Streams that Lead Somewhere

by Fareh Malik

Winner of the RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award, 2022
Winner of the 2023 Hamilton Literary Award for Poetry

Fareh Malik’s debut collection aims to explore the intersection between mental illness and social racialization. The poet dives deep into his long history with Islamophobia, racism, and other forms of discrimination. The book focuses on perseverance and the silver lining that is ever on the horizon with the expectation that you can make it out of any trial or tribulation, if you just follow your dream to wherever it leads.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2022

Reviews

[Alyssa Nedich-Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful beautiful work. I’ve found myself reading and re-reading many of these pieces over and over again throughout the day. There is so much to connect to and resonate with on these pages.

[Jasim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere between the cross-section of embracing a cultural identity while still trying to navigate presence in a new terrain and all of the challenges that come with it is where you’ll find this book. It does a remarkable job at capturing the highs and lows of life, love, culture, and struggle that resonate within all of us. This book gives glimpses of the familiar concepts we face every day, but painted with beautiful and complex verbal imagery that makes you realize how shallow our understanding of ourselves can sometimes be after seeing it compared to the depths that the author takes us to and makes us realize during the journeys that this book travels through.

[Keisha Gobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While searching for a new poetry book, I picked “Streams that Lead Somewhere” off the shelf at my local library. I opened it to Aftershock and was hooked. Malik’s lyricism, punctuation, and delivery elegantly address not-so-elegant themes of mental health, racism, and love. The author is able to toe the line between heart-wrenching and hopeful with a genuine voice. This was a captivating read that resonated deeply - I couldn’t put it down.

[Tayyeba Khokhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Streams that Lead Somewhere was an absolutely amazing read that I would recommend to everyone. It was so raw, real and relatable and it reels you into the emotional life of the Author. You will not be able to keep this book down. Each poem is written so beautifully and so authentically that you will want to keep reading for more. Looking forward to more amazing books.

[Reynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read and beautifully written. Very cool little details in the book that make the read even better the second time around!!

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fareh Malik’s debut poetry collection Streams that Lead Somewhere explores depression, racism, grief and love with a tenderheartedness that captivated me. These poems, tied together by Malik’s earnestness and hope, normalize depression, celebrate love, and search for a sense of belonging.

Many poems are about being a child of diaspora and it was interesting to read a different perspective on many things I’m familiar with, like microagressions and being othered for having brown skin. Malik reflects on how his experiences have impacted him and provides sharp commentary on bigotry, racism and Islamophobia. Something that stood out to me is the way he writes about brownness with honesty and softness, showing readers the beauty of brown skin.

These poems also explore mental illness without sensationalizing it. Malik describes depression with sincerity and his poems contemplate many questions, such as how do you move forward while experiencing mental illness? How do you carry on when confronted by bigotry? What is worth holding on to? We find the answers in Malik’s poems about love and family. These poems are hopeful and are a bright juxtaposition to the rest of the book.

By laying bare his struggles, Fareh Malik makes the reader feel less alone. This book is an invitation to be vulnerable; to lay your worries down and accept the parts of yourself that you might not like. It’s also an invitation to stay, to take a chance, and to hold on to and follow your dreams. This book is a balm for the weary, a beacon of hope, and an ode to being alive.

[rexrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

The flow is seamless and the common thread of hope weaves them all together well. It stirred up many emotions in me that I had to clutch my chest repeatedly. Personal favorites are: Amazon, Wherever They Erect Statues of the Tyrants, We Will Say, Worrisome, and I Don't Cry Often, But When I Do.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!

This book has so many fantastic poems in it. The collection itself is easily accessible and understandable. Themes of Islamaphobia, mental health, and belonging are clear throughout the entire collection. The writing is also really lyrical, I truly loved it.

[selin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I gasped so many times when reading this poetry collection. It was absolutely beautiful and I loved it so much. The writing was incredible and the poetry was so moving.
Shoutout to my poetry class professor for putting me on this and lending me the book

[Morgan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and poignant. Heartbreaking and hopeful. This book is a beautiful rollercoaster of feeling.

[Mustafa Karemzadah · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter how stoic you may think you are this book will evoke emotion out of you and you will have your breadth of empathy and contemplation expanded.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good debut collection! Can clearly see the potential the author has.

[Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful poems -- especially if you have the pleasure of hearing Fareh read them out loud. There were so many poignant, lyrical, image-laden passages that were nonetheless perfectly, painfully relatable.