Books in their suitcases: Leisure reading in the lives of Russian-speaking immigrants in Canada

Abstract

This article investigates the role of leisure reading in the acculturation process of immigrants in a new country. It analyzes empirical data collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews with a sample of Russian-speaking immigrant readers residing in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada. It traces the positive and negative roles of leisure reading in immigrant lives and the influence of reading on altering or supporting specific acculturation patterns. It investigates the significance of leisure reading in coping with culture shock, illuminating the humorous side of challenging situations, sharing the immigration experience of others, re-evaluating the national cultural heritage, stabilizing identity, learning about a new country, improving English-language skills, and compensating for the deficiencies in immigrant life. Informed by an innovative theoretical combination of reading and immigration scholarships, this article reveals the potential of understanding the experience of immigration through leisure reading.