Welcome to Litsy!

A hijabi queer Muslim woman shares her experience of integrating her devout faith with her queerness as she comes of age in South Asia, then the Middle East, and finally settles in the United States. Her particular intersection of identities gives her a unique point of view. She also examines stories from the Quran in the book, drawing parallels with her own experience and offering fascinating insights into her life as a queer woman of faith.

This is a beautifully written memoir, and an enlightening insight into the LGBTQ+ Muslim community we're often led to believe doesn't exist. Lamya describes moving to the Middle East as a child then moving to the USA, how she draws strength from her faith, the pitfalls of dating/'not-dating', and of finding community where she can be her true self.

This is such a powerful memoir—written under a pseudonym, Lamya narrates her experiences as a queer Muslim woman, from her childhood in the Middle East to her life as a student and young adult in New York City. She recontextualizes stories from the Quran, finding strength and hope in her faith as well as in the queer community around her. So many of her readings & interpretations resonated with me in my own journey with Christian scripture. ⬇️

One of the reasons I love reading memoirs is to learn about other‘s life experiences and culture. That was certainly the case here. This was a brave and at times informative memoir that gave a solid glimpse into the life of a queer Muslim woman who found her identity lied in not one but many things.

4.5⭐️s

I love stories that give me perspectives of lives I will never live and provide a glimpse to empathize their struggles. Lamya comes from a background of conservative Muslim family and country. Eventually she moves to the US and initially lives with her uncle. She starts to find her community through college and young adulthood but continues to struggle with coming out to her family in the US and overseas.

#lgbtqhistorymonth🏳️‍🌈

I‘m audiobooking in the new year with a book from my #AuldLangSpine and this amazing memoir (maybe my daughter showing me how to listen to audiobooks while playing Stardew is dangerous—lol).

In her book, Lamya H. uses a pseudonym to protect her identity and help her tell her stories of being an immigrant, Muslim, and queer more honestly. Her life stories and insights are powerfully organized around different prophets. This book is a must read!

At this point, it‘s hard to imagine a religion that I‘m going to be cool with, but I respect Lamya‘s path. I did enjoy the thoughtful approach of Lamya & her Quran study partner to difficult texts. I also appreciated her perspective generally. As a reader who enjoys memoir, I would recommend this one.

I wrote a best of queer books list for Autostraddle! It's a joy to highlight queer/trans writers and to connect readers to their books. Every year this list gets harder to make! 2023 had a few books that I think are truly new queer classics (HIJAB BUTCH BLUES, ROAMING by the Tamaki cousins, I KEEP MY EXOSKELETONS TO MYSELF, and FALLING BACK IN LOVE WITH BEING HUMAN).
https://www.autostraddle.com/65-of-the-best-queer-books-of-2023/

I knew almost immediately that this memoir would be one of my favorite books of the year. I double-majored in Literature & Religious Studies; the places where language and religion meet are my jam (e.g. “In the beginning was the Word / and the Word was with God / and the Word was God”). This hits so many points of interest for me. “Lamya” is a queer, devout Muslim who finds understanding, comfort, & models for her queerness in the Quran. 👇🏻

Fantastic memoir. Full of stories about immigration, school, religion, being “authentically gay”. Told in sections related to people in the Quran. Really really enjoyed the storytelling. Audiobook, morning listening.

Reading this for “Liberate with Literature: Black BookTok for Palestine Reading Challenge”. Join the challenge on StoryGraph. 🇵🇸

Lamya H‘s memoir about growing up and living as a queer, hijabi Muslim is stunning. Using stories from the Qur‘an as jumping off points, Lamya H is deeply introspective about her childhood, faith, queerness, and activism. I was raised Catholic, so I know many of the stories Lamya used well. I am no longer religious, but found their interpretations so beautiful. A powerful memoir about self, family, and the power of cultivating a chosen family. 5⭐️

Ridiculously behind on #CampListy2023 but did get to this one. It took me 2 goes to get into it, but once I fell into the rhythm I really enjoyed it.
As an atheist I have an interesting relationship with religion, and I enjoyed reading Lamya's take on Islam, and really liked how she wove her tellings of the stories with her own story. I think it worked well as a mosaic of writing.
Overall very enjoyable & I liked getting to know the author.

July's #nonfiction #readingbracket2023 @chasjjlee

Go #CampLitsy23 so far we are 4 for 4 with books I enjoyed! I love a good memoir that gives me a look at a life very different from my own & exposes me to information I don‘t know much about. Lamya H. searches for community in the intersections of race, sexuality, religion, nationalism & family. The writing was beautiful, especially her interpretations & personalization of the stories of the Quran. I will be thinking of this one for a while.

