This Is Where I Am

by Karen Campbell

Heartbreaking, uplifting and unforgettable, This is Where I Am is a tender and eye-opening novel about loss and survival, and an unlikely friendship between a Glaswegian widow and a Somali asylum seeker.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Book Club, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Africa, Friendship

480 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Scottish writer Karen Campbell is a graduate of Glasgow University's prestigious Creative Writing Masters, and author of The Twilight Time.

A former police officer, Karen can legitimately claim to have worked the streets of Glasgow, and her debut novel, described as 'gritty as hell, shot through with black humour', weaves personal insights and experiences to take a look at life behind the uniform - and the choices women make in life.

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has touched me profoundly.
A novel with 2 voices, an asylum seeker, and a recently bereaved widow, we see both sides of their story and how they interact and understand or, often misunderstand each other.
I always have believed that given a choice those who seek asylum would rather be in their own countries with what they know and understand, with the people they love and the culture they have been raised in. Who would walk away from family, friends and all they know unless they were desperate or in immediate danger? The choice they have made is one of survival.
This book has confirmed that but also given me an insight to the very real tensions and realities that asylum seekers face. There is much in this book which makes you think and cringe at the way some sections of society and the press deal with the issue of refugees and asylum. (I write this knowing that I have friends and family who would close our county to refugees)
The author has obviously researched the subject and has managed to show the reader that despite popular belief the life of an asylum seeker is far from easy.
There is this (fairly long) quote by Abdi which just floored me
“It Is not your money you give to us. It is the money society, in its kindness and wisdom, has decreed we may have. It is called humanity. Do you know this? When “humanity “is a concept, it is fine, but when it is one human being deciding on another’s right to be human, it is petty and unkind”
This is an amazing book and by far the best book I have read in a long time, if you only read one book this year make it this one.

[Reindert Van Zwaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't really grab the essence this book in one sentence. The story is quite slow starting, which kind of matches with the process of two people, a refugee and his mentor, meeting for the first time and starting to get to know each other. During this first half of the book, this is the main thing happening: a bond being formed between two people, boundaries getting vague, trust growing. Throughout the books, there are many flashbacks of the past, which I think were sometimes a bit too tedious. But the way they just revealed a little bit more every time I think is quite well done.
The book kept my attention, and mostly from the second half onward I wanted to keep reading.
The most striking things I found were the way you can feel the tension between the two main characters and the insecurity they have towards each other. And hell, me getting goosebumps because a wee child utters a single word, WOW! However, the ending touched me less, I think because the story rushed a bit to reach a proper ending, which could have been worked out better.
All in all, a very nice read, carrying a message about human values and acceptance.

[Val Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Campbell was born in Paisley and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland. Both her mother and father worked in Strathclyde Police Force and following a degree at Glasgow University, Karen also joined the police, where she met her husband. Karen studied for the Creative Writing Master's Degree at Glasgow University. She is a vegetarian and lives in Galloway with her husband and two daughters. Karen Campbell has been best known, until now, as an accomplished proponent of Tartan Noir. She wrote a series of 4 well-received police crime novels featuring her main protagonist DCI Anna Cameron. I very much enjoyed those books. So, when This Is Where I Am was book of the month in my book group, I was thrilled.

However, this novel is a complete departure in style and subject matter for Karen Campbell. This Is Where I Am is a book of two voices. It tells the story of Abdi, a Somali asylum-seeker newly arrived in Glasgow with his young daughter, and of recently widowed Deborah, who has been assigned as mentor to help them settle in. I thought the situation of the recently bereaved woman mentoring the recently arrived refugee from Somalia worked well.

This book was a beautifully crafted story, which was carefully to show empathy for refugees coming to live in the UK. It was written with both sensitivity and balance. The story weaves in and out from the present and the past, delving in the issues that lead to Abdi's travel to Glasgow with his young daughter, Rebecca but sometimes the story left me feeling flat, maybe helpless, when I felt I should have been more angry. The parallels between their fights with authority and their own individual grief also worked.

The differences in the attitudes of the Scottish people ranging from aggressive and bigoted to friendly and kind was very realistic. However, I must admit, that I did not see the end coming. I found it quite unbelievable. It was too neat for such chaotic lives. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed This Is Where I Am and am not surprised that the novel was selected as the BBC Radio Four Book at Bedtime.

