Waris Dire lives in New York with her young kid, Aleek, after having kicked her musician boyfriend out of her life. She is a model who admits that she has lost modelling jobs because of her distorted legs, as she grew up in Somalia in a nomad family which suffered from hunger once and again. She is a star, having modelled for the renown Pirelli calendar and a Revlon contract for skin-care products. She is also United Nation's Special Ambassador for Women's Rights in Africa, speaking against infabulation, the process of having the clitoris and the vagina cut and then sown shut leaving just a small opening for urine and menstrual blood to get out.

She decides to travel with her brother Mohammed to Somalia to try to see her parents. Somaliland is a de-facto independent country after years of guerrilla, the army is more a and of pillage thieves. Mohammed is not the supporting brother she would like to have - sometimes her patronizes her too much, sometimes he gives in to the conservative ideas of the society around him.

Her parents are separate, although not divorced. Waris' father has taken another two wives, although he doesn't really have money to support even the first decently.

Released this Wednesday.

Picked this up at the March meet (after resisting it last month!)

What a story! Super interesting.
Left at the January meet-up