I Sat Alone by the Gate

I read this book on a beach. It’s not really a beach read at all. Rather, “I Sat Alone at the Gate” is a thoughtful and contemplative read meant to be read curled up somewhere secluded. Somewhere from which you can be transported.The book tells of a teenage girl, Mary, who comes to the United States from Azerbaijan with her family in the early 2000s. It is a jarring and unwanted life change for Mary. To my delight, the family settles in Chicago. But, while I have spent years living in Chicago, this is a city with which I am unfamiliar. It is a vibrant side of immigrant Chicago that comes alive on the page as Mary describes it. The streets, the businesses, the people are viewed through her terrified, but wide-eyed lens.To see my beloved city and fellow Americans from this angle, that of a newly immigrated young woman, was eye opening and thoroughly engrossing. To understand what it might be like to leave your homeland, to go somewhere totally foreign, was educational and, often-times, heart breaking. Mary and her family spend months trying to figure out how to support themselves and navigate the system to integrate into this country. There is sadness and stress around every turn, but there is also perseverance and, always, an undercurrent of hope. The cast of characters that they meet in their new country give meaning to the words community – even within a large city.If you are looking for action or high drama, this is not your book. Instead, it’s a quiet, deeply personal story from an author who has lived it herself. To take the journey with her (as I sat on a beach) was an honor and a pleasure.

Interesting, catching story about an immigrant girl. I believe each of us have a part of Maryam, each of us had one of those feelings and/or thoughts. I hope there will be part 2:) would like to know how she dealt with her trauma and more about Arash please:)

I'm the kind of reader who used to read a lot when I was a kid and still haven't finished "Sapiens" by Harari, despite having had the book for the last three years :) Isn't it challenging to keep in mind all the logical interconnections when you can only dedicate 30 minutes to reading in one sitting?I have a friend who's just like me. She has been talking about "I Sat Alone by the Gate" non-stop every time we've met for dinner in the last few months. To contribute to the conversation, I decided to buy the book and see what makes it so special. OMG, it turned out to be such an easy and relatable read for an immigrant, especially in a city like San Francisco, where 80% of people are called "transplants."The book gave me the opportunity to see Mary's life in detail. As the saying goes, "Don't judge people; everyone fights their own battles." Her descriptions of how she felt while moving to the US, her family circumstances, and everything she faced while in the US immediately grab your attention. The ups and downs, the triumphs, and setbacks. And well-described unique characters with mom leading the pack. This helps you remember and not revisit when you return to the book; instead, you can keep moving forward.It's an easy read about not so easy stuff. Frankly, it should be a "must-read" for future immigrants to mentally prepare for life in the US and gain the perspective of those who've experienced it, rather than relying on Hollywood. And for the ones who have immigrated, to know and feel that they are not alone sitting by the gate...

I really enjoyed the book! It’s a well-written interesting story. Hope to read more by Mary Efendi!

The best book I have ever read