Salvation Army by Abdellah Taïa

Review by Jane Fitzpatrick

The short:

Salvation Army is a coming-of-age autobiography that illuminates a unique outlook on queerness in North African Arab and Islamic communities as well as encounters with outside perspectives. Taïa opens a door to his childhood encompassed in tension as well as exploration of homosexuality.

The long:

Abdellah Taïa has published several novels that are symbolic of his own experiences growing up in Morocco and Europe. Salvation Army is one example of his autobiographical work, and he produced a film based on the text in 2013. The story traces the author’s journey from exploring his own culture and its perspectives on sexuality to facing prejudices from the Western world. Taïa has been praised for his bravery as an openly gay writer from Arab North Africa and for shedding light on where queer people can find space and freedom in Islamic tradition. Through sharing his personal observations and perspectives, Taïa inspires and brings hope to a variety of readers.

The read or not to read:

If you are looking for a conversation about homosexuality in African Muslim societies, this book offers detailed, personal insight. The author is bold in his writing, and the autobiographical nature of the text instigates raw honesty.