Life as a Unicorn, 9780008306106
Paperback
From God-fearing boy to queer drag queen: a hilarious, heartbreaking search.

Life as a Unicorn

a journey from shame to pride and everything in between

$29.61

  • Paperback

    304 pages

  • Release Date

    15 September 2020

Check Delivery Options

Summary

Life as a Unicorn: A Queer Coming-of-Age Story

A heart-breaking and hilarious memoir about the author’s fight to be true to themself

WINNER OF THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE 2020 WINNER OF A SOMERSET MAUGHAM AWARD

Amrou knew they were gay when, aged ten, they first laid eyes on Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone. It was love at first sight.

Amrou’s parents weren’t so happy…

From that moment on, Amrou began searching in all the wrong places fo…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780008306106
ISBN-10:0008306109
Author:Amrou Al-Kadhi
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Imprint:Fourth Estate Ltd
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:304
Release Date:15 September 2020
Weight:210g
Dimensions:198mm x 129mm x 20mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

‘Astonishingly brave and engaging’ Joanna Lumley

‘Amazing .. it provides so much nuance to the multiverse of identity’ Gay Times

‘This book is as rare, fabulous and beautiful as the creature it is named for. A masterpiece of psychology, a major study of Islam and a definitive study of drag, it made me cry, it made me rage and it made me hoot. Full of anger, insight and philosophy, along with some cracking great gags, this is a magnificent and essential document of the twenty-first century. It moved my heart and soul’ Russell T Davies

‘A heartbreaking, healing book. it will make you better’ Simon Amstell

‘Amrou’s book is slightly magical, I think. They are a survivor, a storyteller and yes, a unicorn’ Juno Dawson

‘Amrou’s story is at times painful, at times hilarious, but always completely resonant. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, or caught among several identities, this book is a light in the dark and a soothing balm on the pain of loneliness and alienation’ Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani

‘This is a masterpiece, an incredible emotional voyage, moving, funny, provocative, educational, a book you must read whatever your ethnicity or your sexual or gender identity. Beautifully written by an author whose voice must be heard’ Owen Jones

‘Amrou writes with a confidence and lightness of touch, meaning you will laugh and you will cry and you will see real tender moments in a life fully lived. An incredibly adept writer and performer, Amrou brings to readers an important story unlike anything else you will read for a long, long time, and yet so incredibly universal.’ Nikesh Shukla, author of Coconut Unlimited and editor of The Good Immigrant

About The Author

Amrou Al-Kadhi

Amrou Al-Kadhi is the founder of drag troupe Denim and has several TV shows currently in development. Amrou has written an episode for Kumail Nanjiani & Emily V. Gordon’s upcoming series for Apple (US), Little America, as well as for BBC America’s hotly anticipated series, The Watch. Amrou has written and directed four short films and has features in development with Film4, the BFI and BBC films. Their journalism has appeared in the Guardian, the Independent, Gay Times, Attitude, CNN and Little White Lies, among other publications. Unicorn is Amrou’s first book.

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.