Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Illegal: A Novel
The Illegal: A Novel | Lawrence Hill
A gripping political thriller readers may find hard to put down.Dallas Morning News Keita Ali is an elite runner living in Zantoroland, a poor, fictional island that is erupting in political violence. When his father, a journalist, is murdered, Keita escapes to the wealthy nation of Freedom Statean imagined country much like our own. A stateless refugee without documentation, Keita must hide from the authorities even as he races marathons to support himself and ransom his sister who has been kidnapped. This tension-filled novel by the best-selling author of Someone Knows My Name is an astute exploration of dislocation, starting all over again, and the desperate need for home and community.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
blurb
CuriousG
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 71 (Audible edition)

blurb
LaraS
The Illegal: A Novel | Lawrence Hill
post image

Adding some Canadiana with Lawrence Hill! The Illegal is about a young runner who is forced to flee his country & becomes an illegal refugee. Wonderfully written characters. Someone Knows My Name follows the life of Aminata Diallo: abducted from her village as a young girl, sold into slavery, ends up helping the Brits record the freed slaves in the Revolutionary War, and so much more. Incredible story telling & strong characters. #BlackVoices

ShyBookOwl I need to check this one out! 4y
11 likes1 comment
review
agrondin44
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
Pickpick

August 2019 in OC:
Just loved that book from the start to the end. Read it in no time and realized at the end of it that the author is from my country so I just want to read his other books. Not so far I sure from some other country's reality and makes me want to know more about the subject and what I can do to help... If I can do something.

review
LibraryCin
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Mehso-so


Overall, I‘d rate it ok. I‘m not sure if it would be of more interest to people who enjoy sports, with all the running, or maybe to people who enjoy political fiction. Sometimes political stuff is of more interest to me, but I think it depends on how it‘s done. I listened to the audio, and the narrator was fine, nothing special, but didn‘t detract, either, I didn‘t think. The story itself was fine.

blurb
wallacereads
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Sitting among all the unread books.

kspenmoll 😀 5y
BooknerdsLife 😍 I have a tiny cat sitting on my TBR too😂 5y
44 likes2 comments
blurb
DebbieGrillo
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

#booknames
@ScorpioBookDreams

D - A Discovery of Witches
E - Eat, Pray, Love
B - Brown Girl Dreaming
B - Behold the Dreamers
I - The Illegal
E - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

@kspenmoll @FantasyChick @Jaberwocky Have you done this yet?

booksensation Hmmm this will take me some time lol 6y
kspenmoll Thanks for tag; I just finished! 📚❤️ 6y
88 likes2 comments
review
TamarackTrail
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Pickpick

I listened to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed it immensely. It explores racism, fear of immigrants, and is more timely now than when it was written.

Worth listening to on audio with excellent narration.

Jaimelire I loved this book 7y
74 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

My favorite book that fits #ImmigrantSong It's a great story about the struggles of fleeing a dangerous home and trying to find a new one. #RockinMay

Cinfhen Sounds fascinating😌I have another book by this author sitting in my TBR 7y
Melissa_J I really liked this one. Great pick! 7y
Jaimelire Great book 7y
42 likes2 stack adds3 comments
quote
jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

quote
jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

review
jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Pickpick

First thank you @JacqMac for an amazing read! Powerful story of Keita Ali someone who is running for a better life. Overcoming obstacles and getting help from the most unlikely places. Sheds a very powerful light on immigration.

JacqMac I'm so glad you liked it! I found it very powerful as well. 7y
9 likes1 comment
review
Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
Pickpick

A book perfectly suited for current times. I became intensely involved with the main character's struggle to survive. I can see why it was chosen as 2016 winner of Canada Reads award.

14 likes1 stack add
quote
Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Keira, an illegal, finds refuge in...a library. So much truth in this. No matter where I am in the world, I always feel like a library or bookstore is a safe place.

quote
Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Yes.

blurb
Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Just started this book after dinner. My son has been collecting pink seashells for me. I told him I would put them in the picture. I plan a lot of reading in a shady spot tomorrow since I got sunburn on my legs today. The joys of being a white Canadian girl in Mexico....always end up with sunburn! 🏖

20 likes2 stack adds
blurb
Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Second to last day of #Diverseathon: a diverse book you want to see adapted. It think this story about a refugee runner would make an excellent movie, and there are lots of meaty roles to go around. I'm dreamcasting it in my head right now.

blurb
Jaimelire
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Leaving for Mexico in less than 2 weeks. These three will be my beach companions! Can't wait.

BilboBookends Loved Sarah's key! 7y
kspenmoll Enjoy the sun & beach! 7y
21 likes2 comments
blurb
jlondon1963
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

#secretsantagoespostal, @JacqMac @BookishMarginalia Loved my bookish box can't wait to try out the hot chocolate. The candle is perfect for the holidays!! The book sounds very intriguing can't wait to dig in now that the busiest part of the holidays is past... 📚📬👍👍☃️🎉🎅🏼

BookishMarginalia Yey! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
JacqMac Yay! I hope you like the book. Have a happy holiday. (edited) 7y
15 likes2 comments
blurb
JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

It's really hard to pick a #favereadofAugust. I read many good ones. This one stayed with me the most. It made me think and filled me with empathy.

24 likes2 stack adds
review
JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Pickpick

I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a country where you have no personal rights and freedoms. Living everyday in fear for your life and those that you love. Every. Single. Day. Home is supposed to be your safe and happy place. But what happens when it isn't? Where do you go? How do you protect yourself when you have to flee now? With nothing? Nobody in the world should have to face these questions today. But they do.

23 likes2 stack adds
blurb
NerdyRev
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Back in the States and 80% done with The Fireman. I had to get some books while in Canada, so I got the finalists for Canada reads. They don't arrive until next week though. Great idea!

blurb
JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Dark and dreary day today. It's a great time to crack open a new book. I loved watching the Canada Reads debates and I'm looking forward to reading this one.

blurb
JacqMac
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

My #faveplacetorelax is tucked into the corner of the sectional, surrounded by snuggly throws. It's a very dark and cloudy day today, which doesn't make for good pictures, but it's great for reading. #augustofpages #augustphotochallenge

MrBook Nice #readingnook! 😊👍🏻 8y
susanw That looks like the same soft grey blanket that I have, from Chapters/Indigo, no? 8y
JacqMac @susanw It's the very same. It makes a great wrap on a chilly day. 8y
26 likes3 comments
blurb
Ashgun
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

So far so good

blurb
L0STF0X
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

One of the perks of working as a hotel housekeeper is that I often find, or am left #books as a #tip! 🦄🌸

2 likes1 stack add
review
bookishchelle
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Mehso-so

I enjoyed the beginning of the book especially descriptions of Keita running. Some plot felt haphazardly slapped in. The narrator was fabulous and I really enjoyed the fictitious countries, Zantoroland & Freedom State. This felt more like a fluffier read than I was expecting. The ending felt rushed & it resolved too neatly & abruptly. This isn't my favourite book from Canada Reads 2016 & it's the winner. Hero's Walk or Birdie should have won.

blurb
LoriAngela
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

Moving and timely book with a raucous cast of characters. Great hearing the author speak about supporting Syrian refugees in our community

review
DaveNeufeld
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Pickpick

CanLit goodness, it doesn't matter if the quote at the bottom of the cover came from The Globe and Mail or Yoda himself...

2 likes1 stack add
review
Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image
Pickpick

Yesterday, The Illegal beat out The Hero's Walk to win Canada Reads 2016. The Illegal is a refugee story that fictionalization and combines elements of many countries and policies to universalize the plight of displaced people. Full review and recap: Http://goo.gl/SjwJqw

quote
Shay
The Illegal | Lawrence Hill
post image

"Keita wondered whether a person could be punished for having thoughts, or only for committing those thoughts to paper."

2 likes2 stack adds