Rebellious Daughters launch at Sydney Jewish Writers Festival
Some of Australia’s most talented female writers have teamed up to share their experiences of defying and challenging societal expectations in a new book, Rebellious Daughters.
The Sydney Jewish Writers Festival (SJWF) will host the Sydney launch on Sunday 28 August.
Rebellious Daughters features Jewish, Chinese, Greek, Korean, Australian, Indian, Muslim, Christian, straight and gay writers. Each reveals how they contested conventions and stereotypes to forge their own identities and take control of their lives, in communities where good girls traditionally hold their tongues, obey their elders and wait for marriage to determine their destiny.
Stories in the book explore childhood mischief, the angst of teenage years and conflicted family relationships, offer cautionary fairy tales, and ‘tell all’ about kissing boys and becoming mothers. They will surprise, provoke and delight readers; whether by getting into trouble in a seedy nightclub, reading erotica under the covers by torchlight, or sabotaging their father’s ritual afternoon coffee.
The anthology will be launched at the SJWF by the books’ co-editors. Lee Kofman, who took her Ultra-Orthodox mother to Sexpo, and Maria Katsonis whose mother slammed the door in her face when she came home with a shaved head.
The launch will also feature two of the other contributors – physician and author Dr Leah Kaminsky, and literary editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, Susan Wyndham – who share their own stories of rebellion.
“These disparate tales of women discovering their voices take readers on varied yet overlapping journeys.
“We’ve all grappled with rebellion in our lives – either as rebels or on the receiving end. That’s why these stories will resonate with men as well as women.” said SJWF Program Manager Sharon Berger.
Other contributors to the anthology include Jane Caro, Marion Halligan, Jamila Rivzi, Rebecca Starford, Amra Pajalic, Jo Case, Michelle Law, Caroline Baum, Rochelle Siemienowicz, Nicole Redhouse, Krissy Kneen and Silvia Kwon.
The launch of Rebellious Daughters will take place as part of the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival program on Sunday 28 August from 2:00-3:00pm.
To view the full program and purchase tickets, visit www.sjwf.org.au
