SHORT , VIGOROUS ROOTS A Contemporary Flash Fiction Collection of Migrant Voices Edited by Mark Budman and Susan O’Neill

 SHORT , VIGOROUS ROOTS A Contemporary Flash Fiction Collection of Migrant Voices Edited by Mark Budman and Susan O’Neill

is a compilation of stories written by first and second generation immigrants. They had to write a short tale, not too long than 1000 words. Forty stories in total, editors have picked up the most poignant ones. Immigration is a new phaenomenon involving people who live in countries where it is not possible anymore to live in: sometimes we think for calamities, political problems, wars, starvation; but there are also many other reasons. Just...In what way these people are "read" by the natives of a land where they would want to spend the rest of their existence? Their sensations? What do they search? 

There is a short tale where it is remarked the missing land, other, the power of learning new languages. In another the attempt of reaching the USA in a little boat: there will be who, depressed, will write words on the meaning of passport and what it meant for the police officer who analyzed it.

The story of Joseph and what experienced because of his parents is incredibly touching. I loved reading My First Day in Monterey by Nina Kossman; it was interesting reading the intersections of destinies and places of the family Kossman, also in Rome for a certain time.

Irina Popescu writes: "The change is slow. The change is a negation of being. The change involves precision and cutting and butchering until the new life has space outside of you.."

In Chasing Gods  by Edvin Subašić, the tale of a girl who wants to become a writer. Once she stops by at the famous Powell's Bookstore, in Oregon. She discovers there, two white people speaking of literature, authors: their accent is perfect:  fascinated and bewitched by what she thinks is their being iconics, she follows them till at their arrival to a restaurant.

I’ll be Back  by Varya Kartishai is a culinary dissertation, while The Perfect Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton says everything in that few words. Dust Day  by Aida Bode is moving,  Learning English, Teaching Russian  by Nina Kossman is a powerful tale.

Beautiful and diversified selection, there are miriads of reasons why someone would want to leave his own country for other lands and in this anthology you have a large spectrum of the phaenomenon seen under many perspective.

An interesting book for everyone.

Highly recommended.

I thank the authors and Library Thing for the copy of this book.

Anna Maria Polidori