Author(s): Amani Haydar

Adult | Young Adult | Western Sydney Authors | New Arrivals

"Whether you are my brother in faith or only in humanity, if you are not ready to listen, to help change the story, you cannot have mine."

This is the story of Amani Haydar, of her mother who was killed by Amani's father, and of her grandmother whose life was taken during the Lebanese Civil War. Amani recounts the harsh reality of women who fall victim to domestic violence and war, their voices forever fading amidst a world of criticism and conflict.

This book is a genuine testimony to pain and transformation, where we witness chapters of suffering revealed by death, and questions about beliefs, family relationships, and motherhood in particular. What is a mother? What is her image in memory and in reality? These social questions revolve within the context of confronting the past and the present simultaneously.

The Mother Wound is an example of beautiful, courageous writing—a story of the resilience of women and motherhood anywhere in the world. By sharing her story so truthfully, Amani empowers survivors of violence to reclaim their voices and find strength in their own stories.

Amani aptly drew inspiration for the title of her debut memoir from the concept of "the mother wound," the generational traumas passed down from mothers to daughters.

This Arabic edition was translated by Rania Hashem and Ahmed Hawza for Mazoun.