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Join us for a Get Lit discussion of The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri
Join us for a Get Lit discussion of The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri.
Aged eight, Dina Nayeri fled Iran along with her mother and brother and lived in the crumbling shell of an Italian hotel-turned-refugee camp. Eventually she was granted asylum in America. She settled in Oklahoma, then made her way to Princeton University. In this book, Nayeri weaves together her own vivid story with the stories of other refugees and asylum seekers in recent years, bringing us inside their daily lives and taking us through the different stages of their journeys, from escape to asylum to resettlement. In these pages, a couple fall in love over the phone, and women gather to prepare the noodles that remind them of home. A closeted queer man tries to make his case truthfully as he seeks asylum, and a translator attempts to help new arrivals present their stories to officials. Nayeri confronts notions like "the swarm," and, on the other hand, "good" immigrants. She calls attention to the harmful way in which Western governments privilege certain dangers over others. With surprising and provocative questions, The Ungrateful Refugee challenges us to rethink how we talk about the refugee crisis.
Get Lit is a book discussion group for those adventurous souls who would like to read a little something different. A limited number of books are available on a first come basis. To sign out a book please contact the Information Desk at (563) 344-4179.
Get Lit is currently meeting virtually. Please register to receive an invite and access information. Can't make the meeting? Join us online in our Goodreads group Get Lit - Bettendorf Public Library or drop by our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bplgetlit/. For more information email dotten@bettendorf.org.
Get Lit is sponsored by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
The Bettendorf Public Library has served the community of Bettendorf since July 12, 1955. We offer Library events for all ages, and our meeting rooms are available for public use. See more information about our meeting room policy at http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/meeting-rooms.