[Moira McPartlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the situation of the recently bereaved woman mentoring the recently arrived refugee from Somalia worked well. The parallels between their fights with authority and their own individual grief also worked. The difference between the attitude of West of Scotland folk (aggressive/bigoted vs friendly/kind) was very realistic. So why not give it five stars?
Well,sometimes it left me feeling flat, maybe helpless, when I felt I should have been more angry. But I think the main reason I didn't give it five stars was the ending. It was too neat for such chaotic lives.

[Brooke Powley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a beautifully crafted story, which was careful to show empathy for refuge's coming to live in the UK. It was written with both sensitivity and balance.

Told from the viewpoint of two main characters, a single father who is a refugee from Somalia and a middle-aged recently widowed woman. The story weaves in and out from the present and the past, delving in the issues that lead to Abdi's travel to Glasgow with his young daughter, Rebecca. I must admit, that I didn't see the end coming! Keep the tissues handy!

I am looking forward to more books by Campbell.

[Ann Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - although some parts were acutely uncomfortable to read. Another hidden gem I'd have never picked up if not for my book group!

[Shannon Fogarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful, sweet, devastating and interesting. I loved the characters.

[Laura Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this five stars and then I almost gave it three stars! 🙈 for me the character development was slow but it was in pace with how a genuine relationship of this sort may develop. The characters are really interesting but it almost too long to get to the ‘twist’ for me. It definitely left me wanting to know what happened after- the books doesn’t really end. I appreciate the subject is sensitive and maybe the book was purposefully honouring that.
But I loved visualising Glasgow through a different perspective and how these two people had some strong similarities. Other characters also encapsulate the essence of Glaswegians! At times the faux pas really made me laugh as well. Certainly worth a read.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read to begin with, I really quite enjoyed the first half but the last half of the book took a bit of an unrealistic turn for me, seemed far fetched. Despite that the book did shine a light on what it must be like to be a refugee in Glasgow/Scotland and I really wish that had been explored even further than it was. In addition I felt it was also about 100 pages too long 😕

[Hayley T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that doesn't shy away from some difficult discussion.

I wont go too much into the plot of this story but it is about a Somalian refugee - Abdi - in Scotland and the story is told from the perspective of both the refugee and his Scottish mentor, Deborah. The switching between narration is well done and I found it a particularly effective tool in terms of both of their characterisation. You only got to understand and find out more about the characters as they did themselves which felt a bit frustrating at the start but developed really nicely.

Other good points about the book - Abdi is not a simple refugee character who only has one emotion and the book confronts this stereotype effectively as Abdi says himself at one point 'I am not a smiling black African'and as the book develops, the many layers to his character slowly and painfully emerge. No-one in the book is presented as 'good' or 'bad', the main characters are quite self-conscious narrators and question their motives and judgement which I found interesting and fulfilling.

The story doesn't shy away from harsh details but it also doesn't revel in them which I have noticed can be a trend in 'atrocity' stories.

Some minor points that I noticed - Gamu's story started off as if it were going to be quite a significant sub plot but seemed to just be left as the story ended which felt a little strange. It would have been nice for Deborah's sister and her husband to be more involved in the story as I found the scene all three of them were in quite compelling. I personally was unsure about the ending, without giving anything away, it felt a bit simplistic and easy but it didn't take anything away from the story as a whole.

All in all, excellent book that was touching without being trite.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and poignant read. This is a the story of the friendship that develops between Abdi Hussain, a Somalian refugee, his daughter, Rebecca and Deborah Maxwell, Abdi's mentor, from the Scottish Refugee Council.

Abdi and Rebecca have gone through some terrible traumas before escaping from Somalia. including appalling conditions of squalor and starvation in the camps in Somalia. Not least of their heartbreak is the loss of Abdi's wife and Rebecca's mother, leading Rebecca to become withdrawn and unable to speak. They then have to contend with the difficulties in resettling in Scotland. Deborah herself has experienced tragedy in the loss of her young husband after a long illness.

They are drawn together by these circumstance and each character relates their experiences, with flashbacks from Abdi of his life in Somalia and his suffering due to the hostility he experiences when he arrives in Scotland, he feels alienated, and some of the locals are resentful. He eventually gets moved on to a safer environment, with some help from Deborah.

