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Nowhere, Exactly: On Identity and Belonging
From one of Canada's most celebrated writers, two-time Giller Prize winner M.G. Vassanji, comes a thoughtful meditation on what it means to belong in the world.
Home is never a single place, entirely and unequivocally. It is contingent. The abstract "nowhere," then, is the true home.
M.G. Vassanji has been exploring the immigrant experience for over three decades, drawing deeply on his own transnational upbringing and intimate understanding of the unique challenges and perspectives born from leaving one's home to resettle in a new land. The question of identity, of how to configure and see oneself within this new land, is one such challenge faced. But Vassanji suggests that a more fundamental and slippery endeavour than establishing one's identity is how, if ever, we can establish a sense of belonging. Can we ever truly belong in this new home? Did we ever truly belong in the home we left? Where exactly do we belong? For many, the answer is nowhere exactly.
Combining brilliant prose, thoughtful, candid observation, and a lifetime of exploring how we as individuals are shaped by the places and communities in which we live and the history that haunts them, Nowhere, Exactly examines with exquisite sensitivity the space between identity and belonging, the immigrant experience of both loss and gain, and the weight of memory and nostalgia, guilt and hope felt by so many of those who leave their homes in search of new ones.
Home is never a single place, entirely and unequivocally. It is contingent. The abstract "nowhere," then, is the true home.
M.G. Vassanji has been exploring the immigrant experience for over three decades, drawing deeply on his own transnational upbringing and intimate understanding of the unique challenges and perspectives born from leaving one's home to resettle in a new land. The question of identity, of how to configure and see oneself within this new land, is one such challenge faced. But Vassanji suggests that a more fundamental and slippery endeavour than establishing one's identity is how, if ever, we can establish a sense of belonging. Can we ever truly belong in this new home? Did we ever truly belong in the home we left? Where exactly do we belong? For many, the answer is nowhere exactly.
Combining brilliant prose, thoughtful, candid observation, and a lifetime of exploring how we as individuals are shaped by the places and communities in which we live and the history that haunts them, Nowhere, Exactly examines with exquisite sensitivity the space between identity and belonging, the immigrant experience of both loss and gain, and the weight of memory and nostalgia, guilt and hope felt by so many of those who leave their homes in search of new ones.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published March 26, 2024
12 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
M.G. Vassanji
29 books167 followersMoyez G. Vassanji was born in Kenya and raised in Tanzania. Before coming to Canada in 1978, he attended MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in theoretical nuclear physics. From 1978-1980 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Atomic Energy of Canada, and from 1980 to 1989 he was a research associate at the University of Toronto. During this period he developed a keen interest in medieval Indian literature and history, co-founded and edited a literary magazine (The Toronto South Asian Review, later renamed The Toronto Review of Contemporary Writing Abroad), and began writing stories and a novel. In 1989, with the publication of his first novel, The Gunny Sack, he was invited to spend a season at the International Writing Program of the University of Iowa. That year ended his active career in nuclear physics. His contributions there he considers modest, in algebraic models and high spin states. The fact that he was never tenured he considers a blessing for it freed him to pursue his literary career.
Vassanji is the author of six novels and two collections of short stories. His work has appeared in various countries and several languages. His most recent novel, The Assassin's Song, was short-listed for both the Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Prize for best novel in Canada. It has appeared in the US (Knopf) and India (Penguin) and is scheduled to appear in the UK (Canongate).
His wife, Nurjehan, was born in Tanzania. They have two sons, Anil, and Kabir. He lives in Toronto, and visits Africa and India often.
Awards: Giller Prize, twice; Harbourfront Festival Prize; Commonwealth First Book Prize (Africa); Bressani Prize. Order of Canada.
Vassanji is the author of six novels and two collections of short stories. His work has appeared in various countries and several languages. His most recent novel, The Assassin's Song, was short-listed for both the Giller Prize and the Governor-General's Prize for best novel in Canada. It has appeared in the US (Knopf) and India (Penguin) and is scheduled to appear in the UK (Canongate).
His wife, Nurjehan, was born in Tanzania. They have two sons, Anil, and Kabir. He lives in Toronto, and visits Africa and India often.
Awards: Giller Prize, twice; Harbourfront Festival Prize; Commonwealth First Book Prize (Africa); Bressani Prize. Order of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 17, 2026
When you don’t write about yourself, you remain unknown. And when you are unknown, you don’t exist; or you exist as caricature.
