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The Happiness of Blond People
The Happiness of Blond People: A Personal Meditation on the Dangers of Identity | Elif Shafak
3 posts | 3 read | 2 to read
Penguin Specials are designed to fill a gap. Written to be read over a long commute or a short journey, they are original and exclusively in digital form. This is Elif Shafak's examination of national identity. "You know, I never understand. How come their children are so quiet and well disciplined?" "Yeah," said the distressed father, his voice suddenly softer. "Blond children never cry, do they?" As Elif Shafak stands in line at the airport, she overhears a Turkish father expressing to a friend his bewilderment at the cultural differences he's experienced since immigrating to northern Europe. Is it true, she wonders, that the citizens of these countries are genuinely happier? Why do people leave their homes for other countries? And what lessons can we all learn, for the creation of truly harmonious societies, from the experiences of immigrants? In the light of the recent backlash against multiculturalism and the influx of millions of Muslims into Europe from the east, this powerful and personal essay uses the lived experience of immigrants to examine this most hotly debated subject.
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Varske

Sorry have lost your comment about travel. Still finding my way round Litsy.

Of course I remember you, as Goodreads is sending me your updates, even though I haven‘t updated mine for ages. That‘s how I found this book. I really like Élif Shafak. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Miss_Kim You should come to Canada and visit me 😁📖 6y
Varske I was in Canada with my daughter last year for a couple of weeks, but I didn‘t think to contact you. How is your inn doing (I hope I remembered right). But we really loved Canada. 6y
Miss_Kim So glad you liked it! We‘re doing great but still miss the Balkans and Eastern Europe ❤️ 6y
6 likes3 comments
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Miss_Kim
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It‘s true, isn‘t it? The characters in our favourite books are so real to us!

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GoneFishing

As a storyteller I am less interested in generalizations than in undertones and nuances. These may not be visible at first glance, but they are out there, lurking beneath the surface, durable and distinct.

18 likes2 stack adds