Marrying Ameera
July 2nd 2010 04:29
Original Creative Writing:
Rosanne Hawke
Link: www.harpercollins.com.au
Marrying Ameera
Rosanne Hawke
In her touching, and at times, confronting new novel, Marrying Ameera, award- winning Australian author Rosanne Hawke explores the complexities of arranged marriage in today's society, and reveals the startling impact of the old-world practice that still occurs regularly in Western countries, including Australia.
For Rosanne, it was her experiences travelling and living in Pakistan that inspired her to delve behind the issue of forced marriage.
About Marrying Ameera:
Ameera is an average Australian teenager. She doesn't realise it, but her Pakistani father has made plans to marry her off to a wealthy cousin in his home country. After her freedom is taken from her, Ameera realises that she is trapped - she will have to go through with the marriage. With the help of an organisation that rescues girls in Ameera's situation, Ameera fights to escape from Pakistan and win back her life.
This story of forbidden love demonstrates the gulf between two cultures and invites young adults to question their own cultural norms, morality and opinions on often unexplored issues.
About the author:
Rosanne Hawke lives in rural South Australia in an old Cornish farmhouse. She has written over 16 books for young people including The Keeper, Soraya the Storyteller, and Mustara. Many of her books have been shortlisted in Australian Awards or were Notable Books in the Australian Book Council Awards. Across the Creek won the Holyer an Gof Award in Cornwall. Rosanne has been a teacher, and for almost 10 years was an aid worker in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. She is a Carclew, Asialink, Varuna and May Gibbs Fellow, and a Bard of Cornwall. Rosanne enjoys writing about family, multicultural issues, music and cats. Her black cat is called Pepper Masalah. She teaches Creative Writing at Tabor Adelaide and writes in an underground room.
Rosanne Hawke
A thrilling read - Four stars.
- Australian Bookseller and Publisher
- Australian Bookseller and Publisher
In her touching, and at times, confronting new novel, Marrying Ameera, award- winning Australian author Rosanne Hawke explores the complexities of arranged marriage in today's society, and reveals the startling impact of the old-world practice that still occurs regularly in Western countries, including Australia.
A 17-year-old Sydney girl has saved herself from being forced to go to Lebanon for an arranged marriage by calling the Australian Federal Police
ABC News, 3 June 2010
Scared teen calls police to stop arranged marriage
The Daily Telegraph, 3 June 2010
The Daily Telegraph, 3 June 2010
Women reveal the pain of forced marriages
Kent News, 20 June 2010
Kent News, 20 June 2010
A schoolgirl of Turkish descent was forced into an engagement arranged by her parents - She eventually fled, but her family soon tracked her down
The Star (Canada), 15 June 2010
The Star (Canada), 15 June 2010
For Rosanne, it was her experiences travelling and living in Pakistan that inspired her to delve behind the issue of forced marriage.
In 2006 I was visiting Pakistan and my host school in Murree, Northern Pakistan, became a base to travel from. The school was tight on security due to a terrorist attack four years previously, but since I had my husband with me I was able to take many research trips - including to Azad Kashmir and other the earthquake-affected areas.
It was on that trip to Azad Kashmir that we met an English couple who knew a man from the Forced Marriage Unit in the British Consulate. I immediately could see the idea for a new novel. I started collecting folktales, cloth, patterns for outfits, news clippings and Pakistani literature.
Although I had spent seven years in Pakistan when I was younger I felt that this time I understood the richness of the culture so much more than I did before. I was able to visit in local homes, even overnight, and gained much insight into the Pakistani people and customs, including experiencing first hand Pathan hospitality with its gun firing at parties, and honour, segregation and protection of women
For me writing is a way of talking, a way of interacting with the world and making sense of what I hear and see. Sooner or later what I experience becomes assimilated into my work, and that has happened with what I saw and experienced in Pakistan and Marrying Ameera
Rosanne Hawke
It was on that trip to Azad Kashmir that we met an English couple who knew a man from the Forced Marriage Unit in the British Consulate. I immediately could see the idea for a new novel. I started collecting folktales, cloth, patterns for outfits, news clippings and Pakistani literature.
Although I had spent seven years in Pakistan when I was younger I felt that this time I understood the richness of the culture so much more than I did before. I was able to visit in local homes, even overnight, and gained much insight into the Pakistani people and customs, including experiencing first hand Pathan hospitality with its gun firing at parties, and honour, segregation and protection of women
For me writing is a way of talking, a way of interacting with the world and making sense of what I hear and see. Sooner or later what I experience becomes assimilated into my work, and that has happened with what I saw and experienced in Pakistan and Marrying Ameera
Rosanne Hawke
Ameera is an average Australian teenager. She doesn't realise it, but her Pakistani father has made plans to marry her off to a wealthy cousin in his home country. After her freedom is taken from her, Ameera realises that she is trapped - she will have to go through with the marriage. With the help of an organisation that rescues girls in Ameera's situation, Ameera fights to escape from Pakistan and win back her life.
This story of forbidden love demonstrates the gulf between two cultures and invites young adults to question their own cultural norms, morality and opinions on often unexplored issues.
About the author:
Rosanne Hawke lives in rural South Australia in an old Cornish farmhouse. She has written over 16 books for young people including The Keeper, Soraya the Storyteller, and Mustara. Many of her books have been shortlisted in Australian Awards or were Notable Books in the Australian Book Council Awards. Across the Creek won the Holyer an Gof Award in Cornwall. Rosanne has been a teacher, and for almost 10 years was an aid worker in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. She is a Carclew, Asialink, Varuna and May Gibbs Fellow, and a Bard of Cornwall. Rosanne enjoys writing about family, multicultural issues, music and cats. Her black cat is called Pepper Masalah. She teaches Creative Writing at Tabor Adelaide and writes in an underground room.
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