For #CampLitsy23 Littens, this book was reviewed on Code Switch today. I caught it right after participating in the discussion 😊 https://www.npr.org/2023/07/21/1189451728/summer-reading-lets-keep-it-casual

Just a reminder like last week:

Lamya lives at the intersection of many marginalized groups (queer, nonbinary, brown, immigrant). We have tried to be respectful of them and her religious beliefs when crafting these questions. Please hold us accountable for any missteps. In the comments, please be kind to each other while being accountable. Thank you!

What do you think of her immigration journey? #CampLitsy23

I was familiar with many of these stories, and her interpretations are part of what made this a 5⭐️ book for me. They really blew my mind at times. What about you? #CampLitsy23

Like Yellowface this book had some controversy, too.

Thank you for joining me discussing Yellowface and Hijab Butch Blues this month! I‘ll make a post for you to vote for your favorite July book later today or tomorrow.

Please join @squirrelbrain next week as we start discussing Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld. She‘ll post a page break for the first week soon. #CampLitsy23

Finished the last couple of chapters yesterday in time for discussions today. I didn‘t love it. Struggled with the writing style a bit.

#CampLitsy23 books have mostly been a hit for me this year. This memoir hit me in an unexpected ways. There were ways I could relate, and ways I wish I could relate. This memoir is so valuable in learning a story like theirs and being able to go with them on their growth journey. I was so intrigued that they could keep their faith and make it their own. Looking forward to the last discussion on this one.

Completed just in time for tomorrow!

#camplitsy2023 @BarbaraBB @Megabooks @squirrelbrain

#pop23 #colourintitle @Cinfhen @Librarybelle @Deblovestoread @RaeLovesToRead @LeeRHarry @Bluebird @AshleyHoss820 @MissHel

This intimate memoir of Lamya H weaves together stories from the Quran with stories on their gender identity, sexuality, and immigration to the United States. Beautifully written!
(Ebook so you get a picture of Seren-cat!)

Thoughtful memoir from a queer Muslim writing about navigating being queer and Muslim, the assumptions and judgements from all sides. I‘ve avoided organized religion all my life because for me personally, it did not feel worth the energy to try and carve out a feminist space in a patriarchal structure and tradition. But I do admire women who manage to do so. Much to discuss. I wonder where the author‘s journey will take them. #camplitsy

"You can‘t make someone listen to you, you can‘t make someone respect you. You can only respect yourself, and the best way to do that is to enact justice, to live love."

I thought the language of this book was beautiful. Lamya works to reconcile their Queerness with their love of God and their religion. I‘m going to look at this fall‘s course options at the local university and consider auditing one about Islam or the Q‘uran. I think it is vital that we have a true understanding of the world‘s religions, not the propaganda spread by extremists of any religion. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Good pick #camplitsy23 @Megabooks @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain

Welcome to the discussion of our next book at #CampLitsy23! Please read the note below.

Lamya lives at the intersection of many marginalized groups (queer, nonbinary, brown, immigrant). We have tried to be respectful of them and her religious beliefs when crafting these questions. Please hold us accountable for any missteps. In the comments, please be kind to each other while being accountable. Thank you!

We have chosen to use she of Lamya‘s she/they pronouns for clarity for non-native English speakers. However, being nonbinary is a huge part of her journey in this memoir. What do you think of the role gender plays in her life. #CampLitsy23

This struck me as such an important part of her journey as a queer person. What do you think?

Thanks for joining the discussion this week! I hope you‘ll join us next week as well. #CampLitsy23

1. Tagged #camplitsy pick!
2. I was fascinated how the author found inspiration in stories from their religion. They have such a strong voice and their perspective/interpretation of the Quran reminded me of how much we each bring to our own experiences of faith!
3. I love a setting that makes me feel cozy, whether it‘s through family, found family, food, or vibes 💕
#wondrouswednesday

This is turning out to an excellent book! I‘m learning things about Islam and I would like to learn more. A few fanatics have turned many white people into Islamophobic fanatics. I think white right wing religious fanaticism is just as bad in predominantly white countries. The two groups have a frightening number of things in common.

Hmm…rounding up to a pick. I appreciated reading about an experience so different from my own and really liked her expansive interpretation of Quran stories. Brave and thoughtful. The tone (she takes herself and everything very seriously) and writing style, however, weren‘t really to my taste. She came across as very young to me, younger than she actually is, I think. Still glad I read it though. I‘m sure we‘ll have a good #CampLitsy23 discussion.

#quicklunchtimeread
Different salad place! Much smaller proportions.
On a book note- only just started.

