Behold the Dreamers

At a time when Western countries are struggling to deal with the ever-growing problem of mass migration and its leaders are displaying increasing intolerance, this is a timely novel from Imbolo Mbue about one young couple’s experiences in New York City just before and after the Global Financial Crisis.
 
Barack Obama is about to be elected President. Living in Harlem, Jende Jonga from Cameroon has overstayed his visa but still manages to get a dream job driving a Lehman Brothers executive, Clark Edwards, and glamorous wife, Cindy. Jende’s wife, Neni, is struggling to juggle family life and gain a qualification in pharmacy. Both are still hopeful that everything will work out.
 
Stories about the “American dream” are not new, but this one reinforces all about that ideal that is shallow or fake and takes on added meaning particularly at this time when the election for the next President has sunk to disgustingly vile lows and has resulted in turning America into a less-than-attractive destination for anyone wanting to better themselves.
 
The Edwards couple and their children suffer from a bit of stereotyping - stressed-out wealthy husband with extramarital “interests” - the wife with empty life and empty liquor bottles - disenchanted elder son off to find himself in India - younger son needing more family time. Jende has his charms and in spite of rejections and deceits remains optimistic about the dream. Neni less so, and she finally takes things into her own hands in an effort to get what she feels they deserve.
 
There are some delightful humorous passages especially in Neni’s relationships with other women from Cameroon and also the swaggering immigration lawyer who knows all the tricks used to pull the wool over the eyes of the authorities, especially fake refugee stories. Descriptions of life in Cameroon are colourful and interesting, and the ending has a certain poignancy but is also satisfying in its way.
 
A very enjoyable read with a humanity and gentle philosophy about the realities of getting what you think you want in life.  Four 1/2 stars.


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