Epigraph summary the novel opens with a scripture about god bringing the israelites to a bountiful foreign land. Discussion of themes and motifs in imbolo mbues behold the dreamers. Chapter 1 summary clark edwards interviews jende jonga for a job as a chauffeur in the winter of 2007. Behold the dreamers is the muchanticipated debut novel of cameroon native imbolo mbue. Chapter 1 chapter 2 chapter 3 chapter 4 chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 7 chapter 8 chapter 9 chapter 10 chapter 11 chapter 12 chapter chapter 14 chapter 15 chapter 16 chapter 17 chapter 18 chapter 19 chapter 20 chapter 21 chapter 22. Behold the dreamers, the first novel by imbolo mbue, an immigrant from cameroon who arrived in the united states in 1998, raises these questions in looking at the struggles of jende and neni jonga, a young couple from the authors hometown of limbe. This study guide consists of approximately 67 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of behold the dreamers. Halfway through behold the dreamers, imbolo mbues lush and lovely debut novel, neni jonga finds her employer, cindy edwards, unconscious on a. Need help with chapter 9 in imbolo mbues behold the dreamers.
Behold the dreamers quotes showing of 124 people in this country, always worrying about how to eat, they pay someone good money to tell them. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue book club discussion. Instant downloads of all 1291 litchart pdfs including behold the dreamers. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Behold the dreamers, by imbolo mbue imbolo mbues debut novel is one of the best books to deal with the financial crisis of 20072008. Jun 26, 2017 halfway through behold the dreamers, imbolo mbues lush and lovely debut novel, neni jonga finds her employer, cindy edwards, unconscious on a bed, surrounded by pill bottles and an empty wineglass. Imbolo mbue, author of behold the dreamers, at the penguin random house open book event 2016 duration. Not only is the process of reconciling their dreams of family, security, and happiness with reality at times too much to bear, but it also pushes each character toward unexpected behavior. For the jongas, america is a place of hope and promise, a. The novel opens in fall 2007 with the interview of an immigrant from cameroon, jende.
The behold the dreamers community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. Jende jonga enters clark edwards s office at the renowned investment bank, lehman brothers, to interview for a job as a chauffeur. The author elucidates on american cuisine in chapter 24, you would think she is a celebrity chef in american cook shows. Author imbolo mbue answers one question about behold the.
Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Aug 23, 2016 listen to behold the dreamers oprah s book club. Aug 07, 2016 behold the dreamers is the muchanticipated debut novel of cameroon native imbolo mbue. In chapter 4 of imbole mbues behold the dreamers, jende jonga has just returned home from his first day of chauffeuring for the edwards family. He hadnt even owned a resume until the previous week when hed gone to the library on thirtyfourth and madison and a volunteer career counselor had written one for him, detailed his work history to suggest he was a man of grand accomplishments. This 60page guide for behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 62 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis.
Jende gets the job, which pays thirtyfive thousand. He also orders nemi to eat fish, because he says it will be good for the babys brain, and to wash lettuce before eating because dirty lettuce could also harm their child. As one chapter folds into the next, mbues characters become increasingly erratic and compulsive. Behold the dreamers summary from litcharts the creators of. Still on the point of culture, behold the dreamers is a great celebration of culinary delights on both continents. Imbolo mbue takes the nature of the american dream to task in her debut novel, behold the dreamers random house, august 23 2016. The book follows a young cameroonian family that immigrates to the united states in the years leading up to the great recession. Im not knocking people if they have those aspirations im simply saying theyre imperfect. Sep 04, 2016 behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue 382 pp. Chapter 1 jende jonga enters clark edwards s office at the renowned investment bank, lehman brothers, to interview for a job as a chauffeur. Mbue tells the story of jende and neni, recent immigrants who have come to new york city from a small cameroonian village chasing the american dream and a better life for their young son. The housing bubble burst, the auto industry was in free fall, unemployment rose as high.
What is happening in chapter 4 of behold the dreamers. This 60page guide for behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 62 chapters, as well as several more in. The novel behold the dreamers is a story of the contemporary american dream through the lens of class, race and immigration. Behold the dreamers is a damning examination of the modern. Never been told to bring along a copy of his resume. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Jende jonga and his wife, neni, two of the main characters in imbolo mbues excellent debut novel, behold the dreamers, are among those. But then along comes behold the dreamers, a debut novel by a young woman from cameroon that illuminates the immigrant experience in america with the tenderhearted wisdom so. Aug 04, 2017 behold the dreamers is published by 4th estate.
Hed never been asked to wear a suit to a job interview. Behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue chronic bibliophilia. I was actually planning on picking this up closer to its release date, but decided at the last minute to just read a line or two to see if it would work in my favor or not. The chapter concludes with the admonition, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, citing their new status as temples of the holy spirit. This 82page guide for behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 62 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. The novel details the experiences of two new york city families during the 2008 financial crisis. Mbues debut novel builds slowly to the financial collapse and once that wave crests, behold the dreamers spirals toward its end in a series of collapses. Behold the dreamers is the 2016 debut novel by imbolo mbue. Behold the dreamers captured me from the very first chapter. In behold the dreamers, the american dream and immigrant. Behold the dreamers quotes by imbolo mbue goodreads. Complete summary of imbolo mbues behold the dreamers.
For the jongas, america is a place of hope and promise, a place where you can become somebody, but the machine and policies are anything but welcoming and clear and the road to citizenship is jagged. Jun 26, 2017 behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue a compulsively readable debut novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the american dream, behold the dreamers is the unforgettable story of a young cameroonian couple making a new life in new york just as the great recession upends the economy. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Mar 15, 2016 behold the dreamers captured me from the very first chapter. Jun 01, 2017 both of the couples in behold the dreamersjende and neni, clark and cindystruggle with how their new circumstances push them to adapt. Need help with chapter 3 in imbolo mbues behold the dreamers. Behold the dreamers by imbolo mbue a compulsively readable debut novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the american dream, behold the dreamers is the unforgettable story of a young cameroonian couple making a new life in new york just as the great recession upends the economy. If you dont know how to eat, what else can you know how to do in this world. Jun 26, 2017 praise for behold the dreamers a debut novel by a young woman from cameroon that illuminates the immigrant experience in america with the tenderhearted wisdom so lacking in our political discourse.
A compulsively readable debut novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the. Rebecca steinitz is the author of time, space, and gender in the nineteenthcentury british diary. Characters are listed in the chapter where they are introduced. Behold the dreamers online pdf disney wonderful world of reading the jungle book, mbue, imbolo.
Both of the couples in behold the dreamersjende and neni, clark and cindystruggle with how their new circumstances push them to adapt. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. Jende gets the job, which pays thirtyfive thousand dollars per yearfar more than he earned when he was working as a dishwasher or driving livery cabs in the bronx during his first couple of years in. Praise for behold the dreamers a debut novel by a young woman from cameroon that illuminates the immigrant experience in america with the tenderhearted wisdom so lacking in our political discourse. Imbolo mbue on empathy and the price of the american dream. Need help with chapter 4 in imbolo mbues behold the dreamers. Behold the dreamers imbolo mbue, 2016 random house 400 pp.
1075 1244 505 1089 1374 666 1474 248 993 1325 839 76 853 881 555 352 1484 34 1063 1050 870 1059 1469 7 278 344 602 1215 843 348