Announcing One Book One SFU: Son of Elsewhere

One Book One SFU: Son of Elsewhere

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

 

His writing feels like a magic trick: every page is charming, funny, and yet painful, a collection that presses on your most tender feelings like a bruise yet to heal. Son of Elsewhere is a salve.

  Scaachi Koul

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 EastThe 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.

Speaker(s)
Elamin Abdelmahmoud & Jen Sookfong Lee
Date(s)
January 26
Time
7pm
Location
Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, 149 West Hastings St, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
Registration information

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. 

    Sponsors
    SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement, SFU Black Caucus, Pulpfiction Books
    Contact for further information
    Please contact Chloe Riley at car11@sfu.ca

    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.