Of late i have been reading books by south asian writers and i was struck by the same thought... when they describe backhome,no matter how bleak the situation is, its always hunkydory, but as they relate their day to day experiences in a new city, its very dull and depressing.


When writers sit down with a plot, maybe they think the storyline will resonate better with the crowd if it follows a certain pattern. Or maybe its what they see around them? Why it becomes an award winner is beyond me.. perhaps it has to do with the kind of people who read it,,,maybe westerners find such a window in the characters' life as something new and eye opening ?or is it that misery loves company ?


I took up reading south asian writers only recently, and i have 2 more books on my bedside to read...all coincidently are about second generation indian in US or UK. right now i am reading Brick lane........which so far has the same homesicknes and " lost in a new place" syndrome.

I dont think most of the immigrants feel that way (i know i dont) ,
the transition is a change , i agree. But life goes on. I dont think these books are a reflection on the life of an immigrant.

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There is no key to happiness.... the door is always open.

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Originally posted by Pink Panther


Yes I definately think that the stories of South Asian authors resonates with reality for alot of people. It is exactly that sense of loss of family/friends/social life and the feeling of not belonging that hits a chord with many readers. I know that you do not really "lose" family and friends, but alot of immigrants find themselves in a new country where they know no one except their spouse. So, you feel like you know what the character of the book is going through and this gives you a sense of reassurance that what you are feeling is OK and normal.

I guess for the majority of SA authors living in another country from the one they were born in, the whole process of immigrating and moving from their homeland to someplace else was probably the single most important event in their lives (I know it was for me) and it is probably why it is the most popular storyline you see written about in their books.

In my own experience, although I know that these feelings will never fully disappear, they have somewhat decreased after having had a few years to adjust (and yes, it can take years to become adjusted) to Canadian life.

Imagine living your whole life in a country where you grew up, have a lifetime of friends, a circle of family around you, places you can point out to others and say, "oh that's where I went to school, and thats where I fell and scraped my knee when I was 7, etc, etc" and then one day you find yourself with none of that around you. It is as if your sense of self is no longer with you. Everything you have ever known and loved no longer around you anymore...it is quite a daunting and sometimes depressing thing to go through.

I think no one can truly understand that "sense of loss" unless one has gone through it themselves.

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~ Morning rain

PP, I agree with you that its a challenge moving to a new place... and definately not an easy one, But you are building a new life. I think these books are exaggerating the facts. The same authors will tell you how good life has been since they moved and how much recognition and fame they have achieved through their work here...and its becoz they chose to migrate. So i dont understand it.


It is a sense of loss, yes, of all things one knew and was familiar with . I know i miss the first home we grew up in immensely. But we moved to a new place and now that is home...do i miss the old one...oh yeah. but u move on...create a new home...a new start..

Its a new life, a new begining. Its not going to be easy..everyone feels lonely in the begining. But its not always as sad and depressing as the books project? is it?

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There is no key to happiness.... the door is always open.

PS,

I think we are digressing...maybe we should discuss this elsewhere? or start a new thread??

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There is no key to happiness.... the door is always open.

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Originally posted by morning_rain

I agree. My own experience has been similar, though of course not as life changing as that of an immigrant from another country. I moved to BC from Manitoba, a place I have lived my entire life. I *do* feel like an outsider here - there is a different 'culture'. All the places and people I have known growing up are far away and I dont get to go back as often as I would like..sometimes once a year or less.

I know its obviously different than moving here from India, but I can understand the sense of losing 'self'. I dont belong here - i dont have roots here - im laying my own down but they are very fragile.

I hope this makes sense...migration from one province to another can also be life altering.

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Bijou Bazaar
http://bijoubazaar22.googlepages.com

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Originally posted by Mishej India

PS,

I think we are digressing...maybe we should discuss this elsewhere? or start a new thread??

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Bijou Bazaar
http://bijoubazaar22.googlepages.com

MR...

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There is no key to happiness.... the door is always open.