A review by literarygadd
The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert by Shugri Said Salh

5.0

Everything about this book was incredible and eye-opening and I’m so glad for the opportunity to experience it through the eyes of Shugri Said Salh. I learned so much about the country of Somalia, which to be honest, I knew very little, and have been inspired to delve more into the history and culture of this fascinating country. From a little girl to a married adult, you watch Shugri grow into a remarkable and resilient woman who endures more conflict and hardship in her first 10 years than many of us endure in an entire lifetime. Still, she has an inspiring and hopeful outlook on life and continues to move forward in search for something better. It’s raw and real, where even when she’s moving forward and things are looking up, bad things are still happening all around, and despite the grim outlook, there is happiness and joy.

Reading this book was an absolute delight and I was sad to turn the last page. Shugri is an excellent storyteller and paints beautiful word pictures of the Somali desert and its unique landscape. Her humor is refreshing and it is fun to hear her tell about the animals that she grew up herding. I especially enjoyed the bits about the camels.

An advanced copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. The opinions are my own.