Rivermouth
A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration
By Alejandra Oliva | Publisher: Astra Publishing House
About the book
A 2023 Indie Next List Pick
A Summer/Fall 2023 Adult Indies Introduce Pick
A 2023 Roxanne Gay Audacious Book Club Pick
Winner of the 2022 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant
In this powerful and deeply felt memoir of translation, storytelling, and borders, Alejandra Oliva, a Mexican American translator and immigrant justice activist, offers a powerful chronical of her experience interpreting at the US-Mexico border.
In Rivermouth, Oliva focuses on the physical spaces that make up different phases of immigration, looking at how language and opportunity move through each of them: from the river as the waterway that separates the US and Mexico, to the table as the place over which Oliva prepares asylum seekers for their Credible Fear Interviews, and finally, to the wall as the behemoth imposition that runs along America’s southernmost border.
With lush prose and perceptive insight, Oliva encourages readers to approach the painful questions that this crisis poses with equal parts critique and compassion. By which metrics are we measuring who “deserves” American citizenship? What is the point of humanitarian systems that distribute aid conditionally? What do we owe to our most disenfranchised?
As investigative and analytical as she is meditative and introspective, sharp as she is lyrical, and incisive as she is compassionate, seasoned interpreter Alejandra Oliva argues for a better world while guiding us through the suffering that makes the fight necessary and the joy that makes it worth fighting for.
Editions of Rivermouth
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781662601699
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781662602672
- EBook
- ISBN 9781662601705
Read an Excerpt
A 2023 Indie Next List Pick
A Summer/Fall 2023 Adult Indies Introduce Pick
A 2023 Roxanne Gay Audacious Book Club Pick
Winner of the 2022 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant
In this powerful and deeply felt memoir of translation, storytelling, and borders, Alejandra Oliva, a Mexican American translator and immigrant justice activist, offers a powerful chronical of her experience interpreting at the US-Mexico border.
In Rivermouth, Oliva focuses on the physical spaces that make up different phases of immigration, looking at how language and opportunity move through each of them: from the river as the waterway that separates the US and Mexico, to the table as the place over which Oliva prepares asylum seekers for their Credible Fear Interviews, and finally, to the wall as the behemoth imposition that runs along America’s southernmost border.
With lush prose and perceptive insight, Oliva encourages readers to approach the painful questions that this crisis poses with equal parts critique and compassion. By which metrics are we measuring who “deserves” American citizenship? What is the point of humanitarian systems that distribute aid conditionally? What do we owe to our most disenfranchised?
As investigative and analytical as she is meditative and introspective, sharp as she is lyrical, and incisive as she is compassionate, seasoned interpreter Alejandra Oliva argues for a better world while guiding us through the suffering that makes the fight necessary and the joy that makes it worth fighting for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rivermouth about?
A 2023 Indie Next List Pick
A Summer/Fall 2023 Adult Indies Introduce Pick
A 2023 Roxanne Gay Audacious Book Club Pick
Winner of the 2022 Whiting Creative Nonfiction Grant
In this powerful and deeply felt memoir of translation, storytelling, and borders, Alejandra Oliva, a Mexican American translator and immigrant justice activist, offers a powerful chronical of her experience interpreting at the US-Mexico border.
In Rivermouth, Oliva focuses on the physical spaces that make up different phases of immigration, looking at how language and opportunity move through each of them: from the river as the waterway that separates the US and Mexico, to the table as the place over which Oliva prepares asylum seekers for their Credible Fear Interviews, and finally, to the wall as the behemoth imposition that runs along America’s southernmost border.
With lush prose and perceptive insight, Oliva encourages readers to approach the painful questions that this crisis poses with equal parts critique and compassion. By which metrics are we measuring who “deserves” American citizenship? What is the point of humanitarian systems that distribute aid conditionally? What do we owe to our most disenfranchised?
As investigative and analytical as she is meditative and introspective, sharp as she is lyrical, and incisive as she is compassionate, seasoned interpreter Alejandra Oliva argues for a better world while guiding us through the suffering that makes the fight necessary and the joy that makes it worth fighting for.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Rivermouth?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social and ethical issues > Migration, immigration and emigration
Where can I read a sample of Rivermouth?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781662601699
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Rivermouth?
Alejandra Oliva
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Rivermouth is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781662601699) and paperback(ISBN 9781662602672) and ebook(ISBN 9781662601705)
Where can I buy Rivermouth online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Rivermouth from below
Where can I buy Rivermouth?