Sign in Subscribe
2 min read

Head Above Water: Reflections on Illness

Head Above Water: Reflections on Illness
Set on a black background, a black-and-white photo of a woman's face in profile points upwards, her eyes closed. Small orange dots surround the face in a rippling shape. Large white block text in all-caps at the top of cover reads "HEAD ABOVE WATER" and below, in smaller orange text, "Reflections on Illness." The author's name, Shahd Alshammari, is also printed at the top of the cover in white block lettering.

Hello hello! I'm thrilled to offer 8 paperback copies of Head Above Water: Reflections on Illness by Shahd Alshammari available now from Feminist Press. Details below.

Set on a black background, a black-and-white photo of a woman's face in profile points upwards, her eyes closed. Small orange dots surround the face in a rippling shape. Large white block text in all-caps at the top of cover reads "HEAD ABOVE WATER" and below, in smaller orange text, "Reflections on Illness." The author's name, Shahd Alshammari, is also printed at the top of the cover in white block lettering.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Shahd Alshammari is just eighteen when she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and told by her neurologist that she would not make it past age thirty. Despite what she is told, by thirty, she has become a professor of literature, and has managed to navigate education systems in both Kuwait and the United Kingdom and inspire generations of students.
Head above Water is the intimate, philosophical memoir of Shahd Alshammari's life of triumph and resistance, as a woman marked "ill" by society and as a lifelong reader, student, and teacher. Charting her journey with raw honesty, Alshammari explores disability, displacement, and belonging—not only of the body, but of culture, gender, and race, and imparts wisdom of profound philosophical value throughout. It is people, human connections, that keep us afloat, she argues—"and in storytelling we have the power to gain a sense of agency over our lives."
Shahd Alshammari is a Kuwaiti-Palestinian woman with brown skin and shoulder-length, wavy black hair. She is smiling, wearing black rimmed glasses and red lipstick, and a white blazer over a white ruffled blouse. A full bookshelf is visible in the background of the photo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shahd Alshammari is a Kuwaiti-Palestinian author and academic.

DETAILS

1) Any disabled person in the US is eligible for this giveaway. You do not need to disclose any details about your disability.

If you already received a book from one of my previous giveaways, please consider letting other people have a chance.

2) The first 8 people will receive a paperback. If you do not receive a reply that means the books have been claimed or you did not include all the required information.

3) Send an email to DisabilityVisibilityProject@gmail.com with ‘Shahd Alshammari Giveaway’ in the title of the message. Do not reply to this post!!

4) Include the following information in your message:

  • First and last name
  • Mailing address

Please note: I will send this information along with your email address to the publisher. They are responsible for confirming your details and sending you the book. Please be patient!

If you want to be a paid subscriber smash this button!
Sign up for this newsletter for free!

Published by:

Alice Wong

Member discussion