CHAPPAQUA, N.Y., March 1, 2012 -- Every culture and family has stories known only to a small inner circle. Some are hidden to protect another person. Others aren't safe to tell, or are too painful to remember. Nine Rubies , by Mahru Ghashghaei as told to Susan Snyder, demonstrates the healing power of friendship and of sharing personal stories. The book, also available as an e-book, serves as a testament to struggles faced by women and children worldwide. It demonstrates how having the freedom and courage to speak out can provide hope, strength, and a powerful key to change.
Mahru Ghashghaei's book begins in strife-ridden Iran with stories of a father's abandonment, a sister's abuse, and a shocking family secret that nearly destroyed Mahru's life. Her ability to persevere led her to nursing and to counseling teens. She trained medical volunteers during the Iran-Iraq War and, with a group of Iranian friends, adopted 9 orphaned boys to keep them out of foster care and protect them during the war.
When staying in Iran became untenable, Mahru left her sisters and mother. She started a new life here with her husband and sons, staying connected with family in Iran, but keeping her own stories buried. She never imagined that a parent workshop given by Susan Snyder, who runs an educational consulting company and had begun collecting family oral histories, would give her stories new purpose. Mahru and Susan's initial trust began over tea as the mothers of sons who were friends, but deepened as they nurtured the seeds of a powerful story.
Mahru, who lives in New Jersey, and Susan, who's in Connecticut, give lectures together about the book and their experiences. These bittersweet tales from the Middle East are like many people's stories – of neglect, fear, emotional and physical abuse, and being a child left to cope when adults were unable to provide sustenance.
Nine Rubies , http://www.ninerubiesthebook.com, is a compelling reminder of everyday life in a closed society that most know through the religious and political power struggles that take place on the world stage. It reminds us that the restriction of freedom touches every village and town, ultimately impacting each person who has a burden to bear and to overcome.
SOURCE IDEAS: Inventive Designs for Education & Arts
Mahru Ghashghaei's book begins in strife-ridden Iran with stories of a father's abandonment, a sister's abuse, and a shocking family secret that nearly destroyed Mahru's life. Her ability to persevere led her to nursing and to counseling teens. She trained medical volunteers during the Iran-Iraq War and, with a group of Iranian friends, adopted 9 orphaned boys to keep them out of foster care and protect them during the war.When staying in Iran became untenable, Mahru left her sisters and mother. She started a new life here with her husband and sons, staying connected with family in Iran, but keeping her own stories buried. She never imagined that a parent workshop given by Susan Snyder, who runs an educational consulting company and had begun collecting family oral histories, would give her stories new purpose. Mahru and Susan's initial trust began over tea as the mothers of sons who were friends, but deepened as they nurtured the seeds of a powerful story.
Mahru, who lives in New Jersey, and Susan, who's in Connecticut, give lectures together about the book and their experiences. These bittersweet tales from the Middle East are like many people's stories – of neglect, fear, emotional and physical abuse, and being a child left to cope when adults were unable to provide sustenance.
Nine Rubies , http://www.ninerubiesthebook.com, is a compelling reminder of everyday life in a closed society that most know through the religious and political power struggles that take place on the world stage. It reminds us that the restriction of freedom touches every village and town, ultimately impacting each person who has a burden to bear and to overcome.
SOURCE IDEAS: Inventive Designs for Education & Arts
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