SHORTLISTED FOR THE AN POST IRISH BOOK AWARDS SUNDAY INDEPENDENT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
THIS HOSTEL LIFE tells the stories of migrant women in a hidden Ireland. From a day in the life of women queuing for basic supplies in an Irish direct provision hostel to a young black woman's depiction of everyday racism in Ireland, Melatu Uche Okorie's nuanced writing shines a light on the injustice of the direct provision system and on the insidious racism experienced by migrant women living in Ireland. Another story, set in a Nigeria of the past, tells of a woman's life destroyed by an ancient superstition and her fierce determination to carry on, a quality Okorie believes is universally shared by women.
An essay by Liam Thornton (UCD School of Law) is also included, explaining the Irish legal position in relation to asylum seekers and direct provision.
Praise for This Hostel Life
'Melatu Uche Okorie has important things to say - and she does it quite brilliantly' Roddy Doyle
'A landmark book by an important new voice in Irish writing' Emilie Pine
'A marvellous book' Sebastian Barry
'I loved them' Marian Keyes