Homelands: Women s Journeys Across Race, Place, and Time

by Patricia Justine Tumang (Editor), Edwidge Danticat (Foreword), Jenesha de Rivera (Editor)

In Homelands, writers investigate the complexities of how women experience, remember, and imagine journeys to their homelands. Approaching the topic from varying perspectives — exile, longing, belonging, diaspora, idealization — they show that “homeland” isn't just a physical place. It can also be an imagined community, a part of one's identity, or simply a wavering memory. It’s a world we create and re-create every day.

Among the contributors are Etel Adnan, who describes her life as an exile from Beruit after choosing to leave a city at war. Agate Nesaule, who as a youngster left Latvia under Nazi and Soviet threat, writes of envying a young Latvian girl's life, rich in place, language, and music. Sarah McCormic echoes the experience of many “American mutts” who can claim so many heritages that they feel a connection to none.

The writers in this collection beautifully capture the complicated notion of homeland and reflect the diversity of women's realities in the world.

Genres: Anthologies

343 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2006

Reviews

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any of my friends who are immigrants themselves, the children of immigrants, or who have lived away from the country of their birth. Beautiful, powerful, amazing book. My copy is dog-eared, tear-stained, crinkly from two bouts of waterlogging, and generally very worn from hours of train reading. It's a badge of honor, I never wear my books so hard.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick take: Homelands is a smart, practical guide that doesn't talk down to you. What worked: real-life examples, plain language, and a few ideas I started using that same day. What didn't: the last third gets repetitive, like it's padding for length. Recommend for readers new to the topic, skip for anybody who already has a few books on the shelf about it.

[Yousseif Abdellatif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet: Homelands: Women s Journeys Across Race, Place, and Time is a solid beginner's guide with a friendly voice. What worked: clear steps and a few stories that actually stick. What didn't: it's so careful not to scare you off that it skips the tough parts. Recommend for first-timers who want a gentle on-ramp, skip for anyone ready for the advanced stuff.

[A Turtles Nest Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, heartbreaking, and touching. Amazing strength of these woman, and opened my eyes to how lucky I have been and also to what's going on outside of the U. S. It brought to light the how people are suffering, come to America to escape and suffer more at stereotypes and racism.
I think this book should be a must read in all schools!

[Donna Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent stories and material

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

essays,women's studies

[Ananda Esteva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an essay in here. Check it out!