Simon Fraser University Library is pleased to announce this year's pick for One Book One SFU: Elamin Abdelmahmoud's Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces.
About the book
“It is astounding how accurately and honestly Elamin Abdelmahmoud manages to map the strange territory between cultures that so many migrants call home. The interlinked essays in this collection, which filter the immigrant experience through everything from country music to professional-wrestling fan fiction, manage to pull off a rare trick—at once sincere, ironic, hilarious, and profound. Son of Elsewhere is the sort of book that can only come from a writer both incisive and open-hearted. Abdelmahmoud, to our great fortune, is both.” -- Omar El Akkad
Borrow the book: Son of Elsewhere is available for borrowing at all three branches of SFU Library.
The book may also be available through your local public library, or from local booksellers such as Pulpfiction Books, Massy Books, or Iron Dog Books.
About the speakers
Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is a culture writer for BuzzFeed News and host of CBC’s pop culture show Pop Chat, and author of the bestselling memoir Son of Elsewhere. He was a founding co-host of the CBC Politics podcast Party Lines, and he is a contributor to The National’s At Issue panel. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, the Globe and Mail, and others. When he gets a chance, he writes bad tweets.
Jen Sookfong Lee
Jen Sookfong Lee was born and raised in Vancouver’s East Side, and she now lives with her son in North Burnaby. Her books include The Conjoined, nominated for International Dublin Literary Award and a finalist for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, The Better Mother, a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award, The End of East, The Shadow List, and Finding Home. Her most recent book, Superfan, is a memoir that explores her lifetime obsession with pop culture. Jen acquires and edits for ECW Press and co-hosts the literary podcast, Can’t Lit.
Registration options
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Ticket holders: Doors open at 6:30PM. As this SFU Library event is free, it is our policy to overbook. In case of a full program, your ticket reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend you arrive early.
Reception
Join us after the event for a reception and book signing. Light refreshments will be available.
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sponsoring the reception.
Accessibility
The Djavad Mowafaghian cinema is located at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, a brief walk from Waterfront station and numerous bus stops. Bike stalls are available outside. Nearby parking is available at 500 & 400 W. Cordova St.
The building is accessible at street level on the Hastings side or via a ramp on the Cordova Street Courtyard side (across from JJ Bean Coffee). There are two ramp entry points, one is located against the building, near the entrance to the Woodward’s Westbank Atrium (which houses London Drugs and Nesters) and one is located against the building, beside the alley. Both the Hastings doors and the Cordova Courtyard doors can be operated by accessibility buttons located beside the doorways.
The venue has a gender-neutral washroom. All floors within the building are wheelchair accessible and serviced by elevators.