I had a really difficult time giving this a star rating and went back and forth between 4 and 5 stars. I enjoyed it, found it incredibly interesting, and think it's an important book, which made me want to give it 5 stars, but then I likely won't read it again, so I decided to go with 4.

This is a semi-autobiographical novel about a gay man living in Syria prior to the civil war. It does jump back and forth in time, between his life in Syria (both before and during the war) as well as his new life in Sweden as a refugee with uncertain status. I've read several other books by Syrian refugees, however, they were both refugees to Canada, and it seems like the refugee process is quite different between Canada and Sweden. Or, it could also be the difference between being a refugee the "right way" (submitting your name, waiting for the call, getting on a plane, etc) and being a refugee the "wrong way" (escaping to Greece, taking a boat to Turkiye, using smugglers to get you to another country). I absolutely don't think there is a right or wrong way to be a refugee, but I'm sure that governments think there is.

It was interesting to read about the experience of a gay man in a Muslim country, and how there were these small spaces that he was able to fully be himself. The hammams that he frequented, that despite homosexuality being illegal in Syria, he didn't feel shame and lived as openly as he was able to. And then when he eventually made it to Sweden, where it's not illegal, he still wasn't able to live openly, as he had hoped.

While this is a fictional story, I saw that it is somewhat autobiographical, and it does read more like a biography than a novel. I think this is probably because it is written in first person, and with a few exceptions (Furat, our narrator, has a vivid imagination) it is very realistic.

I definitely recommend this book if you are wanting to read more diversely and outside of a Western lens.

The best aspect of this novel for me was learning about pre-war Syrian "gay" scene. I put gay in scare quotes intentionally and especially because Alesmael lacks any critical distance from the Western identity model of same-sex desire. So much so that some pages are written like little political messages to his fellow Syrians to "raise their awareness" and "become more tolerant" of "gays". I also wanted to know more about the French colonial legacy when it comes to the conceptualisation and experience of same-sex desire. On the other hand, it gave me a better understanding of what was happening politically and socially before and after the outbreak of the war in Syria. It also made me mourn the fact that I or anyone else will never visit the (in)famous Damascene hammams, but at least we have this trace to remember them by.

Furat is a gay man living in Syria. Living in a society that does not accept his way of life, As he finds happiness he must flee the regime and begin a new life in Sweden,
The author does a good job at showing Furat's struggle. Difficult topics are covered. He's just a man who wants love and happiness in his life. To get there he must go through many hardships.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

This is the first novel by Khaled Alesmael, a Syrian author, and it's truly a beautiful book. The story revolves around a man's journey of survival from Syria to seeking refuge in Sweden. It's an important work that sheds light on gay life in Syria, which has been deeply affected by the civil war. I'm pleased to see more books emerging from the Middle East in recent years, and I hope this one reaches a wide audience.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, Khaled Alesmael, World Editions publishing, and Leri Price (the translator who did an amazing job from what I can tell) for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow....I loved this!

Selamlik, is the story of Farat, a Syrian gay man who seeks asylum in Sweden after living through horrific violence, prejudice, and loss, but also intense pleasure, self discovery, and love in Syria. When Farat gets to Sweden things are better in some ways but there are new challenges, and Farat grapples with mixed emotions towards both his homeland and his new home and community.

It is written like a memoir, with the main character, Farat, recounting his story in a non-linear fashion, going back and forth in time, starting and stopping in the middle, and weaving in dreams, poetic musings, and sexual fantasies that often sometimes combine violence and pleasure. It is incredibly raw and so beautifully written. It is not overly graphic, but it doesn't shy away from difficult and disturbing themes either. It is filled with tenderness and hope.

this was so lyrical, so beautiful, so heartbreaking, and at its core, so real. a struggle so many men face now - hiding their true selves because society doesn't accept them as they are, being "abnormal". a tale of curiosity and desire, of humor and heartbreak. truly a book many should read.