The Glory Garage: Growing up Lebanese Muslim in Australia

(Paperback)

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Description

We call the obsession with collecting household items for married life the glory garage syndrome. We're talking serious shopping here and it affects many Lebanese girls long before an engagement ring is on their finger.

A generation ago, our parents migrated to Australia as young men and women, leaving their families behind in Lebanon. They worked hard in factories and shops and taxis in their new country. We were born here and consider ourselves Australian, but we don't want to deny our Lebanese heritage. At times we feel like we live in two worlds. We are torn between two cultures, when we want to be both.

In these fascinating and candid real-life stories, journalists Nadia Jamal and Taghred Chandab reveal the dilemmas of young people trying to be true to the values of their parents and also be true to themselves.

Reviews

'a frank yet loving exploration of second-generation Lebanese Australians' attitudes to their parents, their religion and their community.' Age, 9/7/05.'extremely timely...an insight into the everyday dilemmas these young people face in a secular society...a wonderfully diverse collection of stories' Reading TimeVol 49:4'the gentle way in which many Islamic customs are demystified allows the reader a greater understanding of life as a Muslim woman, making this a most worthwhile addition to multicultural literature.'Reading TimeVol 50:3

Author Bio

Nadia Jamal has been a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald since 1997, and is currently Deputy Chief of Staff. She has worked on the World desk, helping to coordinate coverage of major events including the war in Iraq, and editing the daily pages. She has also been the Herald's Night Chief of Staff and education and urban affairs writer. Nadia is studying law and has participated in the Edward R. Murrow program for journalists, organised by the US State Department.

Taghred Chandab was a producer of 2UE's Steve Price show and more recently a freelance producer at the ABC. She now works as a journalist for the Sun Herald newspaper in Sydney.