Month: August 2017

‘I have stories I want to tell’

On By More to the StoryIn book review, Events

Want to read a magical story about an amazing family set alongside a gripping political commentary?  The enlightenment of the greengage tree by my good friend Shokoofeh Azar, which will be launched this week in Australia, does just that.Enlightenment of the greengage tree cover

Living a large part of her life in Iran means most of Shokoofeh’s writing has been published in Farsi. This is her first novel to be written and translated into English with Western readers in mind. It is an opportunity for us to experience the art of Persian story-telling in the style of magical realism at its best. Alice Pung wrote in an early review: ‘It is incredible. I have never heard such a voice before… Azar writes about Iranian history with the lightness of a feather’s touch. Transcendental, brilliant and beautiful.’

Shokoofeh came to Australia in 2010 as a political refugee by boat. Sadly sometimes Australians find this the most interesting thing about her. On a blog by Rashida Murphy, another novelist, Shokoofeh said: ‘Surviving a boat journey does not define a person for life. How I got here is not what I’m about. I have stories I want to tell. I paint. I’m a mother.’

Shokoofeh’s book is published by the small independent publisher Wild Dingo and is being launched by Professor Baden Offord, the Director of the Centre for Human Rights Education on Friday 18 August at the Centre for Stories.

This is a book that represents the rich literary tradition of Iran. I loved it.

Shokoofeh Azar

Waleed Aly at the Centre for Human Rights Education

On By More to the StoryIn Events

This year’s Annual Human Rights Lecture at the Curtin University Centre for Human Rights Education will be delivered by Waleed Aly.image003 (1)

Widely known as the co-host of Network TEN’s The Project, Waleed Aly is a broadcaster, author, academic, musician and one of Australia’s most respected and versatile media talents.

His social and political commentary has produced an award-winning book and multiple literary short-listings. His debut book, People Like Us: How arrogance is dividing Islam and the West (Picador, 2007), was shortlisted for several awards including the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards and for Best Newcomer at the 2008 Australian Book Industry Awards. In 2014 he was awarded the prestigious Walkley Award for Commentary, Analysis, Opinion and Critique.

The inaugural Curtin Annual Human Rights Lecture delivered by Professor Gillian Triggs was excellent.  There is a link on the Research and Reports page of this site to view the lecture.

The lecture is on Saturday 19 August starting at 3:45pm. It is free, but you need to register quickly as places are filling fast. All the details are on the Centre for Human Rights Education website.