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I Don't Want to Talk About Home

A Migrant’s Search for Belonging

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

'I carry my troubled homeland within me; I hide it like a crime.'

Growing up in deeply conservative Saudi Arabia, Suad Aldarra felt stifled. The daughter of Syrian parents, she railed against the extreme strictures placed on women in Saudi society at the time and the rising prejudice her family faced as migrants. When the opportunity arose to study software engineering at Damascus University, she jumped at the chance to move to the city she loved for a degree of freedom she'd never known.

But when the war started, everything changed. Suddenly Suad and her new husband Housam were thrown into a world of relentless pressure and fled to post-Arab Spring Egypt. Suad's degree in engineering was the saving grace that allowed her to travel to Ireland on a working visa. Yet reaching safety came at a price...

I Don't Want to Talk About Home is not a memoir about war and destruction. It's not about camps or boats. It's about the enduring love for a home that ceased to exist and how to build a life out of the rubble.

With great warmth and insight, Suad writes about those left behind paper borders, the sacrifices made, and the parts of yourself you lose and find when integrating into a new world.

©2022 Suad Aldarra (P)2022 Penguin Audio Activists Cultural & Regional Europe Politics & Activism Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Middle East Technology War Africa Saudi Arabia

Critic reviews

"Powerful, fascinating and deeply moving—this book pushes aside our lazy images of human migration and refugees. I loved it." (Roddy Doyle author of Love)

"Full of heart, honesty and hard-learnt wisdom... a captivating journey across continents, history and culture. I literally couldn't put this book down." (Jan Carson author of The Raptures)
All stars
Most relevant
Really visceral and honest loved it all. Well written, best of luck suad, thanks again

Excellent honest book

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I really didn't want it to finish as I was enjoying. The narrator was really good as well.

I enjoyed every bit

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Just finished listening, feeling grateful for this sincere and inspirational story. Cried along with the bad things happening, and couldn't stop smiling when something good was finally made possible for Suad and Housam. Nadia Albina's brilliant narration makes this journey even more deep and touching.

Touching story, brilliant narration

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This book should be read by everyone. A tragic tale interwoven with hope and honesty. A beautiful read, and leaves you feeling like the world may stop burning soon.

Heartbreaking and Inspiring

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