Fragmented Lives

by Imali J. Abala

In this semi-autobiographical novel, Imali tells an unforgettable story of Mary Upanga, a young Kenyan woman’s journey to USA for her studies and her ensuing hardships. As a naïve Logooli girl, Mary is ill-prepared for life outside her rural setting of Kerongo. She must not only confront culture shock, but also racial discrimination, which shutter her sensibilities. That is not all. With her social security card stamped in bold letters: “BEARER NOT PERMITTED TO WORK,” she struggles to find employment to support herself. Later, she is forced to take on odd jobs as threats of deportation and eviction from her flat become a looming reality. It does not take her long to realize that there is more to life in America than she imagined. She is not alone. A sea of other new African immigrants face similar fates. Tales of young men who perish, unable to cope with their new reality, threaten her quest and dreams for success. In this land of the free, Mary lives a fragmented life. Will she survive or succumb to the challenges of life as new African immigrant to American soil?

Price range: £15.00 through £16.00

Format

eBook
Paperback

Clear

About the author

Imali J. Abala

Imali J. Abala was born in 1962 in Kerongo Village, Vihiga, Kenya. She is a Professor in the Department of English at Ohio Dominican University. She is the author of three novels: The Dilemma of Jahenda the Teenage Mother (2010), The Disinherited (2007) and Move on, Trufosa (2006). She has devoted her writing to exploring social issues in contemporary Kenya, ranging from women’s quest for self-definition, the never-ending conflict between tradition and modernity, and, most importantly, the profound effects of AIDs on families and society.