In 'Immigrant, Montana,' Amitava Kumar weaves a captivating tale of an Indian immigrant navigating life in America, blending personal narrative with broader cultural reflections. The protagonist's journey unfolds through the lens of love, loss, and the search for identity in a foreign land. Kumar's prose is rich and evocative, capturing the complexities of belonging and the immigrant experience. As he oscillates between the warmth of his past and the cold realities of his present, readers are drawn into a poignant exploration of what it means to truly belong. This novel challenges perceptions and invites contemplation on the intricate threads that connect us all, making it a must-read for those intrigued by the immigrant narrative.
By Amitava Kumar
Published: 2019
""In a world that often seeks to define us by borders and labels, we must remember that our stories are what truly connect us.""
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK ONE OF THE NEW YORKER’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR Carrying a single suitcase, Kailash arrives in post-Reagan America from India to attend graduate school. As he begins to settle into American existence, Kailash comes under the indelible influence of a charismatic professor, and also finds his life reshaped by a series of very different women with whom he recklessly falls in and out of love. Looking back on the formative period of his youth, Kailash’s wry, vivid perception of the world he is in, but never quite of, unfurls in a brilliant melding of anecdote and annotation, picture and text. Building a case for himself, both as a good man in spite of his flaws and as an American in defiance of his place of birth, Kailash weaves a story that is at its core an incandescent investigation of love—despite, beyond, and across dividing lines.
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“"In a world that often seeks to define us by borders and labels, we must remember that our stories are what truly connect us."”
Immigrant, Montana
By Amitava Kumar
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Amitava Kumar is an acclaimed Indian author, journalist, and professor known for his profound and evocative storytelling. His notable works include 'A Foreigner Carrying in the Crook of His Arm a Tiny Bomb', 'Immigrant, Montana', and 'The Lovers: Stories'. Kumar's writing often explores themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of the immigrant experience. He weaves personal narrative with cultural and political commentary, creating a rich tapestry that resonates with readers around the globe. A prominent voice in contemporary literature, Kumar’s style is characterized by its lyrical prose and keen observations, making him an important figure in both Indian and global literary landscapes.
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SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILEY'S WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A delicious, important novel' The Times 'Alert, alive and gripping' Independent 'Some novels tell a great story and others make you change the way you look at the world. Americanah does both.' Guardian As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are fleeing the country if they can. Ifemelu--beautiful, self-assured--departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze--the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor--had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Thirteen years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion--for their homeland and for each other--they will face the toughest decisions of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story of love and expectation set in today's globalized world.
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