There are entertaining moments, there are tear inducing times, hard to believe there can be a resolution to the variety of problems they all experience, but through it all the power of the human spirit are seen. A beautifully written novel, giving an insight into the plight of the refugees, their problems, lack of financial resources and a lack of a support network and the problems faced by organisations such as the Scottish Refugee Council, attempting to support the refugees to settle and be supported in their host home.

I learned a lot from reading this amazing novel, and would recommend this book to the thoughtful reader.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is different from Karen Campbell's usual police novels, and what a wonderful read it is. I felt I became part of the world of the novel from the start - from the fact that the Glasgow story was set in the part of the city where I grew up, and I could identify landmarks, to the beautiful depiction of relationships and circumstances. You are drawn into the lives of Deborah and Abdi although never given full details - always left wanting more. While the blurb prepares the reader for some shock when Rebecca starts to talk I wasn't prepared for what it was. The relationship between Deborah and Abdi is described beautifully and then as Rebecca begins to view "Debba" increasingly as a mother figure there are some tensions introduced. I felt the relationships were very real and not over dramatised. I was left feeling I had learned a lot about the situation of asylum seekers and refugees and a lesson on acceptance of others.
A beautiful story, with enough to keep the reader gripped wondering how it will end, along with the interaction of the relationships.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked this book up in the local library I sat down on a chair there and started reading it straight away. And yet I wasn't sure if I wanted to take it out as the description on the back seemed a bit boring. However I told myself that any author whose writing got me reading straight away must be worth a try and anyway being a library I would be bringing it back anyway! And so I won't go into telling you too much of the story. Except to say I thought that I wouldn't be able to relate to a a book set in Scotland that was about an immigrant and his daughter who was not talking and how they came to be in Glasgow and also about a middle aged woman whose husband had died and was volunteering to help refugees as a way of coping. For the story was so much more deeper and had so many more layers. It was moving and touching and challenging and really needs to be read by all politicians and anyone dismissing the refugee situation as 'not our problem'.

[Sarah Faichney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not much of a one for writing reviews, nor do I tend to read them. With this novel, I felt compelled to say a few words. There is something about Karen Campbell's writing that makes me read long into the night and never want to put the book down. This is my third by this author since discovering her work a few weeks ago.

"This Is Where I Am" is one of those once-in-a-lifetime rarities; a precious jewel of a book which will stay with me forever. The many themes include history of various popular landmarks in Glasgow, immigrants/asylum seekers/refugees, bereavement and loss, mental health, the power of friendship and the strength of the human spirit. The characters have authentic voices and the language is teeming wi guid Glesga patter. I cannot recommend this book highly enough and found it particularly relevant in the current climate of Brexit and Trump. Please read it and buy a copy for everyone you know. It's stunning.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

* books 87 - 2014 *

I will give rating 3,8 of 5 stars. it is interesting story about an widow woman, deborah who help Abdi, a somalian refugee to survive in scotland. they try to heal each other's wound, learn other culture, forgiveness and try to move forward..

abdi also have a daughter, rebecca who does not speak..I really hate still found many discrimination with skins

[Mandy Setterfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book, I don't know Glasgow, but would imagine for those who do this is a great read. The quality of the writing is extremely good.
This was a 5-star book until I was 7/8ths of the way through. I felt the final part of the book was somehow unrealistic, and didn't quite fit, even though it had a happy ending.

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was an original tale, a bit soppy, rather nice, but not a particularly good read. It lacked spark and didn't commit to full-on emotions, perhaps because the author didn't want to make an extreme situation read as too overblown. Whatever, it didn't really work that well for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow going so far. Challenging style & POV narrative in the voice of a culture I'm fairly unfamiliar with (Scottish) but will soldier on.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant heart-breaking book. I feel I have a tiny fraction of insight into how it must feel to be forced to seek asylum in our country. Read it.

[Glynis Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book. I found it a bit confusing at first due to the unusual friendship which was emerging. Heartwarming, heartbreaking and humbling in equal measures. Well worth a read.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deborah und Abdi könnten nicht unterschiedlicher sein. Sie ist eine Witwe aus Glasgow, er ist afrikanischer Bürgerkriegsflüchtling. Die beiden treffen sich durch das Mentorenprogramm des schottischen Sozialdiensts. Ein Jahr lang sollen sie sich einmal im Monat treffen, damit Abdi der Start leichter fällt.