I saw this book last summer at Munro’s here in Victoria and was super excited to check it out, but wasn’t fully sold at the time. Then when we started the book club, John and I both realized we wanted to read it and sold Tim on the idea. Unfortunately for us, the book we wanted was not here.
My gut tells me that the original draft for this book was 30% shorter and that it was lengthened to match some rule set by the publisher. My gut says that the truly blasphemous stuff, such as the challenges to WWI as some special Great War and the anecdotes of racism experienced firsthand in Toronto, were whittled down by editors. Because genuinely the first five or so chapters were so timid and reserved, and then as we crescendo with his critique and love of Gandhi we fall again because all the interesting bits are obscured or short. Or maybe he’s just not that good a writer.
The book I see through the cracks glimmering through would’ve been a 3.5-4 star read. But this tepid, though occasionally gripping, memoir we got is maximally 2.5.
I saw this book last summer at Munro’s here in Victoria and was super excited to check it out, but wasn’t fully sold at the time. Then when we started the book club, John and I both realized we wanted to read it and sold Tim on the idea. Unfortunately for us, the book we wanted was not here.
It became a matter of pride and self-worth, of inner security, to be able to proclaim to the world: This is what I am, I also exist! Understand me, acknowledge where I come from, know it, it’s a place as important to me as yours is to you. The new coordinates within which to define and explain myself were provided to me by history. It gave me a language and a system; through it I could connect to the rest of the world, to humanity… To understand now who I was, I had to start somewhere in the past—hunt for a time zero, however illusory or approximate, and from there to move forward.
My gut tells me that the original draft for this book was 30% shorter and that it was lengthened to match some rule set by the publisher. My gut says that the truly blasphemous stuff, such as the challenges to WWI as some special Great War and the anecdotes of racism experienced firsthand in Toronto, were whittled down by editors. Because genuinely the first five or so chapters were so timid and reserved, and then as we crescendo with his critique and love of Gandhi we fall again because all the interesting bits are obscured or short. Or maybe he’s just not that good a writer.
There is, above all, that joy in syncretism, the intellectual flexibility and nurturing of curiosity, the tolerance or acceptance of other ways of belief, the inability to hate others “just because.”
The book I see through the cracks glimmering through would’ve been a 3.5-4 star read. But this tepid, though occasionally gripping, memoir we got is maximally 2.5.
February 13, 2026
I didn’t get on with this, and not for a lack of trying. “On identity and belonging” is an interesting premise but the vagueness of this subtitle means that Vassanji really could have written about anything. And yeah, that’s basically what happens. Vassanji’s reflections left me unimpressed, and his anecdotes felt very detached and disinterested. The rambling nature of his writing and the casual yet niche name drops left me convinced that this was not written primarily for the sake of an audience, but rather for the author to organize some of his thoughts. Not for me unfortunately!
1.5 stars.
1.5 stars.
April 25, 2024
Seldom have I felt as perceived as I did by this book. Despite being from significantly different backgrounds, it’s strange how universal the third culture experience can be.
Vassanji’s musings on his origins, his upbringing, and his heritage are beautifully written and will instantly strike a chord with anyone who has been brought up “abroad” or in some sense outside the culture of their supposed origins.
This book has given me a great deal to think on. I am going to seek out Vassanji’s novels and read those when I am able. I am deeply saddened that my father is not alive to discuss this book with me. I reckon he’d have enjoyed it and found different areas of discussion than me, having spent some time in Nairobi and other notable cities on the African continent. I miss him terribly and I will never stop missing him.
Vassanji’s musings on his origins, his upbringing, and his heritage are beautifully written and will instantly strike a chord with anyone who has been brought up “abroad” or in some sense outside the culture of their supposed origins.
This book has given me a great deal to think on. I am going to seek out Vassanji’s novels and read those when I am able. I am deeply saddened that my father is not alive to discuss this book with me. I reckon he’d have enjoyed it and found different areas of discussion than me, having spent some time in Nairobi and other notable cities on the African continent. I miss him terribly and I will never stop missing him.
April 25, 2024
In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Vassanji is a friend and I have enjoyed his work over the years.
I must confess to “skimming” over some parts of his book because I found the narrative repetitive. His early family life, studying in the US and India travels reappear with minor changes and additions. Perhaps it is just my own bias, having read more detailed and elaborate accounts of these subjects in his earlier books.
Having got this out of the way, this is Moyez at his very best with his questioning not just what constitutes Identity, Literary “origins”, Patriotism and indeed how to define the very essence of an itinerant’s existence. His remarks helped me to introspect and question my own Origin Story.
