An interesting story, although not what I expected from the description. I love learning and working with new languages - sometimes I wish I were a translator myself - so I was very eager to get a glimpse of the inner workings of someone who not only does it for a living, but also does it in very unfamiliar territory. And those parts of the book did not disappoint me, but unfortunately they were dominated by the more traditional "memoir" parts.

Don't get me wrong, Linda Murphy Marsha has had a fascinating life and is a capable writer, I was just less interested in her journey of self-discovery than in the linguistic minutiae.

Thanks to the publisher, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Marshall had lost her language by 1985. She was a midwestern housewife with 2 kids and a PhD but felt lost and stifled.
She defied convention and made some major life changes to fulfill her ambitions and keep her languages alive.
The author is a very accomplished linguist and served a lot of time in Africa during the 1990s and early 2000s.
I never dreamt a translator’s life would be so adventuresome and I’m sure her memoir is sure to inspire others.
If nothing else her book is a testament to what women can aspire and accomplish.

Linda Murphy Marshall's memoir, Immersion, is an engaging journey of self-discovery and resilience. As a linguist, Marshall's exceptional language skills take her on thrilling adventures across the globe, from unstable regions to active war zones. Her story is not just about overcoming personal struggles and low expectations from her family but also about finding her true self through her love for languages.

Marshall's writing is insightful and heartfelt, making her experiences relatable and inspiring. While some parts felt a bit detailed, her captivating storytelling and unique perspective as a government linguist make this memoir a compelling read. If you enjoy memoirs that blend personal growth with adventure, Immersion is worth picking up.

I find memoirs tricky; they are personal, limited in scope and style, and what life events or perspectives a reader finds engaging is entirely subjective. At least, I pick the memoirs I read after a good research because I read them for their insights.

Linda Murphy Marshall is a master linguist whose work and skills took her to different places, both literally and metaphorically.
She speaks Xhosa, and Sotho, and worked for the US federal government, often finding herself in dangerous and risky situations.

Moreover, she challenged the norms of her upbringing and leads a fulfilling life thanks to her choices and instincts.

This is not a political book, but working for the government, a government, comes with its challenges. I would have still appreciated Murphy Marshall’s work thanks to her competence, intelligence, skills and good-heart if I learnt that we support entirely different political stances.
She is unapologetically proud of her work, writes with an open heart and mind, and reflects on the past critically. How resourceful she is obvious from the start.

As someone who is interested in languages and who has experience in translation and a tiny bit of experience in interpretation, I wondered what the book was going to offer. The writer is not only a linguist but also a competent storytelling. Her writing flows easily. The book is very well-structured and the prose is amazing. It is witty, insightful, and to the point. I think this book was a perfect length, but I would be happy to read more by this author, so please hurry up, and publish shorter pieces too (as they are often quicker to publish). I feel that she has more stories in her.

A couple of the writer’s experiences resonated with me plenty. No spoilers. Yet, even when she was talking about an experience I have never had and never will, I felt engaged and informed. How she stood up for herself, and challenged the expectations was inspiring.