I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert by Shugri Said Salh. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Shugri Said Salh for letting me be a part of this Blog Tour.
Author: Shugri Said Salh
Published by: Algonquin Books
Released: August 3, 2021
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Synopsis: “I am the last nomad.
My ancestors traveled the East African desert in search of grazing land
for their livestock, and the most precious resource of all—water. When
they exhausted the land and the clouds disappeared from the horizon,
their accumulated ancestral knowledge told them where to move next to
find greener pastures. They loaded their huts and belongings onto their
most obedient camels and herded their livestock to a new home.”
When Shugri Said Salh was six years old, she was sent to live with her
nomadic grandmother in the desert, away from the city of Mogadishu.
Leaving behind her house, her parents, her father’s multiple wives, and
her many siblings, she would become the last of her family to learn a
once-common way of life. The desert held many risks, from drought and
hunger to the threat of predators, but it also held beauty, innovation,
and centuries of tradition. Shugri grew to love the freedom of roaming
with her goats and the feeling of community in learning the courtship
rituals, cooking songs, and poems of her people. She was even proud to
face the rite of passage that all “respectable” girls undergo in
Somalia, a brutal female circumcision.
In time, Shugri would
return to live with her siblings in the city. Ultimately, the family was
forced to flee as refugees in the face of a civil war—first to Kenya,
then to Canada, and finally to the United States. There, Shugri would
again find herself a nomad in a strange land, learning to navigate
everything from escalators to homeless shelters to, ultimately,
marriage, parenthood, and nursing school. And she would approach each
step of her journey with resilience and a liveliness that is all her
own.
At once dramatic and witty, The Last Nomad tells a story of tradition, change, and hope. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
My Thoughts: This was a really fascinating story that I enjoyed reading. Shugri's life was really interesting to read about.
Shugri's life living as a nomad with her grandmother was such an eye opening story. The strength and resilience that goes into living a life like that is something to behold. I also really enjoyed how she decided to document a way of life that is disappearing. I think it's a great idea to preserve that history and pass it on. Shugri went through a lot in life, through different lifestyles and countries, and she persevered through it all.
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was a great nonfiction memoir. I feel like I learned a lot and it was a very engaging read. I'd recommend it.
Shugri Said Salh was born in the Somali desert. In 1992, she immigrated to North America after civil war broke out in her home country. She attended nursing school at Pacific Union College and graduated with honors. Although this is her first book, Salh has been storytelling since she could talk. From her grandmother and the nomadic community in which she was raised, she heard stories and learned of their power to entertain, teach, and transform. When she isn't writing or telling stories, she works as an infusion nurse. She lives in Sonoma County with her husband and three children.
Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert by Shugri Said Salh. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Shugri Said Salh for letting me be a part of the blog tour and providing me with an early review copy. I'd recommend giving this one a read.
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