A generous coming-of-age story that grants a broader perspective on the world.
Jinka Ethiopia is home to a group of friends whose bonds will last a lifetime. They may not have similar home lives or come from the same family, but they have more in common than not, especially as their respective journeys take them all over the world and through many tumultuous events. As young men, they learn to push each other’s buttons, trust their instincts, and appreciate the value of friendship. When they grow older, family pressures influence choices such as how they handle education, who to marry, and where they settle down. But the world is shifting, and their closely held traditions and customs must be reconsidered as these friends learn to cope with the changes. Whether it is political leanings or a passion for learning, their humble beginnings in Jinka lay the sturdy foundations for the tenacious men they become.
A history book teaches facts while a fiction book lets you feel. Neway Atnafu’s work is a remarkably rare novel that accomplishes both objectives. The Foreigners is really two moving stories in one clever volume. The book is an honest account of immigration, modernization, and maturation with fictional colors and flourishes acting as a second act, though it is impossible to tell where fiction diverges from fact. Many pages have supplemental information ranging from everyday affairs in Ethiopia to the spread of HIV/AIDS across Africa. These insights add authenticity, context, and at times, humor. The copious footnotes sometimes outmatch the fictional narrative, a jarring yet fascinating juxtaposition of enlightenment and entertainment. Spanning several decades and reaching back generations, relevant history is addressed clearly enough to help readers understand the hard choices these characters have to make.
Audiences can expect to be taken on an emotional journey in this fascinating slice of history. The vivid description of Henok’s visit to a typical outdoor market, with its unruly work animals, excessive noises, overpowering smells, and exposed body parts, is an evocative scene that is impossible to forget. A contrasting moment involves two of the boys worrying over escalating violence that is quickly making its way to their town, a painful reminder that the scars we bear were all earned for different reasons. Readers enjoying this fictional memoir will feel like they’ve opened a colorful time capsule stuffed with memories, world history, local culture, and personal milestones. If you’re looking for a generous coming-of-age story that grants a broader perspective on the world, you’re sure to be impressed with The Foreigners.