Mein erster Eindruck von Deborah war schlecht. Eine schwitzende, mittelalte Frau sitzt im Vorzimmer des Sozialdiensts und denkt über die Begegnung mit einem jugendlichen Bettler nach. Anfangs dachte ich, dass sie ihn angegrabscht hätte und jetzt ihren Bewährungshelfer trifft. Nach und nach habe ich erkannt, dass sie einfach nur einsam ist, weil ihr Mann gestorben ist. Dann habe ich sie durch Abdis Augen gesehen. Er sieht sie als junge, gutgekleidete Frau. Die Wahrheit liegt wohl irgendwo dazwischen.

Abdi ist neu in Glasgow. Er ist mit seiner kleinen Tochter geflüchtet. Woher, das habe ich noch nicht erfahren. Aber dort, wo er herkommt, kann es nicht schön gewesen sein. Er weigert sich, mit dem Bus zu fahren. Lieber läuft er kilometerweit. Warum? In seinem Wohnblock wird er angefeindet. Aber er erlebt auch Gutes: wie der Mann, der ihm im Supermarkt half, als er die Namen auf den Packungen nicht lesen konnte. Oder die Frau des Gemeindepfarrers, die sich rührend um seine Tochter kümmert. Und jetzt Deborah. Ich glaube, die beiden werden sich gegenseitig helfen.

Für das erste Treffen hat Deborah das Kelvingrove Museum ausgesucht. Mein Lieblingsmuseum! Da bin ich natürlich gerne mitgegangen, auch wenn der Besuch nicht ganz reibungslos verlaufen ist. Gleich am Anfang gab es einen unschönen Zwischenfall, weil Abdi einem Gemälde zu nahe gekommen ist. Der Angestellte hat nicht einmal mit ihm gesprochen, sondern nur über ihn. Deborah hat es sehr passend ausgedrückt: "er ist doch kein Hund". Die Sache ist ihr sehr peinlich, Abdi scheint es nichts auszumachen.

Nach ihrer Frage, wie es in den Flüchtlingslager war, muss er sich dem Teil seiner Vergangenheit stellen, den er verdrängt hat. Seine ersten Erinnerngen sind erschütternd, obwohl er nur die tägliche Situation beschreibt. Ich frage mich, was da noch alles kommt. Auch Deborah muss sich ihren Erinnerungen stellen. Der Tod ihres Mannes ist noch nicht so lange her und der Schmerz ist noch frisch.

Trotzdem ist das Mentorenprogramm für beide ein Glücksfall. Deborah kann Abdi helfen, denn Rebecca spricht nicht und kann deshalb nicht eingeschult werden. Als ehemalige Lehrerin kennt Deborah die richtigen Leute und verspricht, ein paar Telefonanrufe zu machen. Endlich hat sie wieder eine Aufgabe.

Ich finde es schön zu beobachten, wie Abdie und Deborah ihren Weg gehen. Natürlich gibt es immer wieder Rückschläge, aber die beiden rappeln sich immer wieder auf und machen weiter. Obwohl ich immer noch glaube, dass es in Abdis und Rebeccas Vergangenheit eine schlimme Sache gibt, die beide am liebsten vergessen würden. Wenn ich mir überlege, dass die beiden aus Dadaab kommen... darüber habe ich schon einiges gelesen.

Es konnte mit Abdi ja nicht immer gut gehen. Die Vergangenheit hat ihn eingeholt :sauer: Stückchenweise erzählt er Deborah, was in Dadaab passiert ist. Aber es gibt auch noch die Version von Rebecca, und die klingt ganz anders.

Einen Augenblick dachte ich, dass die Geschichte ins Kitschige abrutschen würde. Aber das ist sie nicht, im Gegenteil. Auch wenn es ein Happy End gibt und Adbi sich wie schon öfter denkt "this is, where I am". Hier stehe ich also und es ist gut so. Vielleicht war der lange, schmerzhafte Weg für ihn nötig.

