56 pages • 1 hour read
What We All Long For
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Book Brief
337
Novel • Fiction
Toronto, Canada • 2000s
2005
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
What We All Long For by Dionne Brand intertwines the lives of four young friends in Toronto as they grapple with their identities as queer individuals, people of color, and children of immigrants. Tuyen, an artist, struggles with her family’s search for her long-lost brother Quy. Carla deals with her brother Jamal’s legal troubles, Oku navigates life after dropping out of grad school, and Jackie manages her boutique and relationships. Sensitive themes that appear in the book include the loss of a child and suicide.
Contemplative
Melancholic
Emotional
Gritty
Reviews & Readership
2,165 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Dionne Brand’s What We All Long For is celebrated for its lyrical prose and compelling depiction of multicultural Toronto, its characters revealing the nuances of immigrant experiences. However, some critics note the complexity of its narrative structures may deter general readers. Overall, it remains a poignant exploration of identity and belonging.
Who Should Read What We All Long For?
A reader who enjoys exploring themes of identity, immigration, and urban life will appreciate What We All Long For by Dionne Brand. This novel appeals to fans of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth or Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, as it delves into diverse, multicultural experiences set in Toronto.
2,165 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
337
Novel • Fiction
Toronto, Canada • 2000s
2005
Adult
18+ years
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