Given my weakness for small town American novels and an immigration theme I had a shrewd idea I’d enjoy Laila Lalami’s The Other Americans just from its title. It explores the fallout from a hit and run accident which kills Driss Guerraoui, a Moroccan immigrant who had been running his restaurant in the Californian desert town of Joshua Tree for decades.
Nora is celebrating with her flatmate when she hears the news of Driss’ death. She’s a musician, funding her work through supply teaching having turned her back on medical school to her mother’s chagrin. Her elder sister, Salma, is Maryam’s favourite: the good daughter – a dentist married with two children – while Driss had always favoured Nora. She rushes home in shock, unable to take in what has happened then determined to get to the bottom of it. Back in the town she was so eager to escape, she feels suffocated by the constant attention and condolences but finds herself confiding in Jeremy, her high school band mate and an Iraq war veteran, now sheriff’s deputy. The sole witness eventually comes forward but it’s a lucky traffic stop prompted by a high school grudge which finally solves the case. Throughout the months between Driss’ death and the arraignment of the culprit, family dynamics, grief and the possibility of love are explored against a background of a modern America where casual racism and sexism abounds, and the repercussions of the Iraq war run deep.
Lalami tells her story in short chapters through a diverse set of characters whose backstories are meticulously sketched in. Secrets are revealed, circumstances are seen from different perspectives, interpreted or misinterpreted by others. The many narratives are deftly knitted together, each voice carefully kept distinct – from Maryam to whom Driss’ secret comes as no surprise to the detective wrestling with her stepson’s sullenness. Nora’s and Jeremy’s are the dominant voices, each with their own challenges as Nora is faced with her father’s fallibility and Jeremy understands that the traumas he suffered in Iraq may not be entirely put to rest. It’s an accomplished, absorbing novel. Lalami’s writing is subtle – the theme of racism runs throughout the book but is never laboured – and her characterisation strong. Time to explore her backlist, I think.
To my eternal shame, I thought that I had read some of her books, but in fact it was Leila Aboulela (just like I get my Penelopes mixed up, I seem to get my Laila/Leilas mixed up too). Her previous works in particular look very interesting indeed!
No shame in that, I’m sure. It’s so easy see what you expect to see. I think I need to extend my reading of Ms Lalami’s work after this one.
Sounds a interesting read, I very much like books about small-town USA too.
Oh, me too. I’d certainly recommend this one if you like that kind of thing, Annabel.
She’s an author I’m keen to explore as well.
I’ll be looking at her backlist, for sure, after readin this one.
“Given my weakness for small town American novels”–mine is for British ones! lol
We’re the perfect counterpoint to each other then!
The setting of this novel really appeals, it’s ages since I read something set in small town America. This sounds like a good read. Great review. Also love that cover.
Thank you. It’s great, isn’t it. Both very attractive and sums up that small town neighbourhood setting very well.
Count me as another reader with a fondness for novels featuring this type of small town setting. You’ve clearly tapped into something with a strong appeal, Susan!
It’s a setting that offers a microcosm of society, doesn’t it, and Lalami’s novel is particularly good at that.
Yes, that’s what I like about books such as Olive Kitteridge. Something that paints a portrait of a community alongside the people who inhabit it.
Absolutely, and that’s one of my favourites. There’s a sequel – Olive, Again – due out in September, I think. I’m both wary and delighted at the thought.
I’ve only read her first novel, but I quite enjoyed it at the time. Phew, I’m behind, really behind! (And yet I am always surprised to find just HOW behind I am, given that I feel like I am reading ALL the time. Heheh) This sounds just great!
My partner’s just finished it and we were talking about it over supper, both agreeing it’s a quietly very effective state of the nation novel. Beautifully done! I now need to catch up with her backlist. Don’t think about trying to keep up. That way madness lies! The publishing indeustry is far too prolific to read all you’d like and still have a life.