Southbank writers read with Ava Homa at Joy Kogawa House

Joy Kogawa House photo TLC

On Monday evening, Joy Kogawa House hosted a garden reading that featured writers from SFU Southbank. Anne Marie Metten welcomed visitors to the house, and Wayde Compton, Director of The Writers' Studio, introduced the readers.

Katherine Wagner kicked off the evening with a short story about a woman stuck in a remote wilderness cabin with a dead man.

Next up was Charlene Kwiatkowski, with a charming meditation on Emma Clarke, owner of the genteel voice that speaks to the riders of the Tube in London, telling them the stops, and warning them to mind the gap, but "never nagging."

Janet McLarty Fretter read a vignette of a woman who is reminded of her feelings of rage against the dropping of napalm during the Vietnam War when she hears the voice of Kim Phuc, the "Naked girl" in the famous picture.

Veeno Dewan was rewarded with laughter several times as he read his story about an unruly group of gods in heaven having a meeting just before the long weekend. The narration focuses on the tribulations of the Adjudicator in his role as chair. His patience is worn thin as the gods neglect their paperwork, flounce in late, argue, flirt and play with their iphones.

Following a short intermission, the second part of the program was more somber. The current writer in residence, Ava Homa, read from her work in progress. This is a fictional memoir based on the history of a real political prisoner who was jailed in Iran for teaching Kurdish language and literature.

The man who inspired Homa's story described life inside the jail in a series of letters that were distributed widely through social media. Homa's tale was accompanied by cellist Robin and keyboard player Farshad.

The guests were served lime cordial as they mingled and chatted. The writers, in keeping with tradition, had their photos taken with a life-size cardboard replica of Joy Kogawa. This picture was created to honour Joy as one of the featured British Columbians to be celebrated at the 150th anniversary "party" at the Royal BC Museum.