Arts & Cultural Exchange - ACE - A Western Sydney Book Club

This October, join us for A Western Sydney Book Club as Amani Haydar leads a conversation on Rebirth, the debut non-fiction work by Lebanese-Australian journalist Antoun Issa.

About the Book

Rebirth: A Love Story From the Depths of War tells the true story of Antoun Issa’s mother, Laila Khalil, and her journey through love, loss, war and migration.

Set in Beirut from 1974, the book follows Laila as her hopes for the future are upended by the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. Amid violence, tragedy and displacement, the possibility of migration to Australia offers the chance to begin again.

At once an intimate family story and a portrait of survival, Rebirth explores war, memory, migration, resilience and the meaning of home.

Event Details

When: Friday, 30 October – 6:30pm-8pm
Where: ACE Parramatta, 8 Victoria Rd
This is a free event, but registrations are essential! Get your ticket via the link below.

Light refreshments will be offered. Please join us from 6:30pm for a 7pm start.

Reserve Your Spot Here!

About Antoun Issa

Antoun Issa is a Lebanese-Australian journalist and co-founder of Deepcut News.

His career has taken him from Beirut, where he worked as a news editor at Al-Monitor during the Arab Spring, to Washington DC with the Middle East Institute and The Atlantic, before returning to Australia and working with Guardian Australia.

Rebirth draws on his mother’s experiences of the Lebanese Civil War, bringing an intimate family history of conflict, migration and renewal to the page.

About Amani Haydar

Amani Haydar is an award-winning author, visual artist, lawyer and advocate for women’s health and safety, based on Dharug land.

Her acclaimed memoir The Mother Wound explores the impacts of gender-based violence and state-sanctioned abuse on women and received the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Non-fiction.

About the Book

Event Details

About Antoun Issa

Antoun Issa is a Lebanese-Australian journalist and co-founder of Deepcut News.

His career has taken him from Beirut, where he worked as a news editor at Al-Monitor during the Arab Spring, to Washington DC with the Middle East Institute and The Atlantic, before returning to Australia and working with Guardian Australia.

Rebirth draws on his mother’s experiences of the Lebanese Civil War, bringing an intimate family history of conflict, migration and renewal to the page.

About Amani Haydar

Amani Haydar is an award-winning author, visual artist, lawyer and advocate for women’s health and safety, based on Dharug land.

Her acclaimed memoir The Mother Wound explores the impacts of gender-based violence and state-sanctioned abuse on women and received the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Non-fiction.

Amani was the lead writer of the Think and Do Tank’s Weekend Writer’s Residency earlier this year and has recently commenced her PhD with UTS Law.

**Amani will lead a discussion exploring the key themes and ideas in Rebirth.**

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