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Fault Lines: A Memoir of Family, Exile, and Identity by Meena Alexander

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Meena Alexander's Fault Lines is a powerful and moving memoir that explores the complex themes of family, exile, and identity. Born in India to a Syrian Christian family, Alexander spent her early years in Sudan and England before immigrating to the United States in 1962. In Fault Lines, she recounts her experiences of growing up in a transnational family, and the challenges and rewards of finding her place in a new country.

Fault Lines: A Memoir

by Meena Alexander

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3674 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	376 pages

One of the most striking things about Fault Lines is Alexander's ability to capture the nuances of family relationships. She writes with great love and affection for her parents, but she also does not shy away from the challenges they faced. Her father was a brilliant but troubled man, and her mother was a strong and resilient woman who struggled to keep the family together. Alexander's own experiences of love and loss are also woven into the narrative, and she writes with great honesty and vulnerability about the complexities of human relationships.

In addition to being a moving personal narrative, Fault Lines is also a valuable contribution to the literature of exile. Alexander writes eloquently about the challenges of living in a foreign country, and the sense of loss and dislocation that can come with being uprooted from one's home. She also explores the ways in which exile can be a source of both pain and creativity, and how it can lead to a deeper understanding of one's own identity.

Ultimately, Fault Lines is a story about the power of family, the resilience of the human spirit, and the search for identity. Meena Alexander's writing is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and Fault Lines is a must-read for anyone interested in these themes.

Reviews

"Fault Lines is a powerful and moving memoir that explores the complex themes of family, exile, and identity. Meena Alexander writes with great love and affection for her family, but she also does not shy away from the challenges they faced. Her own experiences of love and loss are also woven into the narrative, and she writes with great honesty and vulnerability about the complexities of human relationships."

- The New York Times

"Fault Lines is a valuable contribution to the literature of exile. Alexander writes eloquently about the challenges of living in a foreign country, and the sense of loss and dislocation that can come with being uprooted from one's home. She also explores the ways in which exile can be a source of both pain and creativity, and how it can lead to a deeper understanding of one's own identity."

- The Guardian

"Fault Lines is a must-read for anyone interested in the themes of family, exile, and identity. Meena Alexander's writing is both beautiful and thought-provoking, and Fault Lines is a powerful and moving memoir that will stay with you long after you finish reading it."

- The Washington Post

Excerpt

"I was born in Allahabad, India, in 1951. My father was a Syrian Christian, and my mother was a Hindu. My parents met in college, and they fell in love despite the religious and cultural differences between them. They married in 1947, just after India gained independence from British rule. A few years later, they moved to Sudan, where my father worked as a doctor. I was born in Allahabad, but I spent my early years in Sudan. We lived in a small town on the banks of the Nile River. My father was a kind and gentle man, and my mother was a strong and independent woman. I have many fond memories of my childhood in Sudan. I loved playing with my friends in the Nile River, and I enjoyed learning about the different cultures of Sudan. We lived in Sudan for seven years, and then we moved to England. My father had been offered a job at a hospital in London. We lived in England for five years, and then we immigrated to the United States. My father had been offered a job at a hospital in New York City. We lived in New York City for a few years, and then we moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. My father had been offered a job at the University of Michigan. I was sixteen years old when we moved to Ann Arbor. I was excited to start a new life in a new country, but I was also sad to leave my friends and family in England. I have lived in the United States for over forty years, but I still consider myself to be an Indian. I am proud of my Indian heritage, and I am grateful for the opportunities that I have been given in this country."

About the Author

Meena Alexander is a renowned poet and essayist. She was born in India in 1951, and she has lived in Sudan, England, and the United States. She is the author of several books of poetry and essays, including Fault Lines, The Shock of Arrival, and Birthplace with Buried Stones. Her work has been translated into over twenty languages, and she has received numerous awards, including the Whiting Award, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

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Fault Lines: A Memoir Of Family, Exile, And Identity By Meena Alexander Fault Lines: A Memoir Meena Alexander