Contemporary writers series welcomes abdi nor iftin. I am here to make america great back in somalia, abdi nor iftin was nicknamed abdi the american, and his love of this country put him in danger but then he. An evening with christina baker kline, author of a piece of the world. Nov 12, 2018 guns were given freely to young boys, and human life seemed of little value. Abdi nor iftin tells the true story of immigrating to america via luck and. Existence became a search for safety, with starvation and the threat of death their constant companions. Author abdi nor iftin discusses his book, call me american, his journey from somalia to america, and how his perception of america has. He joined jim braude to discuss all that and his new memoir, call me american. Jul 03, 2015 so abdi goes into hiding in his apartment. Abdi applications by design access control solutions by. Call me american is abdi nor iftins memoir about fleeing wartorn somalia. Abdi nor iftin on his refugee journey and new memoir call me. This harrowing story of a childhood in mogadishu, somalia, and the path to adulthood as an immigrant in the u. I thought this section of chapter 4 was particularly interesting, as it is the start of his journey into a fascination with.
A memoir and millions of other books are available for instant. Abdi nor iftin penguin random house speakers bureau. He eventually made it to america, thanks to a group of journalists and a generous family in maine. Iftin came of age in wartorn mogadishu, where the other boys called him the. His story, documented by national public radios this american life, became one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world and has even received interest from. Abdi nor iftin tells his own story in new memoir call me. His new memoir, call me american, collects these accounts and fleshes out the story of an immigrant who achieved his dream, and of a country thats better for it. Abdi nor iftin went from a harrowing childhood in wartorn somalia to freedom. Somali refugee describes adjusting to life in maine in new memoir abdi nor iftins memoir call me american chronicles his odyssey from mogadishu, somalia, to yarmouth, maine.
Here is another passage from abdi nor iftins book, call me american. Abdi is the leader in the industry because we consistently reach our goal of exceeding. Abdi tells the riveting story of his struggle to come to the united states in his memoir, call me american, published this year by alfred a. I thought this section of chapter 4 was particularly interesting, as it is the start of his journey into a fascination with american culture.
It is a remarkably moving and powerful memoir, focusing on the real events that happened during the lives of abdi nor iftin and those close to him. They took me around the neighborhood and they said, dont call 911. This story is absolutely remarkable abdi is an inspiration. The author was born a muslim under a neem tree in somalia, probably in 1985 hes not sure of the date, since birthdays are not celebrated or even recorded in somalia. Abdi is now in the us and i hope to hear him at a book signing in tempe or phoenix, az. Bisbee live is an interview show, showcasing artists from bisbee, arizona, as well as interviews with artists coming through the area. Jul 15, 2018 abdi nor iftin was 6 years old when civil war broke out in somalia, his home country. Postponedpresenting together with cindy andersons home now and abdi iftins call me american. Abdi nor iftin was 6 years old when civil war broke out in somalia, his home country. Iftin details his harrowing childhood in somalia, his escape to kenya and. Call me american is the true story of the heroic survival of abdi nor iftin in warravaged mogadishu, somalia and his incredible journey to america. Call me american by abdi nor iftin the incredible true story of a boy living in wartorn somalia who escapes to americafirst by way of the movies. His latest book call me american reflects his entire life from childhood in somalia to his journey to the us. Guns were given freely to young boys, and human life seemed of little value.
In call me american, he details his familys struggle to. Abdi said his sole focus was on getting out, and he and his brother fled to kenya as refugees. It was heartbreaking and also filled with hope, and his persistence was just so inspiring. Abdi nor iftin on his refugee journey and new memoir call. Abdi speaks frequently at events and book signings around the united states, where he. Find out where you can attend an event where abdi nor iftin will be speaking or signing books. Call me american is an amazing addition to the american immigrant literature genre and something i hope to read more of in 2019. We asked authors, booksellers, publishers, editors, and others to share the places they go to connect with writers of the past, to the bars and cafes where todays authors give readings, and to those sites that are most inspiring for writing.
I wrote the book call me american because i thought that america was an idea. Abdi is now a radio journalist, a public speaker and an author. Call me american by abdi nor iftin knopf doubleday. Jul 21, 2018 here is another passage from abdi nor iftins book, call me american. Read about abdi nor iftin, his amazing book call me american, and his upcoming visit to amherst thursday. The first mention of donald trump in your book is positive you explain how. Jun 18, 2018 in call me american, he details his familys struggle to. Somali refugee abdi nor iftins past was filled with violence, trauma, and persecution. Apr 15, 2020 postponedpresenting together with cindy andersons home now and abdi iftins call me american. Buy call me american by abdi nor iftin from a real book store. Jun 20, 2018 he joined jim braude to discuss all that and his new memoir call me american. In his memoir call me american, abdi recounts his harrowing, extraordinary, and uplifting story. He joined jim braude to discuss all that and his new memoir call me american. Sign me up for news about abdi nor iftin and more from penguin random house.
By the time abdi was six years old, the city had become a war zone and his family had lost everything had fled the city. Wilmette public library to host author abdi nor iftin. But as life in somalia grew more dangerous, abdi was left with no choice but to flee to kenya as a refugee. It is a heart wrenching story of what it is like to live in a wartorn country. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read call me american. Abdi is a software development company that specializes in highly customizable community management and access control solutions for gated communities, condominiums, highrise apartments and country clubs throughout the country. Somali refugeeturnedauthor to share his journey lewiston. President trump betrayed my american dream by abdi nor. Jun 19, 2019 the family that took me into their house had to give me a tour.
Abdi is now in the us and i hope to hear him at a book signing in tempe or. Iftin will read from his memoir, call me american, at 7. I am here to make america great back in somalia, abdi nor iftin was nicknamed abdi the american, and his love. Call me american is the true story of the heroic survival of abdi nor iftin in warravaged. Tommy talks with abdi nor iftin, the author of call me american, about his incredible story of survival in warravaged somalia and literally winning the lottery to make it to america. Abdi iftins new memoir presents a case for the green card lottery. Call me american is abdi s story of how he survived.
Journey of somali refugee turned author brings him back to. Abdi nor iftin call me american chapter 4 passage by. In call me american, abdi nor iftin tells his life story, the story of a child growing up in somalia who is enamored by american culture and hopes to someday make it to the united states. Jul 11, 2018 abdis story about immigrating to the us from somalia was featured on this american life a few weeks ago, and his new book, call me american, is now on the shelves. And somalia is still going through one of the longest, bloodiest african civil wars. Somali refugee abdi nor iftin will talk about his extraordinary new book, call me american. If like me you rarely or never read memoirs or nonfiction, i urge you to make an exception and read call me american. Leo hornak spoke to abdi almost every night while this was happening, to find out if abdi would evade the police and make it to america. While living under islamic extremism, he escaped through american movies and music, using them as a tool to learn english. Call me american by abdi nor iftin read by prentice. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Read free book excerpt from call me american by abdi nor iftin, page 1 of 4. Along the way, he chronicled his story, sending out secret audio recordings that were aired on the bbc and heard on nprs this american life.
Buffalo, ny the canisius college contemporary writers series will welcome acclaimed author abdi nor iftin to campus on thursday, october 24. Abdi nor iftin first fell in love with america from afar. Dec 31, 2018 i listened to abdi nor iftins book on audible and it is one of the most amazing nonfiction books i have ever read. It is also a story of hope and perseverance that will lift your spirits. He will then host a question and answer period followed by a reception and book. The stop comes during iftins national book tour, which has taken him from maine to washington, d. As a child, he learned english by listening to american pop and watching action films starring arnold schwarzenegger. Somali immigrant shares story of moving to us in new memoir.