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Life as a Unicorn
- A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between
- Narrated by: Amrou Al-Kadhi
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
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Life as a Unicorn
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Summary
A heart-breaking and hilarious memoir about the author’s fight to be true to themself.
Winner of A Somerset Maugham Award.
Shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2020.
From a god-fearing Muslim boy enraptured with their mother, to a vocal, queer drag queen estranged from their family, this is a heart-breaking and hilarious memoir about the author’s fight to be true to themself....
Amrou knew they were gay when, aged 10, they first laid eyes on Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. It was love at first sight. Amrou’s parents weren’t so happy....
From that moment on, Amrou began searching in all the wrong places for ways to make their divided self whole again. Unicorn is a hilarious yet devastating story of a search for belonging, following the painful and surprising process of transforming from a god-fearing Muslim boy to a queer drag queen, strutting the stage in seven-inch heels and saying the things nobody else dares to....
Critic reviews
"It should be [shared] far and wide." (Ian McKellen)
"This book is as rare, fabulous and beautiful as the creature it is named for. A masterpiece of psychology, a major study of Islam and a definitive study of drag, it made me cry, it made me rage and it made me hoot. Full of anger, insight and philosophy, along with some cracking great gags, this is a magnificent and essential document of the 21st century. It moved my heart and soul." (Russell T. Davies)
"A heartbreaking, healing book. it will make you better." (Simon Amstell)
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What listeners say about Life as a Unicorn
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- liz
- 30-01-21
Brilliant
Uplifting, articulate, well written and truly inspiring to anyone. Was recommended to me by a friend and I have since recommended it to others!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ThatPersonOverThere
- 26-12-20
What a story!
I need a sit down. What a ride. Has to be listened to be believed.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Mika
- 04-07-20
WOW!
"Unicorn" is both heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time.
This astounding memoir gives a voice seldom heard, of a Queer, Drag Queen Muslim non-binary person. It managed to break my heart one moment and the next, swell with happiness.
I cannot stress enough how important this read is.
TW: homophobia, sexual assault.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anthony
- 28-10-22
Interesting
A good real story of a gay Muslim you may think boring . It's not, it's good.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ragne
- 03-06-21
Funny and heartbreaking
Gave me a new way to look at drag. It also shows the reader a glimpse of the complexities of the feelings many religious lgbtqi+ experience as well as Middle Eastern immigrants. And wonderful descriptions and thoughts around OCD.
It even contains life lessons for me, a white cis-het woman.
Amrou is honest, open, and a very reflected writer.
The only small thing, not even negative really, is that their voice is so relaxing it difficult to keep focused when listening for long periods (hours).
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Milie
- 06-03-21
🤯🤯😍😍😍
Pfuuu, where to start. Amrou is going to take you on a wonderful journey. This book should be read in schools. This is also one of many books that any parent should read. In case whether you are Muslim or not is irrelevant. Christianity has deeply rootes homophobic thoughts as well and so does many religions as we live in a patriarchal and white supremacist society. This book is a realm of fresh air. It will open new areas in your mind where so much is possible, so much love and compassion resides in these hidden spaces. Read the book or listen to it. I particularly enjoyed listening to Amrou telling his own story
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-10-21
Must listen
An absolute essential read/listen for any and all LGBTQ+ humans and allies alike!
Amrou narrates this story expertly…as they should being that it’s their own…with the perfect amount of wit, charm, intellect and above all, brutal honesty. I feel I have been able to take something special from this story and that is the reassurance that while growing up queer in a straight world will do just about everything possible to f**k us up but no matter how many times the straight vernacular smacks us down, our unique sense of humanity is the reward for perseverance.
Thank you Amrou. I have just ordered a physical copy of the book from a queer indie retailer to further support this essential queer read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Waggy From Derby
- 23-06-21
difficulties growing up a gay muslim
Well I grew up a in a white, straight Christian family in the 1950s and 60s.
I identify wit Amrou in so many ways. I stopped believing in God but unlike him I am still a total atheist. Like him, I was going to be the person I wanted to be, not conform to the white heterosexual norm. My family had to change if they wanted me in my life, many did eventually accept me for who I am. But there are still those who don't get it. Well it's their problem not mine.
Thankfully the world has changed and homophobia is against the law. I have been in a gay relationship for 38 years and we have helped to change society's view to help the next generations of LGBTQ+. Well done Amrou for coming through it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- t
- 17-11-19
Persevere
It was a slow start, and the narration by the author was at times irritating and overly self conscious. I think a version with a narrator able to take a step back may be better. That said, from the self involved youth blossoms an intelligent, compassionate and brave adult. I’m glad I stayed with the book to the end, there is something to be learned from it beyond one person’s story, and that may be more apparent with a different reader
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Isla Mackenzie
- 22-01-21
Beautiful story
An amazing story written by an amazing person. The insights and stories he gave about his childhood were gut wrenching but I am so glad that he told it. It touches on a perspective that I have never heard from much and has changed my perspective on so many things. Couldn’t recommend it more
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