. My mistake, I admit.
Edited to add that there's something wrong with the way the site reads time. I put the book in the mail box today, March 3rd, around 5 pm.
Editing again. I wasn't the site misreading the date, it was the computer. I made the release note at the library and didn't even think to check which date their computer had. My mistake, I admit.
Arrived in Athens, thanks so much Tarna!
I opted for this from Annimanni's All About Africa VBB raffle because the author is on BC, & also because I'm reading another book about Egypt & exile at the moment, Andre Aciman's Out of Egypt.
I opted for this from Annimanni's All About Africa VBB raffle because the author is on BC, & also because I'm reading another book about Egypt & exile at the moment, Andre Aciman's Out of Egypt.
