Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits

from goldiebear

I liked this book well enough. It wasn't what I had expected after the first chapter. The stories were interesting. I liked how the book was divided into two parts; the story of before they decided to immigrate and then the story of what happened to them after they arrived. It was very well writt...

from akeela

This young Moroccan-born writer has produced a wonderful debut collection of short stories, set in modern-day Morocco, and Spain. The first half of the book depicts various characters in Morocco who dream of a better life in Spain, just across the Strait of Gibraltar, not even 14 km across the wa...

from debnance

Though set in Morocco, not Mexico, and the body of water crossed is the Mediterranean, not the Rio Grande, the stories of the desperate immigrants told in this book are eerily similar to those of many new Texans. The writing is lovely and the stories are captivating.

from akeela

This young Moroccan-born writer has produced a wonderful debut collection of short stories, set in modern-day Morocco, and Spain. The first half of the book depicts various characters in Morocco who dream of a better life in Spain, just across the Strait of Gibraltar, not even 14 km across the wa...

from TomMcGreevy

Laila Lalami is a wonderful writer - sensitive, intelligent, perceptive. This her first novel shows some flaws of inexperience (or poor editing) but regardless is well worth the read. Her strength in this book is her characterization - she presents her characters through a clear lens but always w...