Mary Efendi's first novel tells the story of Maryam, a young woman from Baku, Azerbaijan, who is thrown into the chaos of immigrant life when her mother decides to emigrate to the United States.  

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Efendi, with nostalgia and introspection, carries us through the highs and lows of her protagonists's early years and treats us to a world populated with real life characters from the streets of Chicago. Efendi skillfullypaints a tender pricture of home that will appeal to immigrants from many countries.

 

While first a story of immigration, I Sat Alone by the Gate is a powerful story of a young woman coming into her own.