Behold the Dreamers | Imbolo Mbue | Cliff Note Books
Set in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, “Behold the Dreamers” follows the lives of two families struggling to make a better life for themselves in New York City. Jende Jonga, a young Cameroonian immigrant, has recently arrived in America with his wife Neni and their son Liomi, hoping to build a better future for themselves. Jende finds work as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a wealthy executive at Lehman Brothers, while Neni studies to become a pharmacist.
As the financial crisis deepens, Jende and Neni become increasingly entwined with the Edwards family, including Clark’s wife Cindy and their two children. Jende becomes privy to the family’s secrets and struggles, and comes to understand the fragility of their seemingly perfect lives.
Meanwhile, Jende and Neni must navigate their own challenges, including the difficulty of securing permanent residency in the United States, and the pressure to succeed in their respective careers. They also face the strain that their dreams place on their marriage, as they struggle to balance their individual ambitions with their love for each other.
As the novel builds towards its dramatic conclusion, the characters are forced to confront the harsh realities of their situations, and must make difficult choices about their futures. The novel explores themes of family, identity, immigration, and the American Dream, painting a vivid and complex portrait of life in contemporary America.
Overall, “Behold the Dreamers” is a powerful and poignant novel that offers a nuanced and empathetic portrayal of the immigrant experience. Mbue’s writing is rich and evocative, capturing the sights, sounds, and emotions of her characters’ lives with great skill and sensitivity. The novel is both timely and timeless, offering a searing critique of the American Dream while also celebrating the resilience and determination of those who pursue it.
QUOTES
“In America, it didn’t matter where you came from or what you did. If you worked hard, you could make it.”
“A man in America can change his life in one day. But no one said it would be for the better.”
“There’s always a price to pay for the American Dream.”
“It was as if he’d always lived in this country and had simply forgotten where he came from.”
“It’s hard to keep hoping when all you see is darkness.”
“We come here to work hard, to make a better life for our children, to live the American Dream. But sometimes I wonder if the American Dream is just a fairy tale.”
“The world can change in an instant. One day everything’s fine, the next day it’s all gone.”
“The thing about America is, you can be whoever you want to be. But sometimes you have to sacrifice something to become that person.”
“Being a stranger in a strange land is never easy.”
“Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure can make life a lot easier.”
AUTHOR
Imbolo Mbue is a Cameroonian-American author known for her debut novel “Behold the Dreamers.” She was born in Limbe, Cameroon in 1981, and grew up in a household that valued education and reading. Mbue moved to the United States in 1998 to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she studied business administration.
After working in marketing and market research for several years, Mbue decided to pursue her lifelong dream of writing. She enrolled in the MFA program at Columbia University, where she began working on her debut novel. “Behold the Dreamers” was published in 2016 to critical acclaim, and won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, as well as being selected for Oprah’s Book Club.
Mbue has been praised for her ability to capture the immigrant experience with great sensitivity and empathy, and for her insightful exploration of themes such as class, race, and identity. She is also known for her activism on behalf of African immigrants and refugees, and has spoken out about issues such as the refugee crisis and the importance of diversity in literature.
In addition to her writing, Mbue has taught writing workshops and served as a mentor to emerging writers. She currently lives in New York City with her husband and children.
CRITICISMS
While “Behold the Dreamers” has received mostly positive reviews, some critics have pointed out some weaknesses in the novel. One common criticism is that the story is overly reliant on tropes and stereotypes about immigrants and their struggles. Some reviewers have also noted that the novel’s treatment of race and class is somewhat superficial, and that the characters can sometimes feel like caricatures rather than fully realized people. Finally, some critics have argued that the novel’s ending is somewhat abrupt and unsatisfying.
SUMMARIES
The novel begins with Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant who has come to America in search of a better life for himself and his family. Jende lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a wealthy executive at Lehman Brothers. Jende is thrilled with his job, which provides him with a steady income and a sense of pride.
Jende’s wife, Neni, is also an immigrant from Cameroon, and she is studying to become a pharmacist. Neni is passionate about her studies and is determined to succeed in America. Jende and Neni have a young son, Liomi, whom they adore.
As Jende settles into his new job, he becomes more and more enamored with the world of wealth and privilege that he sees around him. He enjoys driving Clark and his wife Cindy to fancy dinners and events, and he feels proud to be a part of their glamorous lives.
However, as the story unfolds, Jende and Neni begin to see the darker side of life in America. They struggle to make ends meet, and Neni’s dreams of becoming a pharmacist are threatened when her student visa is denied. Jende also begins to notice that there are tensions between Clark and Cindy, and he becomes increasingly concerned about their marriage.
In chapter 10, Jende accompanies Clark and Cindy on a trip to the Hamptons, where they are attending a party. Jende is struck by the contrast between the opulent party and the poverty that he sees on the way there. As he watches the wealthy guests enjoying their extravagant lives, he begins to wonder if the American Dream is really worth pursuing.
Chapter 11: Jende finds out that he has to renew his taxi license soon and needs to get a physical exam before he can do so. He’s worried about the cost, but Cindy offers to pay for it. He tells her about his wife’s visa issues and Cindy suggests that he ask Clark to help him. Meanwhile, Neni meets with her advisor at school and tells her that she wants to change her major to pharmacology.
