The past week has been a difficult one to swallow. Personally, I strive to keep my opinions to myself, be that political or religious, but after recent events, it’s near impossible to stay quiet. While not an expert on immigration, I understand the difficulties involved, especially when considering the safety of an entire country, but to ban entrance when refugees already face a rigorous vetting process is extreme. It’s especially hard-hitting after reading The Lightless Sky by Gulwali Passarlay, a true story of a twelve-year-old refugee’s escape from Afghanistan. His story leaves a remarkable impression: the endless months spent hungry, facing imprisonment, cruelty, and the sheer terror of not knowing what was next, if he’d finally find a way to reach England, and above all, be allowed to stay, to start over. His story isn’t singular, in fact he’s one of millions searching for safety, risking it all for a life without persecution. Considering the numbers, The United States admits such a small percentage of all refugees, unlike Turkey, Germany, or France – where so many live below the poverty line in camps such as the Calais Jungle. As a country of immigrants, it’s our responsibility to help as many as we can, and as safely as we can – surely, there’s an answer to our security woes, but ordering an immigration ban isn’t it.

This week I’ll be seeking comfort from a suite of audiobooks including Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden – both perfectly timed library holds! I’ve already started The Bear and the Nightingale in print, but I can’t resist such a promising audiobook. In print, I’m still working on Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeliene Thien – the story slowed around the halfway mark, but hopefully it’ll pick up soon!

What are you reading?