In 'How to Read the Air,' Dinaw Mengestu explores the complexities of identity and belonging through the journey of a son seeking to understand his immigrant parents' past. As he retraces their steps through their tumultuous history, he uncovers secrets that intertwine with his own life. The novel artfully weaves themes of love, loss, and the weight of heritage, all set against the backdrop of a moving contemporary narrative. Mengestu's lyrical prose invites readers to reflect on their connections to family and the uncharted territories of their own histories. Will uncovering these hidden truths bring solace or further complicate the ties that bind?
By Dinaw Mengestu
Published: 2011
"'We are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, even when the truth is too painful to bear.'"
A "beautifully written"* (New York Times Book Review) novel of redemption by a prize-winning international literary star. From the acclaimed author of The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears comes a heartbreaking literary masterwork about love, family, and the power of imagination. Following the death of his father Yosef, Jonas Woldemariam feels compelled to make sense of the volatile generational and cultural ties that have forged him. Leaving behind his marriage and job in New York, he sets out to retrace his mother and father's honeymoon as young Ethiopian immigrants and weave together a family history that will take him from the war-torn country of his parents' youth to a brighter vision of his life in America today. In so doing, he crafts a story- real or invented-that holds the possibility of reconciliation and redemption.
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“'We are shaped by the stories we tell ourselves, even when the truth is too painful to bear.'”
How to Read the Air
By Dinaw Mengestu
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Dinaw Mengestu is an acclaimed Ethiopian-American author, known for his poignant exploration of identity and displacement in contemporary society. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mengestu immigrated to the United States with his family as a child. His notable works include "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears," "How to Read the Air," and "All Our Names," which reflect his nuanced understanding of the immigrant experience and the complexities of belonging. Mengestu’s writing is characterized by lyrical prose and a deep emotional resonance, often blending personal narratives with broader sociopolitical themes.
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