Stolen Moments of Joy
A Gripping Contemporary LGBT Novel
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
“Baika (On the Enemy’s Side) crafts an affecting image of trauma and domestic abuse... [R]eaders will appreciate Baika’s depictions of his protagonist’s inner wounds and fractured relationships.”
-Publishers Weekly
An “...engaging and readable tale about escaping the bonds of the past.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“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
An Afghan immigrant in America. A city torn apart by racism. A dreamer whose future depends on breaking a cycle of oppression.
Baltimore, 2014. Abdul feels torn. Used to bearing the brunt of people’s judgment, the Afghan immigrant can’t reconcile his love for his charming boyfriend with the bruises the man leaves on his face. So when a handsome activist’s flirtatious exchange offers solace, he goes against his beliefs and enters into a secret tryst.
Feeling guilty for having stepped out of his relationship, Abdul is determined to make it up to his boyfriend, even as a racially motivated shooting dominates the local news in his adopted city. In the public arena, he wants justice and peace. But in his personal life, he believes the troubles with his partner are a fair payment for the sins of his past — a cycle that keeps him going back to his beau’s volatile temperament.
Can Abdul conquer his demons and unlock his true inner strength?
Stolen Moments of Joy is a gripping contemporary LGBT novel. If you like heroes who fight to be brave, complex relationships, and thoughtful explorations of heavy topics, then you’ll adore Hamour Baika’s story of hope.
Buy Stolen Moments of Joy to find courage among chaos today!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Baika (On the Enemy's Side) crafts an affecting image of trauma and domestic abuse. In 2014, Afghan refugee Abdul Ali, 24, lives with his gorgeous but abusive boyfriend, Cliff, in Baltimore. A chance encounter during his shift at a hotel leads to a tryst with a guest, a poet named Tyrique Williams. Abdul, traumatized by having been a victim of sexual trafficking, begins to believe he deserves Cliff's violence because of his unconfessed infidelity, and he's mollified by Cliff's gushing affection, which follows his apologies. Abdul also befriends Trilce Salinas, a Black Lives Matter activist, and stumbles into other hookups, but he starts to slip at work and gets fired. In a fit of rage, Cliff takes control of Abdul's college savings before quickly reverting to his tender side. Eventually, with the help of Trilce, Abdul realizes he needs to save himself from the toxic relationship. Baika effectively captures Abdul's mindset as a domestic violence victim, but an escalation of the subplot involving protests against the police killing of a Black teenager (which reunite Abdul with Tyrique) feels like a forced crisis point. It's a slow burn, but readers will appreciate Baika's depictions of his protagonist's inner wounds and fractured relationships. (Self-published)
