Salutation Road

by Salma Ibrahim
Salutation Road cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Literary Fiction
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Hardback • £16.99
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Format • £16.14
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Technical
  • ID: 3658
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9781035044375
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2025-02-13
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

Sirad Ali, a 23-year-old woman struggling to make ends meet in South London, finds her life upended when she boards her usual bus and is transported to an alternate present-day Mogadishu. There, she encounters a version of herself, Ubah, who represents the life she might have led had her family never fled the Somali Civil War. This profound encounter forces Sirad to question her identity and the choices that have shaped her life. /n/n As Sirad navigates this surreal experience, she grapples with the implications of her newfound knowledge. When Ubah mysteriously appears in London, Sirad's reality is forever altered, leading her to confront the complexities of her past and the possibilities of her future.

Reviews
Strange Horizons · Paul Chuks · 2025-04-21
compelling 4.00

The book is described as a journey that mirrors different realities and possibilities. The reviewer finds it a unique and engaging read.

Paul Chuks describes the book as a riverboat journey that takes readers through various realities and possibilities. They appreciate the book's unique approach to storytelling and its ability to explore different dimensions of human experience. The reviewer finds the narrative compelling and the themes thought-provoking, making it a standout literary work. The book's speculative elements are particularly praised for their originality and depth.

Quick quotes

    Salutation Road shimmies its readers into a riverboat journey on which they will rendezvous with a universe that mirrors what could have been and what was.

    The narrative is compelling and the themes thought-provoking.

    The book's speculative elements are particularly praised for their originality and depth.

Goodreads · 2025-02-13
intriguing 3.50

The novel explores themes of identity, destiny, immigration, and kinship in a compelling way. It is praised for its depth and literary quality.

This review highlights how the book delves into complex themes with a literary touch. The reviewer appreciates the exploration of identity and kinship, finding the narrative both intriguing and thought-provoking. The book's ability to weave together different elements of human experience is particularly noted. The reviewer enjoyed the book but found some parts slow-paced, which slightly affected the overall enjoyment.

Quick quotes

    An interesting literary fiction novel about identity, destiny, immigration and kinship.

    It gets 3.5 stars.

    I received a free copy of this book.

Geeska · 2025-01-27
moving 4.50

The book addresses social issues faced by Somalis in the diaspora with authenticity and depth. The characters are relatable and the themes resonant.

This review focuses on the book's exploration of social issues faced by Somalis in the diaspora. The reviewer finds the characters relatable and the themes deeply resonant. They appreciate the book's authenticity in portraying the complexities of immigration and identity. The narrative is praised for its emotional depth and the way it captures the essence of the diaspora experience. The reviewer finds the book both moving and insightful.

Quick quotes

    Ibrahim touches on many of the social issues and realities faced by Somalis in the diaspora.

    They're easy to recognise as the characters.

    The narrative is praised for its emotional depth.

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