The Good Immigrant by Nikesh Shukla

SHORT STORIES

I have never been a big reader of short stories; I think it’s simply that my preference is to really immerse myself in a book, be it fiction or non-fiction, rather than feel like I’m just dipping my toe in. But what I’ve realised is that with the best collections of short stories, that isn’t how you feel at all; you are left full of wonder, entirely consumed and wanting more — and in the very best possible way. They will keep you thinking about them long after you’ve finished — which I think is largely due to the fact that they are, indeed, shorter. 

I read The Good Immigrant a few years ago and found it astonishing. Because it is a collection of short stories from several (utterly brilliant) people, it offers an array of perspectives and experiences that will blow you away and give you more food for thought than you can imagine. Yes, this is about what it’s like to be a minority in Britain today — but it is actually so much more, precisely because it is comprised of so many stories, coming from a range of vantage points. It will make you think but it will also make you laugh.

From @renieddolodge on ‘Forming Blackness Through a Screen’, @rizahmed on ‘Airports and Auditions’ and @weimingkam on ‘Beyond “Good” Immigrants’, I challenge you to pick this one up and not agree entirely with the words of @tvsanjeev on the front cover: this is the story of all of us.

~ Sophie