Behold the Dreamers, by Imbolo Mbue

 

Characters
Jende Jonga – from Limbe, Cameroon Neni – wife Liomi – son Amatimba Monyengi “Timba” – newborn daughter   Bubaker – lawyer, Nigerian   Winston – cousin, lawyer Jenny – girlfriend Maami – high school girlfriend   Fatou – Neni’s friend Betsy – Neni’s friend, American citizen   Bosco – Jende’s friend   Judson Memorial Church Natasha – pastor Amos – assistant pastor	Clark Edwards – Lehman Bros., Barclays Cindy – wife Vince – oldest son Mighty – son   Leah – Clark’s secretary   Anna – housekeeper   Ceci – Clark’s sister   Cheri – Cindy’s friend

 

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from  the paperback edition.

1.       Neni’s idea of America came from TV shows such as The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and also Mrs. Doubtfire (page 312).  What impression did she learn from these shows? 

2.       How important to the story is it that the reader is familiar with these shows?

3.       Did you think Anna and Nemi should have told Clark about Cindy’s drug and alcohol abuse?

4.       What did you think Jende should have done when Cindy asked him to keep a record of all of Clark’s activities?  Should he have told Clark (which he did)?  Should Jende have went against Clark’s request and included the stops at the Chelsea Hotel?  

5.       What did you think when you learned Cindy’s back story – mother raped, growing up poor?  Did this lead you to see her in a different light?

6.       Cindy said that growing up poor in Africa was different than in America.  She thought, in Africa, “being poor in Africa is fine.  Most of you are poor over there.  The shame of it, it’s not as bad for you” (page 123).  Do you think this is true?  Is it harder to be poor in America?

 7.       Jende thought that one of the differences between Africa and America as that, in Africa “for you to become somebody, you have to be born somebody first” (page 40).  There was no room for self-initiative unlike in America where you could be successful on your own effort and merit.  Do you agree?

8.       When Neni received money from Cindy that she earned, Cindy advised her that was her money also and she had a say in how it was spent.   Neni replied, “You think I’m an American woman? I cannot just tell my husband how I want something to be” (page 315).  Do you think this is a true comparison between the two cultures?

9.       After the fall of Lehman Brothers, the author wrote that the story, “in ordinary times would have been dismissed as rubbish” (page 212).  Instead, “the easy availability of stories on the private lives of others was turning adults, who would otherwise be enriching their minds with worthwhile knowledge, into juveniles who needed the satisfaction of knowing that others were more pathetic than themselves” (page 212).  Do you agree?

10.   Why did Clark seem so much happier after Cindy died, Lehman Bros. collapsed, he got a job in Washington D. C., and he and Mighty were headed to Virginia to live?  Was it a combination or was any one thing more important?

11.   Why do you think Jende was ready to go back to Africa?  At one point he said, “I don’t like what my life has become in this country” (page 306).  Is that a commentary on America or just his experience?

12.   Did reading this book help you understand the immigrant experience?  For example, Jende had no idea who to trust for advice about staying in the country – Bubaker or Winston.