A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
WINNER of the Polari First Book Prize 2021
WINNER of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography
A Dutiful Boy is Mohsin's personal journey from denial to acceptance: a revelatory memoir about the power of love, belonging, and living every part of your identity.
Growing up in a devout Muslim household, it felt impossible for Mohsin to be gay. Unable to be open with his family, and with difficult conditions at school, he felt his opportunities closing around him. Despite the odds, Mohsin's perseverance led him to become the first person from his school to attend Oxford University, where new experiences and encounters helped him to discover who he truly wanted to be. Mohsin was confronted with the biggest decision he would ever make: to live the life that was expected of him or to live as his authentic self.
A Guardian, GQ, and New Statesman Book of the Year
'Genuinely inspiring... Beautifully written, dignified and ultimately redemptive, this challenging story abounds with light and love' Attitude | 'An Incredibly important read' Jyoti Patel
Frequently asked questions
Is A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
Book title mentions violence/war themes. No violence is mentioned in the search results related to the content of the memoir. The search results do not indicate any content that would be classified as scary.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have violence?
Book title mentions violence/war themes. No violence is mentioned in the search results related to the content of the memoir.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have scary content?
The search results do not indicate any content that would be classified as scary.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have religious themes?
The memoir explores Zaidi's upbringing in a Shia Muslim household, which he describes as an 'all-encompassing world' that shaped his identity and expectations. The narrative discusses the impact of his religious background on his personal struggles with his sexuality.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have racial/cultural content?
The memoir discusses Zaidi's experiences as a Pakistani immigrant in Britain, addressing themes of race and belonging. It highlights the intersection of his racial identity with his struggles as a gay man in a conservative environment.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have profanity?
No instances of profanity are mentioned in the search results related to the memoir.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have climate change?
No climate themes are mentioned in the search results related to the memoir.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have sexual identity?
The search results do not indicate any explicit sexual content in the memoir, focusing instead on Zaidi's emotional and psychological journey regarding his sexuality.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have gender roles?
The search results do not indicate any specific discussion of traditional or modern gender roles in the memoir.
Does A Dutiful Boy A memoir of secrets, lies and family love (Winner of the LAMBDA 2021 Literary Award for Best Gay Memoir/Biography) have lgbtq+ themes?
The memoir details Mohsin Zaidi's experiences growing up as a gay Muslim in a devout household, including his struggle to accept his sexuality. The narrative discusses his attempts to 'pray away' his homosexuality and his journey towards self-acceptance, framing LGBTQ+ identity as a central theme.