Chapter 12: Clark invites Jende to a dinner party at his house with some of his wealthy friends. Jende is nervous about attending, but he’s excited to see the luxurious lifestyle that Clark and his wife live. At the party, Jende meets a woman named Betty who is married to a wealthy man and has a son at Yale. She asks Jende about his life in Cameroon and seems genuinely interested in him.
Chapter 13: Neni decides to take a biology course so that she can be better prepared for her new major. She also starts to feel more confident in her English skills and begins to enjoy speaking with her classmates. Meanwhile, Jende asks Clark for help with his wife’s visa issues. Clark seems hesitant at first, but he eventually agrees to help Jende.
Chapter 14: Jende takes Neni and Liomi to a restaurant in Harlem to celebrate Neni’s birthday. They talk about their dreams for the future and Neni tells Jende that she wants to open her own pharmacy one day. Jende tells her that he wants to buy a house in Cameroon and start his own taxi company.
Chapter 15: Jende goes to the immigration office to check on his wife’s visa status and finds out that she has been denied. He’s devastated and doesn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, Cindy invites Neni to lunch and offers to pay for her tuition and living expenses so that she can focus on her studies. Neni is overjoyed and grateful.
Chapter 16: Jende decides to take matters into his own hands and asks a lawyer to help him with his wife’s visa issues. The lawyer tells him that he has a good chance of winning the case, but it will be expensive. Jende doesn’t have the money to pay for it, so he starts driving more hours to make extra money.
Chapter 17: Neni starts her new biology course and struggles with the material. She also starts to feel out of place among her wealthy classmates and worries that she doesn’t belong. Meanwhile, Jende continues to work long hours and is exhausted all the time. He misses his family and worries about how they’re doing without him.
Chapter 18: Jende meets with the lawyer again and finds out that the case is going to be more complicated than he thought. He’s frustrated and doesn’t know how to come up with the money to pay for it. Meanwhile, Neni goes to a party with some of her classmates and feels even more out of place. She misses her family and wishes that she could be with them.
Chapter 19: Jende starts to feel like he’s losing control of his life. He’s working all the time and still can’t make ends meet. He’s also worried about his wife and son in Cameroon and misses them terribly. Meanwhile, Neni decides to drop her biology course and go back to studying economics. She feels more comfortable with the material and believes that it will help her achieve her goals.
Chapter 20: Jende meets with Cindy and tells her about his wife’s visa issues. Cindy offers to help him pay for the lawyer and tells him that she wants to do whatever she can to help him and his family
Chapter 21: Jende meets with his lawyer to discuss his wife’s case and finds out that they have a court date coming up soon. He’s nervous but hopeful that they’ll be able to win the case. Meanwhile, Neni starts working as a nanny for a wealthy family and enjoys spending time with the children.
Chapter 22: Jende attends his court hearing with his lawyer and is relieved when the judge grants his wife a temporary visa. He’s overjoyed and grateful to the lawyer for helping him with the case. Meanwhile, Neni starts to develop a friendship with the children she’s nannying for and enjoys spending time with them.
Chapter 23: Jende receives a letter from his wife in Cameroon and finds out that his father has died. He’s devastated and wishes that he could be there with his family. Meanwhile, Neni starts dating a wealthy man named Eric and enjoys the luxurious lifestyle that comes with it.
Chapter 24: Jende travels to Cameroon for his father’s funeral and is reunited with his wife and son. He’s saddened by the loss of his father but grateful to be back with his family. Meanwhile, Neni continues to date Eric and starts to feel conflicted about her relationship with him.
Chapter 25: Jende returns to New York and continues to work as a taxi driver. He starts to notice the stark differences between the wealthy people he drives around and his own life. Meanwhile, Neni breaks up with Eric and starts to focus on her studies again.
Chapter 26: Jende decides to start looking for a second job to make more money. He starts working as a dishwasher at a restaurant and is exhausted from working long hours. Meanwhile, Neni starts to feel more confident in her academic abilities and believes that she can achieve her dreams.
Chapter 27: Jende’s boss at the taxi company offers him a job as a dispatcher. Jende is grateful for the opportunity but also worried about the added responsibilities. Meanwhile, Neni meets with her academic advisor and finds out that she’s on track to graduate a semester early.
Chapter 28: Jende starts his new job as a dispatcher and struggles to keep up with the demands of the position. He’s also worried about his wife’s visa status and doesn’t know how much longer they’ll be able to stay in the United States. Meanwhile, Neni starts to feel more confident in her abilities and starts applying for internships.
Chapter 29: Jende receives a letter from the immigration office and finds out that his wife’s visa has been denied again. He’s devastated and doesn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, Neni gets an internship with a prestigious accounting firm and starts to feel like her dreams are within reach.
Chapter 30: Jende starts to feel like he’s running out of options. He’s working two jobs and still can’t make enough money to support his family. He’s also worried about what will happen if his wife’s visa is denied again. Meanwhile, Neni starts her internship and is excited about the opportunity to learn and grow.
Chapter 31: Jende meets with his lawyer and finds out that his wife’s case is going to be even more difficult to win than he thought. He’s frustrated and doesn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, Neni starts to feel conflicted about her internship and wonders if accounting is really what she wants to do with her life.