First published 2011
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born activist, wrestles with the high cost of freedom. Estranged from her family and country, she faces relentless criticism from many Muslims, including women, and round-the-clock security due to death threats. As she reconciles with her disowned father and grapples with the conflicts between heart and mind, she examines Islam's obsession with virginity and honor codes. Weaving memoir and reportage, Hirsi Ali confronts the ignorance that often clouds debates on Islam, sharing her experiences, doubts, and insights with disarming honesty. Her struggle to forge an independent life in the face of immense personal and cultural pressures forms the emotional core of this powerful personal narrative.
Genres: politics, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, islam, womens-rights, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, social-commentary
Setting: Europe, Muslim Women, Nederland, Netherlands, United States, Verenigde Staten
320 pages · Paperback · Atria Books
Content warnings: abuse, violence