Home (Paperback)

Prompted by a class reunion, this is a tale of homecoming after extended absence which engages with the archaeology of the self in the context of estrangement and belonging. Having taken the decision to emigrate decades earlier, Tompa's unnamed protagonist is caught between two worlds, navigating a journey from one homeland to another, and suddenly facing an upsurge of revelations that have a strong emotional impact. Home takes in landmark events from the past, starting with the youthful ease with which the protagonist had set off on an adventure of a lifetime, and continuing with the personal stories of former classmates - some also scattered around the world, and others who decided to stay put. Home negotiates diverse orders of experience and presumed difference without being judgmental, and attention is being drawn to ongoing change over time - be it in the lives of those who opted to stay or to leave.