The Refugee Ocean
By Pauls Toutonghi
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Table of Contents
About The Book
Two refugees find that their lives are inextricably linked—over time and distance—by the perils of history and a single haunting piece of music in this “breathtaking and simultaneously heartbreaking” (The Montecito Journal) story.
Born in Beirut in 1922, Marguerite Toutounghi lives a life of loss and sacrifice. She dreams of traveling Europe and studying music at the Conservatoire de Paris but her family—and her society—hold her back. When she meets the son of a Cuban tobacco farmer at a formal dance, love transforms her life. Together with him, she flees across the Atlantic Ocean. She’s hoping for a new beginning, she finds revolution and chaos.
Over fifty years later, Naïm Rahil is a teenage refugee from Aleppo, Syria. A former piano prodigy who struggles to thrive in America—and who has lost part of his hand in the war—he dreams of a simple normal life.
Moving from Aleppo on the brink of civil war, to Lebanon in the late 1940s, to Havana during the Cuban Revolution, to the suburbs of Washington, DC, The Refugee Ocean “is an exquisite…poignant, and layered novel” (Eleanor Shearer, author of River Sing Me Home) that grapples with what it means to be an immigrant, shows how wounds can heal, and highlights the role of music and art in the resilience of the human spirit.
Born in Beirut in 1922, Marguerite Toutounghi lives a life of loss and sacrifice. She dreams of traveling Europe and studying music at the Conservatoire de Paris but her family—and her society—hold her back. When she meets the son of a Cuban tobacco farmer at a formal dance, love transforms her life. Together with him, she flees across the Atlantic Ocean. She’s hoping for a new beginning, she finds revolution and chaos.
Over fifty years later, Naïm Rahil is a teenage refugee from Aleppo, Syria. A former piano prodigy who struggles to thrive in America—and who has lost part of his hand in the war—he dreams of a simple normal life.
Moving from Aleppo on the brink of civil war, to Lebanon in the late 1940s, to Havana during the Cuban Revolution, to the suburbs of Washington, DC, The Refugee Ocean “is an exquisite…poignant, and layered novel” (Eleanor Shearer, author of River Sing Me Home) that grapples with what it means to be an immigrant, shows how wounds can heal, and highlights the role of music and art in the resilience of the human spirit.
Reading Group Guide
THE REFUGEE OCEAN
Pauls Toutonghi
Discussion Questions
1. How do Marguerite and Naïm’s experiences as refugees from different regions compare? How do their stories reflect the broader immigrant experience?
2. How did Marguerite’s journey differ from — or mirror — the experiences of modern-day refugees like Naïm?
3. What does music symbolize in the journeys of Naïm and Marguerite?
4. Consider the role of family and community in the lives of Marguerite and Naïm. How do these relationships shape their identities and decisions?
5. Naïm is a former piano prodigy who has lost part of his hand in the war. How does his struggle with the role of music in his life connect to the broader theme of resilience in the face of adversity?
6. Discuss the theme of revolution and chaos in Marguerite’s life during her time in Havana. How do these events shape her identity and her journey?
7. How does the author use the various settings of Aleppo, Lebanon, Havana, and Washington, D.C. to enhance the narrative and highlight the characters’ journeys?
8. The Refugee Ocean explores the concept of wounds healing over time. Discuss how the characters in the story undergo personal growth and healing as they adapt to new environments and circumstances.
9. Discuss the idea of a “new beginning” in the context of Marguerite and Naïm’s stories. What does it mean to them, and how does it evolve over the course of the story?
10. Reflect on the ending of the book. What did you think of the eventual convergence of the characters’ experiences? Did the themes explored in the novel leave a lasting impact on you as a reader?
Pauls Toutonghi
Discussion Questions
1. How do Marguerite and Naïm’s experiences as refugees from different regions compare? How do their stories reflect the broader immigrant experience?
2. How did Marguerite’s journey differ from — or mirror — the experiences of modern-day refugees like Naïm?
3. What does music symbolize in the journeys of Naïm and Marguerite?
4. Consider the role of family and community in the lives of Marguerite and Naïm. How do these relationships shape their identities and decisions?
5. Naïm is a former piano prodigy who has lost part of his hand in the war. How does his struggle with the role of music in his life connect to the broader theme of resilience in the face of adversity?
6. Discuss the theme of revolution and chaos in Marguerite’s life during her time in Havana. How do these events shape her identity and her journey?
7. How does the author use the various settings of Aleppo, Lebanon, Havana, and Washington, D.C. to enhance the narrative and highlight the characters’ journeys?
8. The Refugee Ocean explores the concept of wounds healing over time. Discuss how the characters in the story undergo personal growth and healing as they adapt to new environments and circumstances.
9. Discuss the idea of a “new beginning” in the context of Marguerite and Naïm’s stories. What does it mean to them, and how does it evolve over the course of the story?
10. Reflect on the ending of the book. What did you think of the eventual convergence of the characters’ experiences? Did the themes explored in the novel leave a lasting impact on you as a reader?
About The Author
K.B. Dixon
Pauls Toutonghi
Pauls Toutonghi’s parents were both refugees to the United States. He has been awarded a Pushcart Prize, an Andrew W. Mellon research fellowship, a Fulbright Grant, and a residency at Hawthornden Castle. He has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Outside Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Granta, Tin House, and other periodicals. He’s married to the novelist, Peyton Marshall. He lives in Oregon, where he teaches at Lewis and Clark College.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 8, 2024)
- Length: 352 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668007440
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Refugee Ocean Trade Paperback 9781668007440
- Author Photo (jpg): Pauls Toutonghi K.B. Dixon(0.1 MB)
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