Recommended reading.
I must confess to “skimming” over some parts of his book because I found the narrative repetitive. His early family life, studying in the US and India travels reappear with minor changes and additions. Perhaps it is just my own bias, having read more detailed and elaborate accounts of these subjects in his earlier books.
Having got this out of the way, this is Moyez at his very best with his questioning not just what constitutes Identity, Literary “origins”, Patriotism and indeed how to define the very essence of an itinerant’s existence. His remarks helped me to introspect and question my own Origin Story.
Recommended reading.
March 24, 2024
3.5
I enjoyed this read. It was from a different perspective than I am used to. It is not often that I am able to read about the process and struggle of finding and claiming identity as an immigrant of somewhere other than the United States. Definitely worth a re-read as it is jam packed with information and history.
I enjoyed this read. It was from a different perspective than I am used to. It is not often that I am able to read about the process and struggle of finding and claiming identity as an immigrant of somewhere other than the United States. Definitely worth a re-read as it is jam packed with information and history.
March 26, 2024
It is hoped that readers will respect this author by taking thoughtful, unhurried reading sessions of his dissertations (my word) in this biographical-like literary offering. Authors are often vulnerable to critics and skeptics so I feel this author has bravely stated many issues dealing with multicultural interest, syncretism, assimilation, acceptance of immigrants (even of those born in the adopted country and have become citizens thereof) by those who are the supposed, 'real' citizens of the 'new' chosen country.
In my opinion, M. G. Vassanji, the author, doesn't mince his words and cuts straight to the core issues. He deals with the good, the bad and the ugly; the frustrations and the bittersweet joys. So much of what he has had to say resonated with me and I could really relate with what this Indian-African author has had to share. However, I did get bogged down some by, ironically he proves his point, some topics he chose to tackle but I was able to understand the general idea.
It shocked me some as to what he had to say about such household names as David Livingstone and even Mahatma Gandi. I feel it's good for an author to stir up a reader, so any reader who has courage and integrity, should read this book. It has been good and even healing in some ways to read of others' similar struggles in view of trying to 'fit in' while still maintaining ones own original heritage. The book title is so, so appropo!!!
Thank-you, M. G. Vassanji!
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
February 2024
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
In my opinion, M. G. Vassanji, the author, doesn't mince his words and cuts straight to the core issues. He deals with the good, the bad and the ugly; the frustrations and the bittersweet joys. So much of what he has had to say resonated with me and I could really relate with what this Indian-African author has had to share. However, I did get bogged down some by, ironically he proves his point, some topics he chose to tackle but I was able to understand the general idea.
It shocked me some as to what he had to say about such household names as David Livingstone and even Mahatma Gandi. I feel it's good for an author to stir up a reader, so any reader who has courage and integrity, should read this book. It has been good and even healing in some ways to read of others' similar struggles in view of trying to 'fit in' while still maintaining ones own original heritage. The book title is so, so appropo!!!
Thank-you, M. G. Vassanji!
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
February 2024
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
October 27, 2024
MG Vassanji’s closing statement is The world is large.
The book presents a series of reflections about Canada, MG’s life/travels/learning and presents these reflections within the context of an immigrant to Canada whose origins are African and ethnically Indian. As the grand daughter of British settlers who came to Canada between 1910 and 1923, our life experiences were very different. That was the beauty of the book for me, I could reflect on my life and how it has evolved as Canada has evolved. I could also see Canada as MG sees Canada and be guided in my interpretations and beliefs about Canada.
This is truly worth the read. It is book that needs to be savoured chapter by chapter. It isn’t a book to read in a day. It is also a book that deserves to be read more than once—or at least the chapters that resonate and present Canada as it is seen through the eyes of someone whose life story is very different from my own.
The book presents a series of reflections about Canada, MG’s life/travels/learning and presents these reflections within the context of an immigrant to Canada whose origins are African and ethnically Indian. As the grand daughter of British settlers who came to Canada between 1910 and 1923, our life experiences were very different. That was the beauty of the book for me, I could reflect on my life and how it has evolved as Canada has evolved. I could also see Canada as MG sees Canada and be guided in my interpretations and beliefs about Canada.
This is truly worth the read. It is book that needs to be savoured chapter by chapter. It isn’t a book to read in a day. It is also a book that deserves to be read more than once—or at least the chapters that resonate and present Canada as it is seen through the eyes of someone whose life story is very different from my own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews