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The Resource Behold the dreamers, by Imbol Mbue

Behold the dreamers, by Imbol Mbue

Creator
Author
Summary
From Cameroonian Mbue comes a debut novel about two immigrants struggling to find their footing in a new world. When Jende Jonga journeys to New York City from Cameroon in 2004 on a visitors' visa in hopes of obtaining a green card, he's sure his life will only improve. After saving up enough money to bring over Jende's wife, Neni, and six-year-old son, the family moves into an apartment in Harlem. Then Jende hits the jackpot in 2007 when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a wealthy Lehman Brothers executive. But working for the Edwardses isn't as cushy and above board as Jende expected. Clark's long hours at the office and frequent late-night "appointments" at the Chelsea Hotel raise red flags with his wife, Cindy. When Neni agrees to accompany the Edwards family to Southampton as a temporary nanny for their youngest son, she learns far more than she bargained for about Cindy's fragile mental state. Before long, the pressure of keeping what they know about Clark and Cindy-and the threat of deportation-becomes too much for the Jongas to bear, threatening the stability of their marriage and their ability to remain in a country they still can't call home. Mbue's reliance on overheard phone conversations to forward the plot makes for choppy reading, and the tenor of the Edwardses' rich-people problems is nothing new. But the Jongas are much more vivid, and the book's unexpected ending-and its sharp-eyed focus on issues of immigration, race, and class-speak to a sad truth in today's cutthroat world: the American dream isn't what it seems
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
Large print edition.
Extent
605 pages (large print)
Isbn
9781410494412
Instance
Label
Behold the dreamers
Title
Behold the dreamers
Statement of responsibility
by Imbol Mbue
Creator
Author
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
From Cameroonian Mbue comes a debut novel about two immigrants struggling to find their footing in a new world. When Jende Jonga journeys to New York City from Cameroon in 2004 on a visitors' visa in hopes of obtaining a green card, he's sure his life will only improve. After saving up enough money to bring over Jende's wife, Neni, and six-year-old son, the family moves into an apartment in Harlem. Then Jende hits the jackpot in 2007 when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a wealthy Lehman Brothers executive. But working for the Edwardses isn't as cushy and above board as Jende expected. Clark's long hours at the office and frequent late-night "appointments" at the Chelsea Hotel raise red flags with his wife, Cindy. When Neni agrees to accompany the Edwards family to Southampton as a temporary nanny for their youngest son, she learns far more than she bargained for about Cindy's fragile mental state. Before long, the pressure of keeping what they know about Clark and Cindy-and the threat of deportation-becomes too much for the Jongas to bear, threatening the stability of their marriage and their ability to remain in a country they still can't call home. Mbue's reliance on overheard phone conversations to forward the plot makes for choppy reading, and the tenor of the Edwardses' rich-people problems is nothing new. But the Jongas are much more vivid, and the book's unexpected ending-and its sharp-eyed focus on issues of immigration, race, and class-speak to a sad truth in today's cutthroat world: the American dream isn't what it seems
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Mbue, Imbolo
Dewey number
813/.6
Index
no index present
LC call number
PS3613.B84
LC item number
B34 2016
Literary form
fiction
Series statement
Thorndike Press large print reviewers' choice
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Global Financial Crisis (2008-2009)
  • Cameroonians
  • Immigrants
  • Upper class
  • Families
  • Family secrets
  • Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009
  • Cameroonians
  • Families
  • Family secrets
  • Immigrants
  • Large type books
  • Upper class
  • United States
Label
Behold the dreamers, by Imbol Mbue
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
23 cm.
Edition
Large print edition.
Extent
605 pages (large print)
Form of item
large print
Isbn
9781410494412
Isbn Type
(hardcover)
Lccn
2016032760
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
System control number
(OCoLC)ocn953927444
Label
Behold the dreamers, by Imbol Mbue
Publication
Copyright
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
23 cm.
Edition
Large print edition.
Extent
605 pages (large print)
Form of item
large print
Isbn
9781410494412
Isbn Type
(hardcover)
Lccn
2016032760
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
n
System control number
(OCoLC)ocn953927444

Subject

Genre

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