esotericareads's review against another edition
4.0
#partner Thank you to @counterpointpress for the free review copy of this book.
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"Over and over again, Razak was forced to confront the same inequities, the same police corruption, the same blunt use of power that he had traveled thousands of miles to escape. Once more he had been rendered voiceless, powerless. Sitting in the dirty cell, it was becoming clearer and clearer to Razak that the West was entirely dependent on the clandestine industry of undocumented immigration and that few people were interested in seeing anything change. It was a secret everyone was aware of but no one was willing to talk about."
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Between Everything and Nothing tells the true story of Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal and their journeys from Ghana to America and then eventually Canada to seek asylum. Seidu was under threat by his government since he identifies as bisexual. Razak's family members and a corrupt government official threatened him when he tried to claim his rightful inheritance. Both men suffered immense difficulties and came close to death numerous times as they made their way up to America from Brazil. They both presented themselves at the American border only to be detained in prisons like criminals. This book is shocking. Even though I was aware of many injustices asylum seekers face, I learned so much more about how corrupt our country is to those seeking safety. The story is mixed with facts and history about how our country has handled and is currently handling asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. This is a difficult read but I encourage you to read it to understand.
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I do have some critiques of the book to mention. At times the language used felt very overly flowery and out of place. For example: "the feeling of limbic desolation, biblical in its proportions." I don't think it works in a memoir-style book but I think it's because a third person is writing the story. Also, women were not given the right to vote in 1920. WHITE women were given the right. I just needed to correct the author there.
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Overall, I gave this book 4 stars and would recommend it.
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"Over and over again, Razak was forced to confront the same inequities, the same police corruption, the same blunt use of power that he had traveled thousands of miles to escape. Once more he had been rendered voiceless, powerless. Sitting in the dirty cell, it was becoming clearer and clearer to Razak that the West was entirely dependent on the clandestine industry of undocumented immigration and that few people were interested in seeing anything change. It was a secret everyone was aware of but no one was willing to talk about."
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Between Everything and Nothing tells the true story of Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal and their journeys from Ghana to America and then eventually Canada to seek asylum. Seidu was under threat by his government since he identifies as bisexual. Razak's family members and a corrupt government official threatened him when he tried to claim his rightful inheritance. Both men suffered immense difficulties and came close to death numerous times as they made their way up to America from Brazil. They both presented themselves at the American border only to be detained in prisons like criminals. This book is shocking. Even though I was aware of many injustices asylum seekers face, I learned so much more about how corrupt our country is to those seeking safety. The story is mixed with facts and history about how our country has handled and is currently handling asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. This is a difficult read but I encourage you to read it to understand.
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I do have some critiques of the book to mention. At times the language used felt very overly flowery and out of place. For example: "the feeling of limbic desolation, biblical in its proportions." I don't think it works in a memoir-style book but I think it's because a third person is writing the story. Also, women were not given the right to vote in 1920. WHITE women were given the right. I just needed to correct the author there.
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Overall, I gave this book 4 stars and would recommend it.
davinareads's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
A book filled with a lot of history but I think it was the wrong book for me at this time. I found it to be educational but the not exciting kind.
Do not get me wrong, while I found this book to be on the slower side it was eye opening to read a realistic story of 2 immigrants leaving their home country to seek asylum in Canada. The experience is something I will never come close to having and it made me realize how lucky I am to have been born in Canada where I can be safe.
The unimaginable journey through borders with endless threats makes our main characters extremely brave. The unexpected crudity of humankind is hard to believe. Money is what the police speak and fear is what our asylum seekers have to keep going every time.
This book wasn't jiving with me because it was slow and repetitive (which makes it realistic). After a while, it fell into a pattern and I could no longer distinguish our two main characters apart. While the struggle and hardship of the journey was captured, I wanted a bit more story to it other than a long endless trek. I understand not everything is fast paced and I would put this on me for not reading more on what this story is about.
Overall, this just wasn't for me.