Der Roman spricht einige weniger schöne Themen an: die Situation im Flüchtlingslager, die Situation der Flüchtlinge in ihren neuen Ländern und sie zeigt mir ein Schottland, das ich noch nicht kannte und eigentlich nicht kennen wollte. Und trotzdem ist dieses Buch ein echter Tipp, denn es hat mich berührt wie selten ein Buch zuvor.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genom ett mentorsprogram för flyktingar i Glasgow möts Deborah, en kvinna som just förlorat sin man och som tappat meningen med tillvaron, och Abdi, flykting från Somalia med fyraåriga dottern Rebecca som inte talar. Tillsammans får de tre tillfälle att bearbeta sina upplevelser och en djup vänskap.

Det här är något så ovanligt som en mysig feelgood-historia med hemska inslag av verklighet för dagens flyktingar. Det är en fin beskrivning av kulturkrockar och en obehaglig påminnelse om en verklighet som är ljusår från vår egen, till exempel i flyktinglägret Dadaab.

Också fint att även Deborahs sorg och depression får ta plats, man behöver inte jämföra smärtor utan kan känna med alla som har det svårt och jobbigt.

[Cáit Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a truly human story. The characters felt so believable and real. When I read this, my son was 4 years old like Rebecca and I could see glimpses of him. Abdi was relatable as a parent who would do literally anything for his child. The voices of the characters came through so clearly with her writing.

I wish everyone who criticizes refugees or immigrants would read this book.

Without spoilers, I felt that this story is, while not skirting around some tough issues by any means, a sunny view of the atrocities that many refugees face. But that does not lessen the impact of the book to me in any way.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much to like about this book, including wonderful, evocative writing and great character development. I really felt I understood the main protagonists and cared about their struggles with grief. I'd give the first half alone 5 stars.

Unfortunately, the plot loses its way quite badly. It feels like the author was scared not enough was happening, and so (without going into spoilers) a whole lot of plot comes along which feels forced into the book and completely unnecessary. By the end I had stopped paying attention, which was such a shame.

[CA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is poignant seeing the world through the eyes of a wife full of grief in her home city of Glasgow and a refugee father experiencing life outside of Africa.
Deborah is middle class and naive but this adds to her likability, as she wants to help even if this sometimes comes across as knowing what’s best for people.
Abdi is a strong character wanting to get all he can out of life while dealing with trauma from what was left behind in Africa.
‘Mucky pup’ is a sweetheart and was my favourite character in the book. The other supporting characters also added depth to to the story.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story of a woman, Deborah, who finds friendship and a purpose in life after the death of her husband when she volunteers as a mentor for a Somalian refugee, Abdi. As their friendship develops we learn about Abdi's past and his struggle to build a new life for himself and his young daughter in Glasgow. Sometimes confronting, sometimes funny, always touching, this book affirms that caring is a powerful way to heal ones own wounds and also help others to heal.

[chris tervit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some inspired & astute dialogue laced with glaswegian colloquiums. Offering insights into life for refugees & asylum seekers coming to Glasgow. Sadly the editor did not sort the jarring up-paced plot in last third which didn’t match up to the brilliant first 2/3 of the book. Great narrator - she got the accent perfect! I’d recommend to others & thanks to my mum for putting me onto it - she wants us to visit The CRM-designed Scotland St School in Glasgow when next we can 😊.

[Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t often give 5* but it’s usually for a book that is not only well written but moves me. This one fits the bill. Karen Campbell seems to get inside the heads and hearts of a refugee and a woman who has nursed and lost her husband. Both have lost the love of their lives. We also get insight into the terrible experience of loss of home and life in the camps. The worst and the best of human nature is here.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's close to home

Because for 17 years I've worked in Glasgow with people from this kind of background I found this a very uncanny valley in a way. Trying to not let myself get caught up in technicalities I enjoyed this. I think the main thing is that it is a human story which offers people a bit of an insight into the experience of being a refugee.

[Hannah Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read and I thoroughly recommend it. Hugely insightful into the life of asylum seekers, refugees and the camp at Dadaab. The characters were well portrayed and the friendship between Abdi & Deborah is awkward but heart-warming. Not an easy read at times but a really powerful novel with wonderful storytelling and a number of redemption narratives amidst the pain and angst. Read it!