Title: The Year of the Runaways
Author: Sunjeev Sahota
Genre: Fiction
Synopsis: Three young Indian men leave India each fleeing different circumstances but all in search of the same things; work, honor, and a better life for their families. They all end up immigrating to Sheffield, England where they believe work to be plentiful, but unfortunately, jobs are scarce and their living conditions are abysmal. A young woman leaves home to do what she believes is right even though it brings dishonor to her family. Will these four runaways be able to survive this year?
My Thoughts
When I saw this on the shelf at the library I picked it up because it seemed like a topic that is so important right now. What is life like for immigrants just trying to get by in a new country? This novel is set in 2003 and I had to actively keep reminding myself as I read about the conditions and horrible treatment of these young people that this is a modern novel. It is easier to justify or rationalize this type of treatment when it is about people immigrating in the 19th and early 20th centuries by thinking “times were different then, they didn’t have sanitary conditions, people were fighting for a place to live and work, of course so many people were treated badly and many of them died.” But it is much harder to swallow when it is set less than 20 years ago and conditions seem to be no better for immigrants than they were 100 years ago.
The story is anxiety-inducing because I just wanted everything to be okay, for each character to get through the day alive. Sometimes I would just keep reading until I came to a point where one of them was out of immediate danger before I could put it down and go to sleep.
There are parts of the story where there is some humor and small victories, so it is not completely depressing. What I liked most is that it was just honest. People trying to make the best of their circumstances, trying for a new start.
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above
When I saw this on the shelf at the library I picked it up because it seemed like a topic that is so important right now. What is life like for immigrants just trying to get by in a new country? This novel is set in 2003 and I had to actively keep reminding myself as I read about the conditions and horrible treatment of these young people that this is a modern novel. It is easier to justify or rationalize this type of treatment when it is about people immigrating in the 19th and early 20th centuries by thinking “times were different then, they didn’t have sanitary conditions, people were fighting for a place to live and work, of course so many people were treated badly and many of them died.” But it is much harder to swallow when it is set less than 20 years ago and conditions seem to be no better for immigrants than they were 100 years ago.
The story is anxiety-inducing because I just wanted everything to be okay, for each character to get through the day alive. Sometimes I would just keep reading until I came to a point where one of them was out of immediate danger before I could put it down and go to sleep.
There are parts of the story where there is some humor and small victories, so it is not completely depressing. What I liked most is that it was just honest. People trying to make the best of their circumstances, trying for a new start.
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
To buy this book from Amazon now, click on the image at the top of the post.
To see more from the author, visit the website linked above
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