Book Discussion: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

Winner of the 2017 PEN/Falukner Award
Oprah Book Club Selection

Discussion Questions:

Though they moved to America to find better life as a couple and as a family, both Jende and Neni are inevitably impacted by the way America shapes their own personal identities.

• What are some of the ways in which they change as individuals over the course of the novel? 
• How does their marriage change?
•  Do you feel this is for the better or worse? 
• How does it speak largely to the way America's ideals impact the members of its society? 

Discuss the role of dreams in the novel. 

• How do dreams drive the plot of the novel? 
• What kind of dreams do these characters wish to achieve? 
• What dreams are deferred? 
• How has the American Dream changed in your lifetime? 
• What cost is too high to make your dreams come true? 

How was the author able to cultivate empathy from the reader in regards to Cindy and Clark Edwards?

Jende's lawyer Mr. Bubakar yielded him some advise at one point stating "Immigration is concerned, there are many things that are gray, and by 'gray' I mean the things that are illegal but which the government doesn't want to spend time worrying about. My advise to someone like you is to stay close to the gray area. What gray area is Bubakar referring to?

What role does race play in this novel?

• Bubakar states that "The police is for the protection of white people. Maybe black women and black children sometimes, but not black men. Never black men. Black men and police are like palm oil and water.
• Neni observes in NYC people walking around her were mostly paired up with "their kind." She observes that "Even in NYC, even in a a place of many nations and cultures, men and women young and old, rich and poor, preferred their kind when it came to those they kept closest." What is it that drive humans to seek others like them?

Discuss the character of Vince Edwards. What do you make of his relationship to his family and his thoughts about his country? How do his opinions play a larger role in the novel? What do you think is in store for him in India?

• In a conversation with Jende about how he views America Vince states " That's exactly the problem! People don't want to open their eyes and see the Truth because the illusion suits them. As long as they're fed whatever lies they want to hear they're happy, because the Truth means nothing to them. 

Though they moved to America to find better life as a couple and as a family, both Jende and Neni are inevitably impacted by the way America shapes their own personal identities. What are some of the ways in which they change as individuals over the course of the novel? How does their marriage change? Do you feel this is for the better or worse? How does it speak largely to the way America’s ideals impact the members of its society?

• Cindy tells Neni that "Being poor in Africa is fine. Most of you are poor over there. The shame of it, it's not as bad for you." "Over here , it's embarrassing, humiliating, very painful." 

How was Neni's blackmailing of Cindy justified or was it?

How did Neni change over the course of the book?

• After blackmailing Cindy Anna confronts Neni and Neni states "If Mrs. Edwards is not happy with her life, let her solve her own problems. I am tired of people wanting me to care about them more than I care about myself and my family."

Does the American Dream fail Neni and Jende?

• They are going back to their county wealthier then when they left

In the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman brothers Clark is able to pick-up the pieces of his life and find a new job as the head of a lobby for credit unions. While at the same time Jende chooses to give up on his family's American Dream and return to Cameroon.