Do not get me wrong, while I found this book to be on the slower side it was eye opening to read a realistic story of 2 immigrants leaving their home country to seek asylum in Canada. The experience is something I will never come close to having and it made me realize how lucky I am to have been born in Canada where I can be safe.
The unimaginable journey through borders with endless threats makes our main characters extremely brave. The unexpected crudity of humankind is hard to believe. Money is what the police speak and fear is what our asylum seekers have to keep going every time.
This book wasn't jiving with me because it was slow and repetitive (which makes it realistic). After a while, it fell into a pattern and I could no longer distinguish our two main characters apart. While the struggle and hardship of the journey was captured, I wanted a bit more story to it other than a long endless trek. I understand not everything is fast paced and I would put this on me for not reading more on what this story is about.
Overall, this just wasn't for me.
lillyfei's review against another edition
5.0
"You can live in a free country, but you are not truly free unless you have the opportunity and financial means to express that freedom."
Thank you to Counterpoint Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal both endured unimaginable struggles before finally meeting in a Minneapolis bus station. These two men from Ghana began separate, multi-year long journeys as they sought asylum in first, the United States, and finally, Canada. Joe Meno, a novelist and journalist, conducted extensive interviews with the two men to capture their stories and help them share their stories.
I typically don't read non-fiction and wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself enthralled with these true accounts that read like a novel. The stories are understandably complex and thought-provoking. The book begins with the men already on their journey to Canada. As they brave below-zero temperatures and the threat of frostbite, their journeys from Ghana to the United States are told. We are given an in-depth view of each man and their families. I immediately felt sympathy for Seidu and Razak and appreciated the chance to gain a deeper understanding of their backgrounds and reasons for fleeing Ghana.
The book could be unsettling at times. This was expected. The men traveled through multiple countries and were continuously faced with corrupt systems working against them. Between having their money and documents stolen, to walking for days on end outside in dangerous jungles, the men and fellow asylum seekers exhibited immense strength and bravery.
Along with the retelling of the men's journeys are short passages detailing what was happening globally regarding immigration. Those moments were welcomed because they gave me context and perspective. It was important to know the statistics of how many asylum seekers were successful and how the changing governments could bring even more challenges.
This was a quick read and truly a page-turner. Again, I had no expectations going in and I am so glad that I read this book. It has offered me a new perspective and insight into the lengths asylum seekers go to find safety in the world. This was a book that rocked my core, and I strongly recommend you read it.
Thank you to Counterpoint Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal both endured unimaginable struggles before finally meeting in a Minneapolis bus station. These two men from Ghana began separate, multi-year long journeys as they sought asylum in first, the United States, and finally, Canada. Joe Meno, a novelist and journalist, conducted extensive interviews with the two men to capture their stories and help them share their stories.
I typically don't read non-fiction and wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself enthralled with these true accounts that read like a novel. The stories are understandably complex and thought-provoking. The book begins with the men already on their journey to Canada. As they brave below-zero temperatures and the threat of frostbite, their journeys from Ghana to the United States are told. We are given an in-depth view of each man and their families. I immediately felt sympathy for Seidu and Razak and appreciated the chance to gain a deeper understanding of their backgrounds and reasons for fleeing Ghana.
The book could be unsettling at times. This was expected. The men traveled through multiple countries and were continuously faced with corrupt systems working against them. Between having their money and documents stolen, to walking for days on end outside in dangerous jungles, the men and fellow asylum seekers exhibited immense strength and bravery.
Along with the retelling of the men's journeys are short passages detailing what was happening globally regarding immigration. Those moments were welcomed because they gave me context and perspective. It was important to know the statistics of how many asylum seekers were successful and how the changing governments could bring even more challenges.
This was a quick read and truly a page-turner. Again, I had no expectations going in and I am so glad that I read this book. It has offered me a new perspective and insight into the lengths asylum seekers go to find safety in the world. This was a book that rocked my core, and I strongly recommend you read it.
miguelf's review against another edition
4.0
Intense story regarding a Ghanaian refugee trying to find refuge in the US by way of working their way north after landing in Brazil. What he experienced along the way was fairly horrifying.
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