December 21, 2008
52 Down, 0 To Go "Underground America: Narratives of Undocumented Lives" (52 Books, 52 Weeks)
Underground America: Narratives of Undocumented Lives is the first book I have read in McSweeney's Voice of Witness series, which, by its own definition "illuminates human rights crises through oral histories." Underground America collects 24 very personal stories from undocumented immigrant workers in the United States, and exquisitely defines their often harsh living and working conditions, as well as the emotional torment caused by the separation of families.
The editor is careful to choose immigrants from a wide range of countries, cultures, and education backgrounds, but these oral histories share common threads of fear and hope in a book that should be considered for "one book"programs across the country.
For one month, enter the coupon code "LHB001" at Atomic Books and receive 15% off this title.
My next book will be announced January 1, 2009, when I kick off the sixth year of the 52 Books, 52 Weeks series.
also at Largehearted Boy:
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2008 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2007 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2006 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2005 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2004 Edition)
Online "best of 2008" book lists
Book Notes (authors create playlists for their book)
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
tag: books nonfiction immigration mcsweeneys
Posted by david | Permalink | Comments (View)
