Songs of My Grandmother: On Finding Ourselves, Each Other, and the Things That Make Us Come Alive

(Paperback)

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A compelling blend of personal narrative, universal themes and spiritual exploration to help readers to reflect, connect and find solace in the shared human experience. A poetic memoir that offers comfort, community and belonging through stories of love, loss, pain and rebirth. 'I want to share the stories I kept silent, in the hope that I and those who read my book will feel free from me doing so.' 'Songs' are the stories, poems and prayers of the generations of women who came before. They include the lived experiences of those both older and younger than you, that help you grow and learn to be more yourself, celebrate your individuality and - above all - realize that you are not alone on your journey. The daughter of Pakistani-Muslim immigrants who moved to South Texas to give their daughter a better life, Sara Surani explores universal feelings through poetry, lyrical prose, memoir-style writing and vignettes inspired by her work with women and girls across the globe. Each chapter uses colour to evoke a feeling- Violet- the gut punch of loss Indigo- a slow, lonely grief Blue- anxiety, fear and uncertainty Green- when spring returns to you Yellow- the first ray of sun on snow, a thawing Orange- a warm cup of tea, hope Red- fire, rebirth, an inner spark Delving into these emotions together conjures a deep sense of belonging. So often we are told that the core of spiritual development is 'inner work', but this book is about remembering everything that we share - something that is needed now, more than ever.

Author Bio

Sara Surani is an activist, entrepreneur, educator, public health researcher, and co-founder of She is the Universe - a global movement for girls' empowerment. She has lived and worked all over the world, bridging storytelling with gender equity, health advocacy, and education, from fishing towns in Tanzania to the depths of the Amazon jungle as a Fulbright Scholar. Sara works with community empowerment and entrepreneurship globally, collaborating with grassroots and governments across the US and Latin America. She believes that stories move people and have the power to change the world. A daughter of Pakistani-Muslim immigrants in Texas, Sara earned degrees from Harvard University and Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar. Sara finds home in many people and places and is currently finding home in New York City. www.sheistheuniverse.org