Draft:I Don't Want to Talk About Home

I Don't Want to Talk About Home (2022) is a memoir by Syrian-born author Suad Aldarra. The book was published by Penguin Random House, and was shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards under the Ireland Biography of the Year 2022 category.

Genre
Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir.

Synopsis
The book chronicles Aldarra's life journey across continents, grappling with identity and belonging. It details her upbringing in conservative Saudi Arabia, a return to her family's homeland of Syria for university studies, and the forced displacement due to the war. Aldarra recounts her escape to Ireland and the challenges of integrating into a new culture while navigating the complexities of loss and self-discovery.

"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, building a life out of the rubble, and the parts of yourself you lose and find when integrating into a new world."

Critical Reception
"I Don't Want to Talk About Home" has received positive reviews, praised for its honest and insightful exploration of migration, cultural identity, and resilience.

Louise O'Neill, author of "Idol," describes the book as "illuminating, vivid, and insightful".

Roddy Doyle, author of "The Commitments," finds the book to be "powerful, fascinating and deeply moving".