Back Where I Came from: On Culture, Identity, and Home - Paperback

by Taslim Jaffer (Editor), Omar Mouallem (Editor)

Explore the multifaceted layers of identity, culture, and belonging in this poignant collection of personal essays.

In Back Where I Came From, twenty-six writers share their journeys back to their motherlands, offering a vulnerable and insightful exploration of what "home" truly means. Set against diverse landscapes--from mountainous terrains to bustling cities--these narratives weave socio-political commentary with personal reflections on identity and belonging. This anthology captures the complexities of navigating hyphenated identities, offering a redefined sense of home for first- and second-generation Canadians and Americans.

Is this for you? If you've ever questioned where you belong or sought to understand your cultural roots, this collection provides a mirror and a map. Discover stories that resonate, challenge, and celebrate the intricate tapestry of heritage. Why buy now? Because these essays open a door to places around the globe--and within ourselves.

Author Biography

TASLIM JAFFER is a writer, editor, and writing instructor with an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College. Her bylines include Maclean's, Asparagus, WestCoast Families, CBC British Columbia, Peace Arch News, Unearth Women, and more. She is the winner of the 2022 Creative Nonfiction Contest from the Creative Nonfiction Collective Society and Humber Literary Review, and recipient of a 2021 Silver Canadian Online Publishing Award. Jaffer has been a keynote speaker on diversity and interfaith topics on a variety of stages and teaches creative nonfiction and expressive writing in community and rehabilitative settings. She is working on a debut collection of literary essays and lives in Surrey, B.C. with her husband and three children.

OMAR MOUALLEM is an author, filmmaker, and educator. His journalism has appeared in The Guardian, WIRED, and The Wall Street Journal. His book How Muslims Shaped the Americas won the 2022 Wilfred Eggelston Nonfiction Award and was named one of the Globe and Mail's 100 best books of 2021. His documentary TheLebanese Burger Mafia, which documents the unlikely link between fast-food and Lebanese immigrants, won the 2023 Audience Choice for Best Doc at Northwest International Documentary Festival. He also teaches creative nonfiction at the University of King's College and is the "fake dean" of Pandemic University School of Writing, a virtual school he founded in support of writers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. He lives in Edmonton.