Fly away, pigeon

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"Fly Away, Pigeon" tells the poignant story of a family caught between emigration and immigration, offering vivid depictions of the former Yugoslavia and present-day Switzerland. Melinda Nadj Abonji's lyrical prose shifts between registers as characters navigate multiple languages and cultures. The narrative intertwines the history of three generations of the Kocsis family with their challenging journey of assimilation. Originally part of Serbia's Hungarian-speaking minority in the Vojvodina, the Kocsis family emigrated to Switzerland in the early 1970s, arriving with only the word "work." After years of arduous labor, both legal and illegal, they finally secured visas for their daughters, Ildiko and Nomi. As new Swiss citizens, they watch helplessly as their relatives are affected by the Balkan War. Despite their efforts to adapt and the support of Swiss friends, they face prejudice from their new community, and generational tensions are heightened by cultural differences. With a blend of tough-minded nostalgia and compassionate realism, the novel reveals the pain and loss inherent in even the most successful immigrant narratives. It captures the local histories of two distinct communities while addressing universal human dilemmas.