How to Read the Air
How to Read the Air
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2010
Book Brief
96
Novel • Fiction
Iowa, Illinois • Contemporary
2010
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu follows Ethiopian-American Jonas as he traces his family's history after his father's death. Jonas, a compulsive liar struggling with personal trauma, retraces his parents' journey from Illinois to Tennessee to reconcile his present with their past. This journey reveals his parents' tumultuous marriage and highlights generational cycles of trauma and recovery. The book includes themes of domestic violence and infidelity.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Emotional
Mysterious
Nostalgic
Reviews & Readership
2,874 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Dinaw Mengestu's How to Read the Air offers a deep exploration of identity and displacement through its layered narrative. Reviewers praise its eloquent prose and poignant insights but criticize its sometimes slow pace and fragmented structure. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read that resonates emotionally and intellectually.
Who Should Read How to Read the Air?
Readers who enjoy introspective and poignant storytelling about immigration, identity, and family dynamics will appreciate How to Read the Air by Dinaw Mengestu. Comparable to Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah, it resonates with those who value rich cultural narratives and psychological depth.
2,874 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
96
Novel • Fiction
Iowa, Illinois • Contemporary
2010
Adult
18+ years
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