About this episode

The episode discusses Yassmin Abdel-Magied's literary fiction debut, At Sea, exploring themes of family and the challenges faced by women in the oil industry.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese diaspora author, screenwriter and award-winning social advocate. She has published six books, including essays in Talking About a Revolution and a series for younger readers, You must be Layla and Listen Layla. Today we’re going to be talking about her latest, literary fiction debut, At Sea. Zainab has spent her life on oil rigs living the fly in fly out life. It’s meant missing out on a lot, including a relationship with her sister. Now she’s in Perth on a promise that she will see her sister through the birth of her first child. This could finally be the chance to repair their relationship. When Zainab’s boss Bryce calls her back from leave to investigate strange goings on on the rig Clarissa Clyde, she knows this could be her big break. Zainab’s reluctant to leave Kareema but thrilled at the opportunity to take charge as a tool pusher. Joining a rig near the end of a drill isn’t easy. As a woman on the rigs Zainab knows she won’t get an easy ride, let alone an open door to the mysteries plaguing the Clarissa Clyde. The rig is almost too perfect and the team are rough but nothing she hasn’t handled. She is determined though, and haunted by…

People in this episode

Guest: Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Topics covered

• literary fiction
• sister relationships
• oil rigs
• thriller
• Sudanese diaspora
• social advocacy

Keywords

• Yassmin Abdel-Magied
• At Sea
• oil rigs
• sister relationship
• literary fiction
• thriller
• Sudanese diaspora

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: At Sea, Talking About a Revolution, You must be Layla, Listen Layla

Places: Perth, Clarissa Clyde

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