The Sure Song of Here: A Journey Through the Landscape of Belonging

What does it mean to belong? Is it a feeling, a state of being, or something else entirely? And where do we find it? In our families, our communities, our countries? Or is it something that we carry within ourselves, regardless of our external circumstances?

the sure song of here

by Blythe Gifford

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	306 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	229 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Paperback	:	86 pages
Item Weight	:	7.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.25 x 9.21 inches
Hardcover	:	30 pages

FREE

These are the questions that I explore in my new book, The Sure Song of Here. Part memoir, part travelogue, part philosophical meditation, the book is a journey through the landscape of belonging, both personal and collective.

I begin my journey in my hometown of Detroit, a city that has been both a source of pride and a source of pain for me. Detroit is a city of immigrants, a city of refugees, a city of people who have been displaced and dispossessed. It is also a city of hope, a city of resilience, a city of people who have found a way to make a home in a place that is often hostile to them.

From Detroit, I travel to other cities around the world, each with its own unique story to tell about belonging. I visit Berlin, a city that is still haunted by the ghosts of its past, but is also a vibrant and cosmopolitan center of culture and art. I visit Jerusalem, a city that is holy to three religions and is a constant source of conflict and tension. And I visit Istanbul, a city that has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries and is now home to a diverse population of people from all over the world.

In each of these cities, I meet people who have found a way to belong, despite the challenges they have faced. I meet refugees who have fled war and persecution, and who are now rebuilding their lives in a new country. I meet immigrants who have come to a new land in search of a better future, and who are now creating new communities and traditions. And I meet people who have been born and raised in the same place, but who have never felt like they truly belong.

Through these encounters, I begin to understand that belonging is not something that is simply given to us. It is something that we must create for ourselves, often in the face of adversity. It is a process that requires effort, sacrifice, and compromise. But it is also a process that is ultimately rewarding, because it allows us to connect with others and to find our place in the world.

The Sure Song of Here is a book about the search for belonging. It is a book about the challenges and rewards of finding a place where we can truly feel at home. And it is a book about the power of hope, even in the face of adversity.

Praise for The Sure Song of Here

"A beautifully written and deeply moving exploration of the complex and often contradictory nature of belonging. This book will stay with you long after you finish reading it."—Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist

"A powerful and personal meditation on the meaning of home and the search for belonging. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they didn't belong."—Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer

"A lyrical and thought-provoking journey through the landscape of belonging. This book is a gift to anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world."—Celeste Ng, author of Little Fires Everywhere

the sure song of here

by Blythe Gifford

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	306 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	229 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Paperback	:	86 pages
Item Weight	:	7.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.14 x 0.25 x 9.21 inches
Hardcover	:	30 pages

FREE