A Tale of Two Omars

A Memoir of Family, Revolution, and Coming Out During the Arab Spring

By: Omar Sharif Jr

Narrated by: Omar Sharif Jr

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

"A powerful and essential memoir of self-discovery... Brimming with beautiful remembrances of his grandfather and terrifying stories of abuse and homophobia, this is an essential book that shines a much-needed light on the intersection of Arab and queer identity." - Abdi Nazemian, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of Like a Love Story, a Stonewall Honor Book

The grandson of Hollywood royalty on his father’s side and Holocaust survivors on his mother’s, Omar Sharif Jr. learned early on how to move between worlds, from the Montreal suburbs to the glamorous orbit of his grandparents’ Cairo. His famous name always protected him wherever he went. When, in the wake of the Arab Spring, he made the difficult decision to come out in the pages of The Advocate, he knew his life would forever change. What he didn’t expect was the backlash that followed.

From bullying, to illness, attempted suicide, becoming a victim of sex trafficking, death threats by the thousands, revolution and never being able to return to a country he once called home, Omar Sharif Jr. has overcome more challenges than one might imagine. Drawing on the lessons he learned from both sides of his family, A Tale of Two Omars charts the course of an iconoclastic life, revealing in the process the struggles and successes that attend a public journey of self-acceptance and a life dedicated in service to others.

©2021 by Omar Sharif Jr. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[Sharif] shares the ups and downs of his once privileged life with an earnestness that will draw listeners close.... His unflinching descriptions of death threats, and worse, are delivered with a poignancy that evokes deep empathy. His well-paced performance might remind some of his grandfather's talents. Though the chapters are told in precise, modulated tones, Sharif shares deeply personal details that belie his formal tone. Listeners will feel like they are his confidants.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“This book is the fascinating and inspiring odyssey of one man’s quest to be his authentic self - a difficult enough task for anyone, but try adding gay, Muslim and Jewish into the mix!” (Alan Cumming)

"A Tale of Two Omars is a story of freedom. It’s about taking all your challenges and privileges, owning them and using them to live a life in charge." (Diane von Furstenberg)

"In a story made for the screen, Omar rips away the bandages and exposes the many scars of his past. Harrowing and haunting, but shared with hope and humility, A Tale of Two Omars reminds us how important it is to live our truths without shame. The message is clear: Don’t let the past define your future, have it inform and illuminate a future path." (Rosanna Arquette, BAFTA winner, Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress)

Very human story despite the overcast privilege

The human story and the foundation of this book is quite apparent early on. Omar Junior certainly has How did lifeexperiences that were only made possible because of his privilege and opportunity afforded by his name and family

Courageous, Inspiring and Empowering!

A very engaging story of courage in overcoming fear, finding strength and hope in the face of adversity.

The whole world was wrong

Arab-world-view, assault, biography, Canadian, Egyptian, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-history, historical-places-events, history-and-culture, homophobia, LGBTQIA, memoir, Muslim, nonfiction, read, triggers*****

*Started slow but then got better
*Content warning for sexual assault
*Interesting and insightful regarding the intersections of family,
culture, and religion and on the ways in which they impact the big and small
decisions we choose.
*Important reading to not forget the value of progress, even amidst setbacks
*Reminder that for all the progress LGBTQ folks may have achieved, there's
still more growth needed everywhere.
I first bought the audio (rarely can do better than listening to an author narrate) and then bought the book to share.

Captivating, inspiring, honest, funny, emotional

Wow what a life journey! This heartfelt and global story is for everyone in all walks of life and has messages anyone can connect with.

Captivating, inspiring, and beautiful. Written through a compassionate and empathetic lens as well as humorous and light hearted at the right moments.

Bravo 👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