Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali is a Somali-Canadian writer.[1][2][3] Ali wrote his first book, a memoir, Angry Queer Somali Boy, while living in a shelter for homeless men in Toronto.[4]
Early life
Ali was born in a traditional Somali family in Somalia in 1985.[5] His estranged father took him from his mother when he was young, and Ali then lived with his father, step-mother, and step-sisters in Abu Dhabi.[4] His father then lied to apply for refugee status in The Netherlands.
While still a youth, his family immigrated to Canada.[4] Ali developed problems with over-using drugs and alcohol.[6]
Writing career
The CBC described his book in an article on important books on mental health.[2]
The Advocate described his book in an article on "The Best LGBTQ Memoirs of 2019".[7]
The CBC placed his book on their recommended reading list for the winter of 2020.[3]
References
- ^
"16 powerful memoirs to give this holiday season". CBC Books. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
Angry Queer Somali Boy combines Ali's personal story with the history of and commentary on the places he's called home: Somalia, Europe and Canada.
- ^ a b
"15 Canadian books to read about mental health". CBC Books. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
Angry Queer Somali Boy is a memoir by Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali, a young man who left Somalia, spent time in the Netherlands and ended up homeless in Canada.
- ^ a b
"The CBC Books winter reading list: 40 books to read to kick off 2020". CBC Books. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
Canada was the promised land, but when he didn't fit in and life was more difficult than he expected, Ali turned to drugs and partying before finding his way.
- ^ a b c
Hasan Namir (October 2019). "Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali". Quill & Quire. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
Ali spent the period from March 2017 to July 2019 writing Angry Queer Somali Boy, while living in a Toronto men's shelter. He says that whenever he had to pause for treatment, his editors and publishers 'were super understanding and supportive.'
- ^ "Mohamed Abdulkarim Ali". uofrpress.ca. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ "Exile, addiction and racism: what it means to be a gay, Muslim immigrant | CBC Radio". CBC. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- ^
"The Best LGBTQ Memoirs of 2019". The Advocate. 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
Angry Queer Somali Boy is interwoven with a contextual background of world history and sociopolitical commentary on both the East and West, from the vantage point of a gay Muslim immigrant.
This page was last edited on 8 January 2024, at 22:00