Journey of a Thousand Storms: A Refugee's story by Kooshyar Karimi

Journey of a Thousand Storms: A Refugee's story Reviews

• 
  Jill Robbertze

  Wow....A most captivating read !!! Karimi tells the story of his life in Iran where as a Jew he had to pretend to be a muslim. Working as a Doctor, translator and a writer, he was imprisoned for helping desperate women by performing abortions and hymen reconstruction surgeries, in order to save their lives from persecution by the Islamic state. He describes his struggles and escape, and as a refugee, ultimately settling in Australia. This book really gives one a different perspective of what refugees have to endure before they can make a new life.
• 
  A.B. Gayle

  Wonderful story of survival
  
  We need more stories like this. Making "refugees" into people with a background. Once we start seeing them with all their strengths and faults we stop seeing them as a statistic or a headline.
• 
  Judy Wollin

  A moving story of the horrors of being persecuted and driven from your home land. A poignant reminder of the power of kindness
• 
  Julie

  The literary world is full of the tales of refugees and hardship immigrants. Some are written in the eloquent prose of literary fiction, not real life tales but told in such detail and beauty they might be. Others are rougher, more terse, first person memoirs: not as beautiful but ringing much more harrowingly true. This tale is somewhere in between. It's a non-fiction memoir crafted by a gifted author, evoking the literary splendor of a Khaled Hosseini novel. There are so many gaps and inconsistencies in the narrative, though, that if this were fiction it would feel inauthentic and contrived. I don't doubt that this author flouted the laws of oppressive Iran to uphold the ethics of his medical profession, but his relationship with Judaism is bewildering. The narrative explains how his mother, a young Persian Jewish woman who emigrates to Israel ends up back in Iran, the wife of an Iranian Muslim with two other wives. She raises her sons to value (while concealing) their Jewish heritage. Yet, inexplicably she pressures the author into marrying a Muslim woman against his will. Even if all of this is plausible, once the young doctor is discovered for his subversive ways and Jewish heritage, tortured by the oppressive Iranian regime, we learn how he escapes into Turkey under cover of night, but it's never quite explained how or why his Muslim wife drags their daughters from her beloved country for a man she doesn't love.
  
  So, let's say she joins her husband in Turkey for the sake of her daughters, because she wants them to have a father. But then, if the narrative is to be believed, she risks having her daughters starve to death rather than move to Israel or the U.S., even temporarily while the author re-establishes his medical credentials and secures a visa to a different country. She threatens to return to Iran, where she apparently feels unthreatened on behalf of her and her daughters, but doesn't ever actually do that while facing starvation and refusing refugee status in both Israel and the U.S. Against all odds, they receive visas to Australia, where he re-establishes his life as a doctor and both are able to pursue their own desires.
  
  I don't doubt one single element of the refugee experience told here, but the facts of the forced marriage and willingness to let their daughters starve make no sense and and reek of the distortions of a bitter divorce.
• 
  groovygab

  This book broke my heart many times, but the ending is positively triumphant, totally cried. It is a true journey of an Iranian Jewish man seeking asylum from a controlling military regime with his family, and all of the obstacles of finding refuge in Turkey. It’s incredibly heartbreaking to bear witness to the prejudice and hate these people faced on their path to a better life, the amount of “I can’t help you”s they had to grin and bear on the way. Many people could help, but chose not to, and those that did often paid a fatal price. This story was an enlightening reminder of the political, social, and human rights issues that have plagued Iran, and the years-long sacrifices needed to start a new life.
• 
  Ethna Brave

  What a story! The ladies at my new book club had read Karimi's book earlier this year and recommended it to me. I could not put it down and read it in two days. His story is heartbreaking, courageous and inspiring and provides a real insight into the conflict and oppression of life in Iran. His unwavering courage, perseverance and optimism in the face of hardship makes you really value how lucky we are. It's also nice to read about good people, those who have helped refugees and others selflessly. They are often missed out in stories of hardship but Karimi includes them in a very real and human way. His story was inspiring and I have to admit, had me in tears at times.
• 
  Chelsea

