Conversations from Byron
The House of Youssef: Yumna Kassab in conversation with Sunil Badami
This debut collection of short stories by Yumna Kassab is remarkable for its minimalism. Set in the suburbs of Western Sydney, it portrays the lives of Lebanese immigrants, and their families. The stories revolve around their hopes and regrets, their feelings of isolation, and their nostalgia for what they might have lost or left behind.
In particular, The House of Youssef is about relationships, and the customs which complicate them: children growing away from their parents, parents anxious about their children’s futures, the intricacies of marriage, the breakable bonds of friendship. The stories are told with an extreme economy – some are only two pages long – and a spareness of detail which heightens their emotional intensity.
In this Conversations from Byron podcast, Sunil Badami talks with Yumna about the writing of the book, its reception, about growing up in Western Sydney, and how our identity informs our writing.
Thanks to Delta Kay, Arakwal Bundjalung woman, for the Welcome to Country on this podcast.
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About the authors
Yumna Kassab
Yumna Kassab was born and raised in Western Sydney. It is the place she calls home. The House of Youssef is her first book.
Sunil Badami
Sunil Badami is a writer and broadcaster, who’s written for most major Australian publications and appears regularly on ABC radio and TV.
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