The well-received publication of Ayad Akhtar's debut novel American Dervish(Little, Brown, $24.99),
caused me to think about the ongoing popularity of immigrant novels in
America. Akhtar deals with the tensions between secular lifestyles and
religious beliefs among immigrant Muslims (in this case -- from
Pakistan). In his book, men who are religiously dominant experience
tensions with a younger generation wishing to adapt to American culture,
especially with women who resist male control.
Historically, each wave of immigration has produced outstanding
literature that has examined its own generational conflict, retained and
celebrated cultural identity, and embraced adaptation through its
unique version of the American "melting pot." Literature describing the
immigrant experience has included both women and men who have spoken for
their compatriots' perspectives and have helped outsiders understand.
And whatever the characters' difficulties, they demonstrate immigration
as providing an advantage.
