Belonging
Oct 2008 · Hachette UK
4.6star
34 reviewsreport
Ebook
288
Pages
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About this ebook
Abandoned by her parents, Sameem Ali spent six and a half years growing up in a children's home. When she was told that her family wanted to take her back she couldn't wait to start her new life with them. Instead, she returned to a dirty house where she was subjected to endless chores. Her mother began to beat her and her unhappiness drove her to self-harm. So Sameem was excited when she boarded a plane with her mother to visit Pakistan for the first time. It was only after they arrived in her family's village that she realised she wasn't there on holiday.
Aged just thirteen, Sameem was forced to marry a complete stranger. When pregnant, two months later, she was made to return to Glasgow where she suffered further abuse from her family.
After finding true love, Sameem fled the violence at home and escaped to Manchester with her young son. She believed she had put her horrific experiences behind her, but was unprepared for the consequences of violating her family's honour . . . Belonging is the shocking true story of Sameem's struggle to break free from her past and fight back against her upbringing.
Aged just thirteen, Sameem was forced to marry a complete stranger. When pregnant, two months later, she was made to return to Glasgow where she suffered further abuse from her family.
After finding true love, Sameem fled the violence at home and escaped to Manchester with her young son. She believed she had put her horrific experiences behind her, but was unprepared for the consequences of violating her family's honour . . . Belonging is the shocking true story of Sameem's struggle to break free from her past and fight back against her upbringing.
Ratings and reviews
4.6
34 reviews
A Google user
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February 19, 2012
I read this book and it was absolutely fantastic! The events which had taken place in sameens life were very upsetting but well-explained
Judea Jess
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April 17, 2019
What a harrowing well written informative account of perseverance and survival in dark times and accomplishment! How inspiring!
A Google user
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August 11, 2012
I loved that book and finished within two days. The author gripped me all the way through to the end and haunted me days after.
About the author
Sameem Ali lives in Manchester with her husband and two sons. She is active in local politics and is a councillor for Moss Side, Manchester. She also speaks openly about forced marriage at government conferences.
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