Stolen Moments of Joy

by Hamour Baika

Overview

An "...engaging and readable tale about escaping the bonds of the past."

Kirkus Reviews

 

"Stolen Moments of Joy... offers far more social and political depth than many LGBTQ stories that focus on romance and sexual maturity alone... Readers gain solid insights into this culture and realistic portrayals of relationships tested by it in a story that documents not just moments of joy, but transformation and revelation. Plenty of political insights evolve during the course of Abdul's journey as the modern, familiar milieus of police shootings, evolving race relations, immigrant experience, and Abdul's increasing involvement in racial struggles come to light."

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

 

"[R]eaders will appreciate Baika's depictions of his protagonist's inner wounds and fractured relationships."

Publishers Weekly

 

A testament to the human capacity for resilience.

Abdul, a solitary soul uprooted from the familiar terrain of Afghanistan, finds a new home in the arms of his charismatic American boyfriend. But beneath the dazzling facade lies a sinister truth of physical bruises and emotional pain. Desperate for solace, he turns to a handsome activist for a secret tryst, going against everything he believes in.

 

When a racially motivated shooting rocks his adopted city of Baltimore, Abdul's internal struggle mirrors the external chaos. As the lines between passion and abuse blur, he must confront his own vulnerabilities and make a harrowing choice: to escape the torment or succumb to the intoxicating allure of his partner. Can Abdul conquer his demons and unlock his inner strength?

 

A raw and intimate exploration of identity, love, and self-determination.

 

Product Details

BN ID:	2940166354242
Publisher:	Unrolling Script
Publication date:	06/06/2022
Sold by:	Draft2Digital
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	776,702
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Hamour Baika was born in Iran and lived in Ahwaz during his teen years. He wrote his first novella, a fan fiction piece about the alien creature E.T. at age 12. Baika has a master’s degree in human rights. A painter and classical pianist, he now lives in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. On the Enemy’s Side is his debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

An "...engaging and readable tale about escaping the bonds of the past."

Kirkus Reviews

"Stolen Moments of Joy... offers far more social and political depth than many LGBTQ stories that focus on romance and sexual maturity alone... Readers gain solid insights into this culture and realistic portrayals of relationships tested by it in a story that documents not just moments of joy, but transformation and revelation. Plenty of political insights evolve during the course of Abdul's journey as the modern, familiar milieus of police shootings, evolving race relations, immigrant experience, and Abdul's increasing involvement in racial struggles come to light."

D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

2022-05-22
In this literary novel, a gay Afghan man grapples with an abusive relationship in America.

Twenty-four-year-old Abdul Ali fled Afghanistan as a teenager, seeking a better life than he had known on the streets of Kabul. Now he lives in Baltimore with his boyfriend, Cliff Edwards, who has a tendency to fly off the handle and smack Abdul in the face when he doesn’t like what he hears. Abdul is humiliated to go to work with visible bruises. He’s a concierge at a hotel near the city’s Inner Harbor, where he uses his off hours to study for the SAT. It’s at the hotel that Abdul meets visiting journalist Tyrique Williams, who has come to Baltimore to cover the recent shooting of an unarmed Black teen. Tyrique and Abdul have immediate chemistry, but soon after hooking up, Tyrique discovers Abdul’s bruises: “ ‘Listen to me, Abdul.’ Tyrique walked over to me and grabbed my shoulder to emphasize what he was about to say. ‘A boyfriend that hits you is just a boy. He’s not a friend.’ ” The encounter doesn’t immediately convince Abdul to leave Cliff, but he continues to admire Tyrique from afar as well as explore other romantic possibilities closer to home. But as West Baltimore erupts into violence over the racist status quo, Abdul is forced to confront the traumas from his past he’s long tried to keep buried. Baika’s vivid prose captures Abdul’s conflicted and often overwhelming emotions, as here when he embraces Tyrique after a long absence: “He wrapped his arms around me. He smelled like a thousand roses had rained over him. Not the usual common rose. Gol-e Mohammadi, with a more penetrating perfume. I took a deep breath to take in as much of him as I could.” The book grapples with a number of heavy issues, including the bacha bazi dancing boys of Afghanistan. The elements at times feel shoehorned together, though for the most part, the novel treats each of them with the appropriate gravity. While not a light read by any means, the book succeeds in dramatizing the ways the traumas of youth can shape adult relationships.

A weighty but engaging and readable tale about escaping the bonds of the past.

Kirkus Reviews