Homeunbound is a compelling personal narrative that delves into the multifaceted experiences of migrationand cultural adaptation. The author chronicles the life journeys of migrants, expats, students and refugees to the town of Enschede, in the East of the Netherlands.
Having spent half of her life living in various countries across the world, Bianca Soria, born and raised in Italy, has personally experienced the emotional and psychological impact of migration. Having herselfquestioned her sense of identity, belonging and the concept of home, she decided to explore these themes through a series of interviews. Powerful stories emerged, and the book Homeunbound was born.
From the initial excitement and hope mingled with the fear of the unknown, to the challenges of adapting to Dutch culture and the enduring sense of displacement and longing for home, these experiences highlight the resilience and resourcefulness of human beings, sharing stories of community support and solidarity thatprovide a lifeline in times of hardship.
The book adopts multimodal storytelling by relying on the images of Dutch photographer Annabel Jeuring. While offering a unique interpretation of the stories she captures , Annabel’s portrayal of people’s lives and environments is authentic. She takes the reader into the migrants’ subjective realities stimulating emotional and intimate connections. The powerful interplay of visual and verbal language adds depth and appeal to the stories, instigating an open and ongoing dialogue between images and written word.
To say it in Bianca’s own words, “… Homeunbound is about how some people have managed to soften thedemarcation line between who they are and where they are. It’s about looking at how human beings deal with their sense of dislocation and the difficulties that come with it. It’s about how individuals work through these challenges, so that they are able to forge connections and put down new roots.”
Homeunbound is for sale at Frida Book Cafe in Enschede, or online Homeunbound sales for Netherlands and Europe.
For deliveries outside of Europe, to contact the author directly or to organize book promotion events, please email homeunboundorg@gmail.com.
Hardcover, 128 pages
€ 29.95