
Sister Na’ima B. Roberts has done it again, masha’Allah! In her first storied novel, “From Somalia, With Love”, Na’ima tells the tale of a young Somalian woman growing up in East London, after emigrating from her beloved homeland. The story illustrates her upbringing, her love for her faith, family and traditions, as well as the triumphs and obstacles she endures along the way.
A lot of today’s young Muslims, regardless of their ethnicity and cultural background can relate to Safia, the central character in the book.
Aside from her faith, Safia’s life centers around her love for her family. And after a long absence, her father is found to be alive in Somalia, amid the war and chaos affecting her homeland.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone as you will get a sense of understanding and relation from reading it. The story in the book brings about hope, love, gratefulness and deep appreciation for the true quintessence of life. Below are the sites of where you can purchase the book from as well as a synopsis of the book.
From Somalia, With Love is available online in the UK so far. The release date in Canada is set for December 10, 2008 via Indigo Chapters; and in the United States, on December 28, 2008 on Amazon.com. You can make a pre-order of the book on both sites.
United Kingdom: [Amazon.co.uk] http://www.amazon.co.uk/Somalia-Love-Naima-B-Robert/dp/1845078314
Canada: [Won’t be published in Canada until December 10, 2008. It will then be available on INDIGO/CHAPTERS. You can pre-order it now] http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/From-Somalia-With-Love-NaIma-B-Robert/9781845078317-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527From+Somalia+with+Love%2527&sterm=From+Somalia+with+Love+-+Books
United States: [Won’t be available on AMAZON.COM till December 28, 2008; accessible for pre-order now]
http://www.amazon.com/Somalia-Love-Naima-B-Robert/dp/1845078314/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213973450&sr=8-4
For more information, you can log on to the book’s official site: http://www.somalialove.com/
Synopsis
“My name is Safia Dirie. My family has always been my mum, Hoyo, and my two older brothers, Ahmed and Abdullahi. I don’t really remember Somalia - I’m an East London girl, through and through. But now Abo, my father, is coming from Somalia to live with us, after 12 long years. How am I going to cope?” Safia knows that there will be changes ahead but nothing has prepared her for the reality of dealing with Abo’s cultural expectations, her favourite brother Ahmed’s wild ways, and the temptation of her cousin Firdous’s party-girl lifestyle. Safia must come to terms with who she is — as a Muslim, as a teenager, as a poet, as a friend, but most of as a daughter to a father she has never known. Safia must find her own place in the world, so both father and daughter can start to build the relationship they both long for. From Somalia With Love is one girl’s quest to discover who she is — a story that, while rooted in Somali and Muslim life, strikes a chord with young people everywhere.