Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice and Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader. The idea is to share a sentence or so from the first page and the 56th page of the book you are currently reading! Also, I will now also include a brief synopsis.
A Brief Synopsis: For fans of Americanah and The Lowland comes a debut novel about an immigrant couple striving to get ahead as the Great Recession hits home. With profound empathy, keen insight, and sly wit, Imbolo Mbue has written a compulsively readable story about marriage, class, race, and the trapdoors in the American Dream.
Beginning of the Book:
He'd never been asked to wear a suit to a job interview. Never been told to bring along a copy of his resume. He hadn't even owned a resume until the previous week when he'd gone to the library on Thirty-fourth and Madison and a volunteer career counselor had written one for him, detailed his work history to suggest he was a man of great accomplishments: farmer responsible for tilling the land and growing healthy crops; street cleaner responsible for making sure the town of Limbe looked beautiful and pristine dishwasher in Manhattan restaurant in charge of ensuring patrons ate from clean and germ-free plates, livery cab driver in the Bronx responsible for taking passengers safely from place to place
(About) Page 56:
Midnight and she still hadn't started. First, it was Jende's work clothes she had to iron. Then it was Liome's homework she had to help with .After that she had to cook dinner for the next day because between work and evening classes, there would be no time to cook and clean the kitchen. She had to do everything tonight. She had thought she'd be done with the chores by ten o'clock, but when she looked at the living room clock it was eleven and she hadn't washed her hair, which badly needed washing.
A Brief Synopsis: For fans of Americanah and The Lowland comes a debut novel about an immigrant couple striving to get ahead as the Great Recession hits home. With profound empathy, keen insight, and sly wit, Imbolo Mbue has written a compulsively readable story about marriage, class, race, and the trapdoors in the American Dream.
Beginning of the Book:
He'd never been asked to wear a suit to a job interview. Never been told to bring along a copy of his resume. He hadn't even owned a resume until the previous week when he'd gone to the library on Thirty-fourth and Madison and a volunteer career counselor had written one for him, detailed his work history to suggest he was a man of great accomplishments: farmer responsible for tilling the land and growing healthy crops; street cleaner responsible for making sure the town of Limbe looked beautiful and pristine dishwasher in Manhattan restaurant in charge of ensuring patrons ate from clean and germ-free plates, livery cab driver in the Bronx responsible for taking passengers safely from place to place
(About) Page 56:
Midnight and she still hadn't started. First, it was Jende's work clothes she had to iron. Then it was Liome's homework she had to help with .After that she had to cook dinner for the next day because between work and evening classes, there would be no time to cook and clean the kitchen. She had to do everything tonight. She had thought she'd be done with the chores by ten o'clock, but when she looked at the living room clock it was eleven and she hadn't washed her hair, which badly needed washing.
Is there a relationship between the two people? It's not clear...
ReplyDeleteI'll reply tonight. Been getting over being sick and family stuff in a little bit.
DeleteYes, they are husband and wife. I have decided I will try to include a brief synopsis of what the book is about, since so many had questions. I was in a rush doing this post and was not feeling that well. Still have a cold, but I blame the weird weather we had last weekend to getting sick.
DeleteI'm confused ... but the cover is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'll reply tonight. Been getting over being sick and family stuff in a little bit.
DeleteI have decided I will try to include a brief synopsis of what the book is about, since so many had questions. I was in a rush doing this post and was not feeling that well. Still have a cold, but I blame the weird weather we had last weekend to getting sick.
DeleteI'm wondering if this book is about an emigrant family's experience. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy Friday post features The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
I'll reply tonight. Been getting over being sick and family stuff in a little bit.
DeleteSounds very intriguing. Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteLauren @ Always Me
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DeleteIt's pretty interesting. I have decided I will try to include a brief synopsis of what the book is about, since so many had questions. I was in a rush doing this post and was not feeling that well. Still have a cold, but I blame the weird weather we had last weekend to getting sick.
DeleteIs this a collection of essays? The people don't sound connected but I love the voice of the narrator. Even with the 2 paragraphs I was pulled in.
ReplyDeleteI'll reply tonight. Been getting over being sick and family stuff in a little bit.
DeleteIt is a novel, but the chapters are from the alternating points of view of the husband, Jende and the wife, Neni. I have decided I will try to include a brief synopsis of what the book is about, since so many had questions. I was in a rush doing this post and was not feeling that well. Still have a cold, but I blame the weird weather we had last weekend to getting sick.
DeleteI'm enjoying the book and I do like the way it is written straight-forward and without the fancy writing you find in some books.
I like the sound of this book. Great resume too. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
I followed by e-mail but am not able to do the GFC follow.
ReplyDeleteI will try later.
I just found the following links or whatever you call it recently. I just kind of found them by accident, so am not too sure about them. I see I do have 2 followers at this time, so it must work. Maybe it has to do with the browser you are using. I find that Microsoft Edge doesn't always work with every website, but if I switch to Google Chrome things usually work the way they should.
DeleteI can't believe I missed your post! Sounds like a deep read, one I could fall into. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty good! Npt perfect, but for an authors debut book, it's above average
DeleteIt's pretty good! Npt perfect, but for an authors debut book, it's above average
Delete