I know that those of us participating in #CampLitsy23 are going to start our discussion of this title on Saturday but I guess I need to have racism explained to me. Lamya says that Arabs in the Middle Eastern country to which they have moved treat Lamya and her family differently because of their brown skin. Is there some unspoken caste system in Islam? I guess I thought Arabs have brown skin, but apparently I‘m mistaken. I‘m from the (cont)⬇️

With this #reread for #CampLitsy23, HBB remains a 5⭐️ book for me. I am really looking forward to starting our discussion on Saturday. Helen, Barbara, and I are working on the questions today. 🏕️😁 If you‘d like to be added to the tag list for this book or the rest of Camp, let me know. Thanks to all the campers who have made this such a great experience so far!! And to my two co-counselors, too! 💜

#weeklyforecast making a dent in things! Hijab Butch Blues for #CampListy23 Forever, Amber for #BookedInTime Pattermaster to get back on the Octavia E Butler train because I am trying to read all her work this year but I am not loving this series so it will be nice to get it done and move onto Parable.

I was a bit wary going into this as I had the feeling it might be a bit dry but I loved it! I found Lamya to be insightful and thoughtful and I learned so much, not only about Islam but about myself somehow.

I know we‘re going to have some GREAT #camplitsy23 discussions with this one.

Lamya‘s journey is an intense one. As a brown, muslim queer person she has to deal with a lot of hate and prejudices. It‘s hard for her to find a place she feels she belongs and can be herself - especially since she has so many questions and doubts herself. The Quran though teaches her, time and again, how to make peace with herself and the world.

It‘s a book with an impactful message and I am glad we selected it for #CampLitsy23 🏕️📚

Another great #camplitsy23 pick! I loved how she weaves together the stories from the Quran and what is happening in her own life. The messages were all beautiful and about how to endure suffering and hardships without losing hope. Can‘t wait for our discussions as the whole identity and pen name thing reminds me of yellowface. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars!

Lamya learns about herself in comparison to stories from the Quran. Lamya recognizes herself in these teachings and as a young girl sees her queer identity represented! At least in her young mind. What a wonderful thing—to see yourself in holy text. If only religious communities would allow people of all walks of life to be accepted and celebrated…to connect with religion in ways that are authentic to each individual. Eye opening! Great audio.

Hi y‘all!

What a wonderful discussion of Yellowface last Saturday! Thank you all for your insightful comments. I‘m excited for the conclusion on Saturday.

Looking ahead to our next book, Hijab Butch Blues, the discussion on July 22 will be to page 150 (US edition), which is all of part 1 and Musa and Muhammad from part 2. We‘ll discuss the remainder on July 29. I‘m looking forward to CL‘s first nonfiction choice! #CampLitsy23

#WeeklyForecast 28/23

With the awesome discussion about Yellowface still in progress I‘ll be starting the next #CampLitsy23 read. We‘ve already got three winners in a row so I have high expectations of our fourth read (tagged).
First I have to finish yet another Lennon, super short stories which I am loving!
If time allows (my new career is demanding 😊) I‘ll start the #NYRB for #Booked23 and #Roll100.

I'm glad this book exists, & the one-star reviews on GR that are foaming at the mouth because the author chose to interpret religion differently are definitely pretty stomach-churning. I think it's a valuable text for anyone battling the same issues as the author, but I almost bailed at the start because I found the writing overwrought, humourless. I know I'm in the minority with a so-so review, but I look forward to the discussion! #camplitsy23

Another outstanding memoir audiobook that gets all the stars.

The best memoirs open a door into a different world, teaching the reader about a different kind of life while showing a shared humanity and relatability. That‘s what this book does. It‘s absolutely phenomenal. I‘m so glad it was chosen for #camplitsy23, as I‘m not sure I would have read it otherwise, and I‘m better for having done so.

While I appreciated the authors honest look at being a non-binary, Muslim immigrant, I didn‘t love this book. The timeline jumps around quite a bit, and I lost the trajectory of her growth and her understanding of who she is. I read this now because it came in at the library, but really looking forward to discussion with #campLitsy23

I took a graduate course on the Qur'an several years ago and have been intrigued ever since, so although I have a complicated relationship with memoir as a genre, I enjoyed Lamya H's reflection on the lives of the prophets as they relate to and inform her own life experience. I feel like this is as much a story of maturing into one's 30s as it is a story about coming out and religion, and a few juvenile elements make sense to me through this lens.

Captivating and expansive to my worldview, I can‘t stop reading this. I‘m about 3/4 in and am humbly learning a lot. I admire so much of the author‘s sharing, dedication to faith, spin on old stories, and being vulnerable and brave. Great memoir. So glad #camplitsy23 put it on my reading list.

Pic of lupine flower in my garden. 🌺