Angry Queer Somali Boy: A Complicated Memoir (The Regina Collection, 14) by Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali

Description

"Writing from a homeless shelter in downtown Toronto, Mohamed "Mo" Ali chronicles how he ended up there in this powerful and often irreverent memoir of exile, addiction, and racism. Kidnapped by his father on the eve of Somalia's societal implosion, Ali was taken first to the Netherlands by his stepmother, and then on to Canada. With its promise of freedom, opportunity, and multiculturalism, his new home seemed to offer a new lease on life. But unable to fit in, he turned to partying and show more drugs. Interwoven with world history and sociopolitical commentary on Somalia, Canada, and Europe, the story of this gay Muslim immigrant is told with tenderness in a refreshing and welcome new voice. Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali lives in Toronto. This is his first book."-- show less

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Member Recommendations

Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai

librorumamans An account of a young man displaced from a failed state and a failed family, grappling with both his ethnic identity and his sexual identity. Ali's memoir and Selvadurai's novel each evocatively depict the extreme difficulty of being an immigrant of colour trying to establish a life in Toronto.

Complete Recommendations

Member Reviews

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1 review

Wishbear83 117 reviews

This was a hard book to read although not as graphic as I was expecting. I liked the straight forward language used. The writing style made it a quick read but the subject matter - the abuse, the upbringing, the legacy shadowing Mohamed as an adult - was by no means a lite read. I hope he continues to get help for his addictions and demons. Thank you for sharing your story.

Dec 17, 2024

Ratings

librorumamans 84 reviews

½