Immigration Books

This is a very informative, well-researched book on a fascinating time and place -- Shanghai, China, in the years when it became a temporary home for thousands of exiles and refugees fleeing the Russian Revolution or European fascism.

This is a serious academic study by a social historian more interested in communities and their leaders than in individual destinies, with a focus on the Jewish and Russian diaspora communities. It may not be as vivid or immediate as memoirs by individuals who lived in Shanghai, but there is no lack of adventure, tragedy, espionage, and murder. It is very readable and provides an overview of the complex political and economic situation that individual memoirs do not. It is especially interesting to see the methods used by the Japanese occupation authorities (targeted assassination, collective reprisal) to intimidate, manipulate and control the Russian and Jewish communities.

There are a number of published Shanghai memoirs by Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria. Harriet Sergeant's book ("Shanghai: Collision Point of Cultures") gives a detailed account of British life in the city. But there is surprisingly little published in English about the Russian population of Shanghai at this time, the "White Russians" who fled the newly established Soviet Union. This book begins to fill that gap.

Marcia Ristaino takes an even-handed, fair approach to the people she writes about, highlighting their resilience in difficult circumstances as well as their problems. She has done impressive research, including Chinese, Japanese and Russian sources, archival material, and interviews with former Shanghai residents. Those with a serious interest in the subject will want to read her book.

As a first generation Portuguese-Canadian, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in Portuguese history, or the history of immigrant groups. One need not have a background in the subject matter as the work is written in a very accessible and readable manner.

Its essays are varied, and gives one a thorough introduction and understanding of the challenges and issues faced by the Portuguese upon their arrival in Canada. One interesting point of note is that it includes a section on the immigrant group in both Montreal and Toronto and how the groups have adapted to 2 very distinct communitities.

Although a relatively "new" immigrant group to Canada, the Portuguese have now an excellent piece of work commemorating and chronicling their place in Canada's social context. Kudos to the editors: Victor da Rosa and Carlos Texeira!

The first section of this five part book outlines the short history of the discipline as it evolved from commonwealth literature into what we now know as postcolonial studies. And an important history to tell it is as the field has been marked by controversy from its very inception and continues to search for a definition of itself in an atmosphere of almost constant dissension from outsiders and from within its own ranks. The middle three essays are each summaries and critiques of the works of the main three practitioners of postcolonial theory. The last essay an examination of the fields current status(c.1997). The inidividual assessment of Said is particularly satisfying as it collects together the many criticisms of Orientalism in one place and addresses them all. Moore-Gilbert, though one assumes not a disinterested member of the postcolonial studies community himself, nonetheless gives a sound and fair assessment of Said finding many methodological inconsistencies in Orientalism most of which remain only partially resolved in the later work Culture and Imperialism. In the final paragraph of the essay he concludes,"Saids influence has been evident in a number of disciplinary fields, to an extent matched only by a handful(at most)of other contemporary cultural critics. In comparative literature,anthropology, sociology,area studies and political science, as well as English literature, Said's ideas have aroused widespread interest and excitement and have enabled a very considerable amount of subsequent work." And this glowing assessment is then qualified a bit with a quote from Michael Sprinker."Specialists in these fields have often been critical of his interventions, but they have on the whole not been able to ignore or dismiss him out of hand."
Bart Moore-Gilbert's treatment of Gayatri Spivak, a figure that also does not fit easily into any one discipline but in addition practices a kind of work which defies any easy summarization, is nonetheless dealt with admirably and is given praise albeit of a tentative sort as she seeks in her work a form of discourse whereby the Other can speak. She chooses for the most part not to answer her famous question in essay form,"Can the subaltern speak?" but continues to try and make it possible for others to answer it for her. Moore-Gilbert concludes, "Perhaps the most enabling element in all of Spivak's work is the emphasis on the importance of trying to recognize and hear the Other woman in her terms(even if this involves, quite literally, learning her language)and not simply assimilating her unproblematically to Western values, histories and regimes of knowledge..."
In his 1996 book Writing India Bart Moore-Gilbert presented an essay: 'The Bhabhal of Tongues,' reading Kipling, reading Bhabha. In that essay he analyzes both the short story, "On the City Wall" and the novel Kim using theories initiated by Bhabha, an impressive combination of criticism and applied theory. As a way out of the traditional mode of interpreting Kim as torn between being English and being Indian, Moore-Gilbert uses Bhabhas theory of 'the in-between' to offer a third possibility or 'third space'. In this study that 'third space' is gone into in much greater depth.
The final essay is a summing up and offers speculation as to what the future of postcolonial studies will look like. One certaintly is that no one approach will suffice nor satisfy such a restlessly creative field which will no doubt remain so for some time to come.

This book is a loving blueprint for how people can become involved in changing the direction of their lives and their community. Delgado-Gaitan weaves stories of the individuals of Carpinteria together with stories of the community of Carpinteria, and creates an intricate tapestry that shows how individuals can change The System.

Because Delgado-Gaitan does not try to stay out of the story - she too is she is an immigrant Latino with a background similar to those of many of the people that she interviewed - she allows her perspective to enter and flavor (in very readable prose) her carefully researched accounting of parental involvement in the school system of Carpinteria. One of the most heartening aspects of the story is that Delgado-Gaitan actually becomes very invested and involved with helping the parents to change the school system. And they are SUCCESSFUL!

