BR: The Good Immigrant by Shukla and Suleyman

The Good Immigrant, from my 2019 book list, is one of the fastest books I’ve read in a long time! Edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimney Suleyman, it’s a great collection of 26 essays. I started it one night, in bed, with a glass of wine (don’t judge). Then, I processed to read at least one essay each night until I was done. I even read a little bit during the Ragnar weekend!

The Good Immigrant: Amazon Description

From Trump’s proposed border wall and travel ban to the marching of white supremacists in Charlottesville, America is consumed by tensions over immigration and the question of which bodies are welcome. In this much-anticipated follow-up to the best-selling UK edition, hailed by Zadie Smith as “lively and vital”, editors Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman hand the microphone to an incredible range of writers whose humanity and right to be here is under attack. 

My Review

Remember how much I liked Uncommon Type? It was a book of short stories, each chapter starting a new story with new characters. Similarly, The Good Immigrant is 26 essays by first- and second-generation immigrants living in America. The writing styles are across the board and topics are wide ranging. After finishing, I can’t say that I had a favorite essay. They were all so unique and eye-opening in different ways. I think the variety of perspectives and immigrant experiences kept it intriguing.