Behold the Dreamers (Oprah's Book Club)

A Novel

By: Imbolo Mbue

Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi

Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A compulsively listenable debut novel about marriage, immigration, class, race, and the trapdoors in the American dream - the unforgettable story of a young Cameroonian couple making a new life in New York just as the Great Recession upends the economy.

Named one of BuzzFeed's "Incredible New Books You Need to Read This Summer".

Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem, has come to the United States to provide a better life for himself; his wife, Neni; and their six-year-old son. In the fall of 2007, Jende can hardly believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Clark demands punctuality, discretion, and loyalty - and Jende is eager to please. Clark's wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at the Edwardses' summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, Jende and Neni can at last gain a foothold in America and imagine a brighter future.

However, the world of great power and privilege conceals troubling secrets, and soon Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers' façades. When the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende's job - even as their marriage threatens to fall apart. As all four lives are dramatically upended, Jende and Neni are forced to make an impossible choice.

©2016 Imbolo Mbue (P)2016 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Imbolo Mbue would be a formidable storyteller anywhere, in any language. It's our good luck that she and her stories are American." (Jonathan Franzen, National Book Award-winning author of Purity and Freedom)

"Dazzling, fast-paced, and exquisitely written, Behold the Dreamers is one of those rare novels that will change the way you see the world. Imbolo Mbue is a breathtaking talent." (Christina Baker Kline, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Orphan Train)

"Who is this Imbolo Mbue and where has she been hiding? Her writing is startlingly beautiful, thoughtful, and both timely and timeless. She's taking on everything from family to the Great Recession to immigration while deftly reminding us what it means to truly believe in 'the American dream.'" (Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming and Another Brooklyn)

Good Story Made Even Better With Narration!

This story was extremely heartwarming, and opened my eyes to the many things that immigrants seem to go through while here. How sad it is that these people were never actually treated with the respect they truly deserved, and that they were always worried that if they stepped out of line, even just a little, or challenged anyone in a position of power around them, they might jeopardize their freedom in the U.S. to be honest, I was pretty surprised with the outcome... never saw that coming. As for the narration, all I can say is wow!!! This narrator did a phenomenal job of performing each of the character's roles! I fell in love with every single one of them. Despite the story now being over, I will long remember this book, and this hard working family who wanted to live the American dream.

Great Book, Outstanding Narrator!

This story was so wonderful. I loved listening, but I don’t know if I would have loved it as much without the brilliant narration! It’s astounding - all the voices and accents and dialects. I had to keep reminding myself it was really only one man. The book has given me so much food for thought, and a big opportunity to be grateful for so many things I take for granted.

fantastic story

loved this story, excellent narration, left me wanting to know how their life turned out.

Good story

The story was good. The narrator spoke well and I enjoyed the various voices for characters. I will say that the ending was somewhat disappointing. And it was confusing to not know if the story was fiction or autobiographical.

A Touching and Timely Story

Mbue beautifully captured the story of an immigrant family from Africa who longs to build a life in America. This powerful and compelling story follows the plight of Jende Jonga and his wife Neni and their desire to become American citizens and achieve personal success. The characters are well-developed. They are believable and leave the reader rooting for them despite their many challenges. Even though this story takes place around 2008, it has relevance in today’s political debate about immigration. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book. “AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

Kept my interest to the end

An Interesting portrayal of Cameroonian immigrants and their struggles to survive in New York City. Likable characters with relatable problems. Thumbs up for this one!

Beautiful

This is a beautiful story about family, values, and home. The Jongas immigrate to the United States, where their lives become intertwined with the Edwards. The characters are so lovable, even if they will all break your heart at some point in the book. It is very dialogue-driven, but the dialogue builds the characters, moves the plot along, and is often hilarious.

The audiobook is narrated by Prentice Onayemi, who juggles American and Cameroonian accents naturally and even does a little singing. This is now one of my favorite audiobooks, up there with The Martian and Born a Crime.

Not enough stars

There are not enough stars to justify this wonderful book. The narration, the writing, everything. Wonderful!

Loved it!

Behold the Dreamers is a moving reminder of the immigration struggle for those who seek a better future in a foreign land. I loved that home is a place embedded in the heart. I loved this story.

A Lesson for Everyone

The book was more than interesting it was thought-provoking and touched on a number of lessons regarding real life. Book crossed all walks of life involving class differences, family issues, and a host of other topics. I recommend this book.