The Faraway World by Patricia Engel

The collection of short stories set in the Americas are fairly raw, depicting the struggle of immigrants wanting to find a secure home in a foreign land, hankering for not just the food of their cultures but even the sights and smells of something as simple as a river or sea. The ones leftbehind seem to want to get out for a better life not always economic. Some of them were running away from complicated lives involving crime, drugs, family rifts without an end in sight. All of the characters want to make good. Either financially and for many having stable relationships - finding love with one person then sadly finding their hopes dashed when a brighter competitor emerged, invariably with more to offer. The ladies seemed to like to gamble with love, hoping that this relationship will be the lasting one. The men predominantly took full advantageof what was on offer, reading the signs well, then moving on to a more profitable partner. Most took the disappointment well, almost looking at it as their fate with a stoicness which was very sad. Each story dealt with a hard life in many ways, and each story was both moving and precise in its description. Sent by Avid Reader Press for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.