How do you find yourself when the world tells you that you don’t exist? Samra Habib Still, Samra is drawn to her religion and needs to find a new way to connect with her church and her family as she blooms into her true self. Samra is married and divorced, twice, before the age of 25 and goes on an exploratory journey with her own sexuality as she realises her own queerness. Samra struggled as a new immigrant at school and even more so with her identity as she struggled between her conservative family values and a country with a new way of life that she found immensely appealing. Samra and her family found themselves in a new home where they were not as affluent as they were in Pakistan. When violence started to escalate her family was thankfully able to pack up and flee to Canada to safety. From a young age Samra had a fire in her that couldn’t be put out no matter what was thrown at her. After being sexually assaulted by a family friend her life became even more restricted. Samra spent her childhood years growing up in Pakistan in fear of religious persecution as well as the threat of a highly patriarchal society that stifled her and her family. We Have Always Been Here will be defended by Amanda Brugel during the debates taking place from March 16-19th.

I started with We Have Always Been Here which is one of the two memoirs heading into the debates. This year Canada Reads brings one collection of novellas, two memoirs, and two pieces of fiction. Whoop whoop! First book into the Canada Reads 2020 and its started out with a bang.

We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib