Not From Here by Leah Lax

In 2007, librettist Leah Lax was asked to write an opera about the lives of local immigrants in Houston, TX. She had to locate people who had come from different countries and find a way to get them to open up about their lives. Once she had collected their stories, she then had to somehow develop a script that was meant to be performed for an audience. And thus, The Refuge came to be. Now about 17 years later, she’s sharing her experiences with this project. Not From Here: The Song of America is a nonfiction, personal account of how Lax uncovered these incredible journeys and discovered new connections to her community. 

Book

The book’s subjects come from all over the world – El Salvador, Vietnam, Ukraine, Pakistan, India, and others. And while Lax spoke with over a hundred people, seven of them are at the center of this collection. One woman fled El Salvador as a teenager to escape death threats after she witnessed the gang who killed her mother. Another left Vietnam as a 13-year-old by accident – on a boat with no shoes. A couple of newlyweds from an arranged marriage moved to America for work, and had to adjust to their new lives and new country together. An entire family left Nigeria due to threats from their own government. Through all of these stories, plus brief yet impactful statements from others she spoke to, readers get a tiny glimpse into what America means for millions of people. 

Review

Lax treats their stories with the care, attention, and admiration they deserve. As the reader, I couldn’t believe the chain of events that led these people to flee their homes and seek safety and security in America. And how, ironically, the situations they fled were caused or facilitated by the country they were fleeing to. I have never felt so proud yet so disappointed in my country as I have while reading Not From Here. This book provides the insight that so many of us need right now. 

Leah Lax joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how this project came to be, and how important immigration is to America. Keep an ear out for the interview in an upcoming episode and preorder Not From Here: The Song of America, available March 28.