Hinterland: A Novel

Here in the USA, undocumented immigration is so much defined in national terms, it's easy to ignore that the issue is a global one. It's also easy to ignore the immensity of the trials many migrants endure before crossing over, especially the young. Hinterland envisions a child's perspective of an odyssey across multiple borders, as two Afghan orphans flee the Taliban for dreamt-of sanctuary and education in England. The boys' trek is by turns gruelling, heartening, and devastating. As they walk and work, founder and finesse their way across Europe, it's impossible not to cheer for them.The novel unfolds in beautiful, economic prose, with evocative flashbacks to the Asian leg of the journey. Some passages - working on a farm during a grim Greek winter, huddling amid the dunes in a cold and rainy Calais - recall the sparse yet subtly emotive style of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Small moments of poetry and humour occur in unexpected places, and the relationship between the brothers, 14 and 8, is truthful and touching. A Paris-based reporter, Caroline Brothers melds journalistic familiarity with child migrants and skilful imagining of the sensations they experience to gripping effect.Underpinning the novel is an argument, profound but not preachy, that migration is a natural human response to harsh environments. It's not a plea for open borders, but it's certainly a reminder that our formal channels of work permits and asylum petitions are inadequate to current need.

There is much shouting, opinion and press coverage in the world today from all sides of politics, experts, NGO's and others about the plight of millions of displaced people around the world and illegal immigration in Europe, Africa and in Australia (from where Brothers orginally comes from).Yet few write about the plight of the families and (in this case) the children involved from their perspective.Brothers has done so. And well. Not shouting, but quietly through eyes of the boys Aryan and his younger brother Kabir and the frightening journey they undertake across Europe to make a life.Despite Brothers having first hand experience on this subject (you can search her reports and editorials from the New York Times), here she takes a very personal straight foward approach.She recounts simply the journey and the the boys experiences and hopes that is in direct contrast to the terrible events the knowledgeable reader will be aware of that is going on around them.And this is what makes this a great book - fiction too close to fact for comfort.Irrespective of your view on the topic, having read Hinterland, I cannot help think about the thousands of children who are right now, today, making a similar journey.Unlike many books, Hinterland and Aryan and Kabir stay with you - long after you have read it.Well worth a read.

In the last four years, more than 25'000 people have lost their lives trying to reach Europe from conflict zones in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. And more are on their way.I just finished reading this book - a heartbreaking account of the journey of two Afghan boys ages 8 and 14 through Europe. It is based on a true story. As most immigrants making the journey, all they want is a place where they can go to school and safe enough for them to sleep and dream.I highly recommend it.

Struggente

If you liked Kite Runner you will like this book. Bleak but realistic, a story of determination and spirit. Makes me thankful to live in America. I couldn't put it down.

This book is well written and suspenseful. The story is realistic with the exception of one small section. You feel their pain and small joys.