[NDR]≡ Download Free The Illegal Lawrence Hill 9781554683840 Books

The Illegal Lawrence Hill 9781554683840 Books

Download As PDF : The Illegal Lawrence Hill 9781554683840 Books

The Illegal Lawrence Hill 9781554683840 Books

Lawrence Hill is one of my favourite authors. I adored his Book of Negroes (which was my very first book review post) as well as Any Known Blood. But if it weren't for Mr Hill's name on the cover I don't think that The Illegal is the kind of book I would typically pick up. And yet I'm so glad that I did.

The Illegal is a tale set in the very near future in two fictional countries, Freedom State and Zantoroland, and their issues (some quite violent) surrounding refugees as well as an underlying storyline involving long distance running. By using two fictional countries Hill allows himself some leeway with his storytelling while bringing this serious and timely issue to the forefront of people's minds.

The book focuses on Keita, a boy who had the misfortune to be born into the lower class of people in Zantoroland, and his struggle to freedom for himself and those like him. Hill weaves his plot using multiple points of view with a cast of strong and truly memorable characters. From feisty octogenarian Ivernia Beech, tenacious teen John Falconer, tough as nails paraplegic reporter Viola Hill as well as those in positions of power, these characters are all well drawn out and showcase the different points of view involving the refugee issue.

Hill also adds some humourous moments and dialogue between his characters and, as a fellow Canadian, I loved the repeated references to Canada - especially the reference to Tim Horton's. You've gotta love and respect a proud Canuck!

Hill gives his readers a lot to think about regarding the issue of refugees and you really feel for Keita and all that he, and his fellow 'illegals' have gone through. Readers will easily get behind Keita as he runs towards freedom for himself and those like him who only had the misfortune to be born in a country who didn't value their worth. Like Keita this book is fast-paced and Keita's struggle to freedom was so compelling.

While I really enjoyed this book I can't say that I loved it as much as some of Hill's previous works but The Illegal still holds it's own. It has a different feel to it than Hill's other books but it still has Hill's signature compelling, compassionate writing that brings serious issues to the forefront of people's consciousness. It is a very timely and important story especially with the issues that were raised here in Canada in our recent election. Hopefully, at the very least, this book will make people think about the horrors that many of these refugees face in their home countries as they try to make better lives for themselves and their families.

My Rating: 4/5 stars
**This book review can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I share hundreds of book reviews and my favourite recipes. **


Tags : The Illegal [Lawrence Hill] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <strong>From the beloved author of the national bestseller <em>The Book of Negroes</em> comes “a book for our times” (<em>Maclean’s</em>) about family,Lawrence Hill,The Illegal,HarperCollins Publishers,155468384X,FICTION African American General,FICTION Dystopian,FICTION Literary

