Where the air is sweet

Depending on how this book is read, it can be a book about living in a dictatorship, the trials of fleeing persecution, or the culture of East Africa in the 20th century. For me though, this was a story about what it means to have a home.

When government turmoil results in the mad dictator Idi Amin taking power in Uganda, the community of South Asians that have been living there for generations are basically told that the only home they've ever known is not for them, and that they must leave. This story follows one such family. The different family members all handle this in their own way, and reading about their experiences was very eye opening. From the children who were shuffled around from country to country, never knowing what their home was, to the parents for whom Uganda was all they've ever known, the experiences they go through are fantastically illustrated.

What made the story particularly palpable was the relatability of the characters, and the uniqueness of the situation. They are a typical middle class family who felt comfortable in their world, and then one day without warning, they become a persecuted race. This sudden shift from security to vulnerability in their society results in a story that is relatable both for people who have experienced vulnerability in their society, and for those who haven't. That's just one of the timeless themes packed in this story. On top of that, it's very readable. I recommend it.

This things packs a hefty emotional wallop. A semi-autobiographical account of the expulsion of nearly 80,000 Asians from Uganda during the reign of Idi Amin. Relegated to a footnote in the history books the exiled Asians had called Uganda home for generations. Had built businesses, families, lives in their adopted country only to be told they had 90 days to leave.

It's an incredibly beautiful story. Raju's early encounter with the boy Prem is finely wrought and echoes the larger theme of the book. There are so many interconnected themes shot throughout.

The book stands on it's own merits. But as added bonus, author Tasneem Jamal is from Kitchener. The family's journey there references local landmarks like the Schneider's highway sign and Howard Robertson school for that giddy feeling of familiarity.

This is one of those books you just want everyone to read.