Does Snow Turn a Person White Inside

by Ros Max Lobe

The narrator, Mwana, is a young man from Bantuland, living in Geneva. A graduate from a Swiss university, we first encounter Mwana waiting for a bus in the hills of Lugano gazing at a poster calling for "black sheep" to be sent home. Mwana's efforts to find work are fruitless until he lands an internship in an NGO campaigning against racial discrimination. The team is busy organising a demonstration against the black sheep poster.

Mwana has one foot in each culture. He sees Swiss society through African eyes, with all its contradictions: its moderation, stunning landscapes and its eccentricities, but also its intolerance and inflexibility. He also casts a critical eye on his native Africa, the weight of its traditions and beliefs. Is belonging nowhere the price Mwana has to pay for these insights?

Sad and playful Does Snow Turn a Person White Inside? is a moving reflection on the immigrant.

Genres: Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2022

Reviews

[Oscreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book.

[Jodie Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story above love and loss. I laughed and cried.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting one, a little bit like a pulsing heart with a variety of arteries leading away from it in different directions. Mwana at the core - the heart, and the arteries represent origin country, new domicile, experiences of xenophobia and racism, experience of homophobia - there are so many nuances to the life of Mwana.

In essence it is the story of immigration, which is often a difficult process in itself, but when the experience of the immigrant is seen through the lens of the racism, xenophobia and homophobia it's an explosive situation that places a deep burden of fear, rejection and anger on the person involved.

It's hard to explain the experience to someone who has never lived that kind upheaval before. Origin country is still home, despite both negative and positive connotations, new country is the unstable variant of home. Being surrounded by constant reminders of being unwanted and always being on high alert - it creates anger, depression and a sense of hopelessness.

Simultaneously it's also a story about faith, hope, and unfortunately also sadly the snake eating its own tail when it comes to systems being in place to support those in need, including those who have an unintended stumble through no fault of their own. The brick walls they hit along the way, even from people who know what they are going through, it's no wonder a certain cynicism develops after a while.

It's definitely a read between the lines and a look closely at the real state of affairs kind of book. Good read. I think the most poignant point is that no matter where Mwana goes they feel as if adjusting will never be enough. No amount or how hard they try to assimilate to society will change the way the world reacts to him.

[Tutankhamun18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than Lobe’s novel called A Long Way from Douala. We follow the narrator, Mwana, a young man from Bantuland living in Geneva after studying in Switzerland. He grapples with his mother’s illness, his joblessness in Switzerland, a relationship with a man who appears to love him yet is also totally useless, food banks and finally getting an internship at an NGO concerned with the black sheep posters from SVP. I enjoyed reading parts of this immensly, seeing the references to Switzerland and especially think it started strong with descriptions of Swiss life and building all the characters involved. However, as the novel progressed, the characters did not and yet the focus on the narrative stayed with the actions of the characters too much - making it frustrating to read as these characters did not learn or grow. Overall, I enjoyed it and would read more from the author - particularly set in Switzerland, but it is not the most memorable book.

[Ellen Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice book that reminds you of the obstacles people face and how everyone’s paths are different. It can feel at times like everything is going wrong for you and perfectly for other people but sometimes it’s just a matter of perspective and you don’t know what they’re facing but also sometimes, unfortunately people just are more fortunate and lucky with things in life. It was a really sweet book.

[Am · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I'll leave some of my grief at all the stations I pass through. That's what I'll do. I'll deposit pieces of my grief here and there along my way.'

This was a truly beautiful read with a distinct narrative voice. I felt connected to the characters. Following themes of grief, xenophobia and hope, this book isn't always happy, but it is a deep journey taken with these characters.

[Lara A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mwana is perennially unemployed and his mother is seriously ill. Yet despite that, this is a surprisingly witty tale about background and belonging. This novel is far more concerned with character than plot and if Mwana's quest to have enough money for regular meat and Louboutins sounds appealing, this is a diverting enough read.

[Jacob Arruda · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10

[Ariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The struggles of immigrants are real as the society is not always ready to accept different. It is sad but true. We need more books like this. Raw, real, and personal.

[Lucy Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel this could have been a short story and not lost anything much. There were two central plots, one about rising racism and political tension in Switzerland, and one about Mwana's mother travelling to join him in Switzerland for medical treatment. I thought the former was well-written and compelling, but the latter felt forced and had one of the most ridiculous endings of anything I've read in a long time. I did like the cast of characters, who were interesting and offered some unique perspectives, but they just didn't develop or go anywhere. I definitely preferred A Long Way From Douala, although I gave them the same rating - this story had a good centre, but was incredibly bitty.

[Francesca Morosini · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short novel covers a lot of ground and allows a lot to be picked up and interpreted without spelling it out. At times I found the narrator's way of talking to the reader a little "one note" but the story itself, the challenges and the relationships, felt very realistic.