  A story that is horrifying, heartwrenching, humbling, honest... and thankfully has a reasonably happy ending. Karimi clearly depicts the dullness and desperation of his time as an asylum seeker in Turkey, and shares the challenges of adapting to life in Australia as a refugee. This book is deeply touching and eye-opening - even more so when you consider that there are millions of people who have gone to similar lengths in search of freedom and safety, each with their own story to tell. Highly recommend.
• 
  Jill

  A bit of a rebel in Iran, Kooshyar been using his medical skills illegally, performing abortions and restoring virginities – saving many women from death by stoning. And then he was kidnapped by the Intelligence Service. Snatched from the street, he was jailed and tortured and then forced to spy for the regime, before finally escaping to Turkey. There he faced a whole new struggle to keep his family safe while awaiting refugee status from the UN. A truly gripping true story
• 
  Lea Manning

  WOW. An extraordinary story of suffering and survival. It emphasizes the horrors brought about by conflict in religion and beliefs. I recommend reading Leila's Secret beforehand to get the background of his life in Iran before the arrest. These experiences need to be shared to help in the fight against persecution!
• 
  Louis

  It was fascinating to read Kooshyar's story of fleeing Iran, the experience whilst seeking asylum and starting a new life.
  Asylum seekers are an emotive topic but Kooshyar is someone who genuinely feared for his life and it was amazing to see how the Iranian Government's reach extends well beyond its boarders.
  This book is definitely worth a read.
• 
  Joan

  An amazing story of resilience and determination. Wonderful story of an Iranian doctor, his life and travails having been jailed, the dangers to himself and his wife and two daughters. Many years of danger and deprivation followed by his settling in Australia and becoming a much revered doctor. A great positive story of a refugee
• 
  Emma

  Well that was a record reading speed! Had me from page 1. Such an eye opener into refugees, religion, power, terror, tradition and determination. Please read, we all need to hear these human, personal stories to try to understand a tiny snippet of what some people have to endure for their safety and life. Well done, so well written, touching, and inspiring.
• 
  Terri Borschman

  A true story of the life of a refugee, showing how naive we are to their suffering and an inspiration to the strength that they possess because of it.
• 
  Robyn Gibson

  Kooshyar Karimi's life story. A Jew living in Iran, married to a Muslim woman chosen for him by his mother. He was captured by Islamic state because he opposed their regime, he was jailed and tortured then forced to spy for the regime. The hardship he, his wife and children went through is unimaginable. He finally comes to Australia and his life changes. He works as a doctor in Tea Gardens, which is just up the road a bit from where I live in New South Wales. An amazing story.
• 
  Kevin Murray

  It is certainly a gripping tale and demonstrates the suffering and anxiety of refugees. I'm not totally convinced that Karimi's problems are a result of his Jewishness though. He does say that he is associated with the monarchist cause, which I would imagine is a much more politically problematic thing than Jewishness. The scenes of his time in Australia are fascinating, but I didn't really get a lot of insight into the culture from his perspective.
• 
  Manju

  Real story of human sufferring, courage, endurance and victory
  
  Touching because it is real. Love for society you care about, family, survival, fight, patience, continuous struggle and final victory.
  
  Message is loud and clear - do not give up in adverse situations, keep going and victory will be yours.
• 
  Peter

  Amazing what some people go through just to live a life that most of us take for granted.
  
  This book is a real eye opener, beautifully written without unnecessary detail. I will definitely be looking to read more books by this author.
• 
  Flem Greene

  The sad thing is that this still story is played out on a daily basis as millions of displaced people seek the basic human right of safety for themselves and there loved ones. A harrowing story of survival.
• 
  Lucy

  I couldn't put this book down. The author is a gifted writer and the story of his remarkable life is breath-taking.
• 
  Jenny

  Although this memoir is written in a simple easy-to-read style, the story that is told is full of unbelievable drama. It highlights some of the best and worst of humanity.
• 
  Jultri

  Fascinating.
• 
  Lyn

  A touching, in depth retelling of a young doctor's journey through his war-torn homeland and his successful new life in his new country.
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  Ali McDonald

  I really liked this book, once I started I just could not put it down.. I am horrified at what humans do to other humans but also loved how Kooshyar rose above it to become successful in Australia..