The Illegal Lawrence Hill 9781554683840 Books Reviews

I read this on a friend’s recommendation while in Kenya. I found it captivating and plausible.
Amazing, incredible book. This is the best Lawrence Hill I have read. The plot is based on an important and interesting topic. The characterization is excellent. Bravo!!
Not nearly as good as Book of Negroes. I didn't get why 2018? I felt it was an already done theme, eg. Shantaram. I still remember so much of the B of N from years ago and have already kind of forgotten the theme of this one. Would I recommend it.... If you have nothing else to read....
I read "Book of Negros," also by this author, which was fantastic--phenomenal writing. This book was fun to read and entertaining, but the quality of the writing was not up to "The Book of Negros." Frankly, I was a bit surprised. Also the story all seemed to be a bit stilted and not fully believable.
Just as before Lawrence Hill writes an easy to read novel that combines many circumstances that refugees find themselves in when fleeing awful and violent regimes. However just as before, he ends the story by tying everything up very neatly in a bow. Everybody ends up happy. That makes it less marvellous as a story unless you like that type of ending. I prefer some loose ends and also to be left with something to ponder.
Keita Ali is a running Everyman, a young man who wants to use his distance-running skills to improve his life and help his family. He is assisted and thwarted by more vivid characters (a precocious documentarian, a handicapped journalist, a shantytown queen, etc) as the plot, like a marathon, has its twists and turns, its ups and downs. Lawrence Hill's bigger point is about black athletes being exploited by a white establishment. It would have served his purpose to have Keita come from Kenya or Ethiopia and move to South Africa or the U.S. in order to pursue his career. Instead Hill has made the bizarre decision to invent two new countries, Zantoroland and the Freedom State. Not only new countries, but nonexistent landmasses in the Indian Ocean. This weakens the message of The Illegal by removing the story from the realm of fiction to that of science fiction. To paraphrase Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a novelist is entitled to his own history, but not his own geography.
This powerful novel centers on Keita Ali, a runner from the mythical country of Zantoroland, who finds himself literally on the run because of his father's journalistic activities. The characters are richly drawn, the story tight and believable, and the ending deeply satisfying. In particular, I found Lula DiStefano and Aton Hamm the most fascinating because of their incredible complexity. This is one of the best books I have ever read.
There were times while reading The Illegal by Lawrence Hill that I wondered why I was continuing the trudge through the circuitous route to the conclusion of this “marathon”. The story told in the not so distant future, seemed to draw from the political immigration climate in America today. And the behaviors of the haves and have nots reflected the conditions all over the world. Yes, the reader was led to fight for poor, black, illegal immigrant fighting to save the life of his sister from the oppressive imaginary country where she was being held hostage. But in between we were dragged into numerous conflicts, some a bit ridiculous, i.e. 9th grader hiding out in brothel closets while completing his school documentary. There was enough to build an exciting plot just focusing on Keita and his family drama, but unfortunately the author included too many other extraneous stories, never ever fully pulling me into any one character stugggle throughout the read. I have to pass on recommending this book to anyone.
Lawrence Hill is one of my favourite authors. I adored his Book of Negroes (which was my very first book review post) as well as Any Known Blood. But if it weren't for Mr Hill's name on the cover I don't think that The Illegal is the kind of book I would typically pick up. And yet I'm so glad that I did.

The Illegal is a tale set in the very near future in two fictional countries, Freedom State and Zantoroland, and their issues (some quite violent) surrounding refugees as well as an underlying storyline involving long distance running. By using two fictional countries Hill allows himself some leeway with his storytelling while bringing this serious and timely issue to the forefront of people's minds.

The book focuses on Keita, a boy who had the misfortune to be born into the lower class of people in Zantoroland, and his struggle to freedom for himself and those like him. Hill weaves his plot using multiple points of view with a cast of strong and truly memorable characters. From feisty octogenarian Ivernia Beech, tenacious teen John Falconer, tough as nails paraplegic reporter Viola Hill as well as those in positions of power, these characters are all well drawn out and showcase the different points of view involving the refugee issue.

Hill also adds some humourous moments and dialogue between his characters and, as a fellow Canadian, I loved the repeated references to Canada - especially the reference to Tim Horton's. You've gotta love and respect a proud Canuck!

Hill gives his readers a lot to think about regarding the issue of refugees and you really feel for Keita and all that he, and his fellow 'illegals' have gone through. Readers will easily get behind Keita as he runs towards freedom for himself and those like him who only had the misfortune to be born in a country who didn't value their worth. Like Keita this book is fast-paced and Keita's struggle to freedom was so compelling.

While I really enjoyed this book I can't say that I loved it as much as some of Hill's previous works but The Illegal still holds it's own. It has a different feel to it than Hill's other books but it still has Hill's signature compelling, compassionate writing that brings serious issues to the forefront of people's consciousness. It is a very timely and important story especially with the issues that were raised here in Canada in our recent election. Hopefully, at the very least, this book will make people think about the horrors that many of these refugees face in their home countries as they try to make better lives for themselves and their families.

My Rating 4/5 stars
**This book review can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I share hundreds of book reviews and my favourite recipes. **