A review by hjmo
A Beginner's Guide to America: For the Immigrant and the Curious by Roya Hakakian

5.0

This guide is written in second person and seems to be an aggregate of various immigrant experiences. The writing has a lyrical and almost poetic quality, overflowing with metaphors and symbols. I have read several memoirs about first and second-generation immigrants but this brought something new to the table with its approach. The second person works for the most part. At times it grows tedious and cumbersome. But it also has the effect of removing barriers between the reader and the events described. I liked how it walked the line of loving and hating America, I identify with that a lot. I think it brought to light many aspects of an immigrant's life that many might never have thought of before and in a way that is forceful and interesting. I ended up with a lot of notes and highlights. It's closer to a 4.5 for me. Mostly because the second person just got a little old. It's a short read and well worth the time.