The Edinburgh book group met on the 26th March and 14th May 2025 to introduce, read and discuss volume 1 of the refugee tales.
On the 26th March David Herd joined us to talk about the work of the Gatwick Detainees Group and introduce the book. He gave an interesting and insightful introduction, raising everyone’s awareness of this important issue. On the 14th May Stephen Klein joined us to give his perspective from working as a volunteer. We raised a one off donation of 100 pounds.
Here are some thoughts from the book group members on both reading the book and our discussions:
" I found the migrants' stories in the book very powerful, painful and shaming.”
”It was interesting to have the different migrant experiences told through the lens of different writers with different styles. It helped the reader to see each migrant story as unique despite the obvious universality of their plight as they experienced danger and hardship to seek a better life away from war, repression, exploitation and abuse.”
”The awfulness of detention in the UK was a real eye opener. I found the Detainee's Tale incredibly moving and powerful as related by Ali Smith. I think having such a good writer telling of experiences such as that of an exploited Nigerian child's journey starting at 6 years old harvesting cocoa, plantain and bananas, suffering beatings and finally escaping at 21 made it very clear what hell migrants go through to try for a better life. The clandestine entry to the UK, the hope that the Home Office will help, then arrest and detention. The claustrophobia, lack of air, banging iron doors, lack of care or medicine. Visitors also experiencing the constant locking and unlocking of doors, the deliberate clanking of keys, the continuous bright lighting and being checked over and over again.”
”It's unbearable to think that decent young people who've had a poor start in life, go through hell over a long time to try and get a better one, work hard, do their best and then suddenly find themselves rapidly processed to be rejected and put on a plane.”
”It was a very worthwhile read”
”It was a most interesting if sobering discussion and having Steve there added another dimension as he talked about his everyday work with the refugees and the extent to which he was able to make a difference.”
Our discussion, to use the time honoured phrase was wide ranging and to pull out a few points doesn’t do it justice. But here are a few:
The stories illustrated the huge power of storytelling in humanising and making individual each migrant and his story. Facts and figures came alive.
Using the Canterbury Tales format was an extremely effective literary device. It offered a sort of parallel journey and experience though with different histories and places.
We considered the importance of supporting refugees at an individual level in detention centres but also the need to tackle the problem at a more strategic level. Again Steve helped here by explaining their more political work and how they were working to empower refugees to ‘walk alongside them’ in dealing with politicians etc.
What became horribly apparent from our discussion was the senseless and unnecessary cruelty and inhumanity in the current system. The UK must do better.