One of my favorite passages is about a woman who at first thought that not being active in the school activities showed her respect for the teacher. She says, "I didn't feel that I needed to know who my children's teachers were because I trusted that they knew what they were doing. I didn't know what my children needed because I didn't have much schooling in Mexico, so why should I question what they were doing in the classroom?"

I was very touched by this woman's story because it helps to show that so often we don't take action because we don't think that we are smart enough, or capable enough. We do not feel imbued with POWER. Yet that can change, as Delgado-Gatain allows us to see when the woman, Vicki Flores, describes her shift in consciousness. As she attends the COPLA (Committee of Latino Parents) meetings, her views begin to change. "At first I didn't see why other parents felt that it was necessary to learn about schools, but I kept attending meetings because my neighbor insisted that I go with her. Finally, in one meeting I asked them why as Latinos we should have to know all of the information that was being presented to us. Suddenly they all began explaining how Latino children were left behind in school and they received less attention if we as parents didn't get involved. My neighbor told me that her son was having problems reading and when she went to talk to the school the teacher gave her materials to help her son. I know I should go talk to the teacher because my youngest daughter, Angie, tells me that she is having lots of problems." (p 29) And so she took action.

I highly recommend this book because, quite simply, it helps you to see that no matter how helpless you may feel, when you join with others, communicate your vision, and accept that yes, it will take time, it IS possible to change the world.

I can't recall an autobiography with as many poignant moments as Amalia Molina's story. The detention diary is not embellished nor over-sensationalized. Its power is its tranparency, simplicity and truth. A reader will want to know more about her children and the world beyond the walls, but the pages only reveal so much. Readers sit with powerful questions, emotions and images, yet one is propelled to turn the page. Her images and allusions, like the Simon of Cyrene, the one who helps Jesus carry the cross, relate so powerfully to her experience.

The Power of Love raises great points about the arbitrary and cruel nature of America's justice system and immigration policies. At the same time, her remarks are not meandering rants. People in America need to read this book.

The bi-lingual book serves Spanish and English readers. I'd recommend this for upper high school and college level Spanish courses in the U.S.A.

The professional reviews did not prepare me for the poignancy and beauty of this story. The story is of a young boy, forced to leave behind his home, loved-ones, comfort, and security for the unknown adventure of the new world. His link to the known and familiar was a small wooden boat carved by his grandfather. Just as he was beginning to embrace the wonder and awe of his beautiful adventure the boat slips from his hands and is lost forever in the prairie grass. Despite the attempts of parents to comfort him in his loss, the longing for home and things as they were envelope his thoughts and he will not be comforted.

That night his grandfather comes to him in a dream and counsels him, as only a grandfather can, to leave behind the sadness and look forward to the beauty awaiting at the journey's end. In that brief heart-to-heart talk with his grandfather the boy is lifted and the new day dawns with a fresh resolve to cheerfully move forward.

The story will resonate with anyone who has had to face the unknown or has had to journey to a new world leaving a comfortable world behind. Did I forget to mention there are boats and a train sailing over the ocean and prairie to hold the imagination of a young child? For the young child the loss of the toy boat is a signal that the story is about to take off to new adventures. While my little one understands the loss of a treasured toy he doesn't have the experience to let more subtle concerns interfere with a good story and great pictures.

As for me, it is satisfying to find a book with an underlying message on par with The Little Engine that Could and "I think I can." But this story touches deeper than what the happy little girls and boys on the other side of the mountain can appreciate. Parents and Grandparents will find this a satisfying reading experience with their young explorer. This book gives both the reader and the listener a wonderful feeling, that is, in the words of the inside cover flap, "deeply satisfying."

The artwork is beautiful. The inside covers have a beautiful stylistic map of the journey from Connemara Ireland to San Francisco.

GREAT BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. WRITTEN IN A VERY BEAUTIFUL WAY GOOD JOB

Nigel Bartholomew's novel "Private Sessions" is the best
novel that I have ever read, period. This writer has great promise. The book is full of excitement. Read his first
novel "Private Sessions", and you will surely see what I
mean. Good job, Nigel!

I find this book to be very well written, researched and valuable. It tells the immigrant story with grace and compassion, delving into the motivations, disappointments and successes of the generations. Not only those of Norwegian descent will understand the challenges and victories of immigrant people. It is a book that addresses common fears and the ways the community rises up to overcome adversity. It is worth rereading several times.

I highly recommend this book for those who are starting the naturalization process and have Spanish as their native language. The book is so good though, that it is useful even to those that don't speak Spanish. Everything in the book is written in English and Spanish in facing pages. Not only does the book have all the questions you may be asked in the citizenship exam, it also has text about the history of the US, and the government of the US that you can study before you practice your questions. It's like having a textbook on the questions you will be asked. It also has a number of examples of the questions you may be asked to write in the exam. While the exam is relatively easy, if you don't know a whole lot about the history or government of the US this book is a sure bet. I also looked at the US Citizenship packet by the American Immigration Center and Practica para el Examen de Cuidadania has much better content at a fraction of the price.