Headstrong women and vibrant imagery take centre stage in Nadia Mahjouri’s debut novel, Half Truth, in which themes of belonging and identity meld with those of motherhood and family to create a rich and powerful story of a grandmother and granddaughter united in their uncertainty by the absence of one man.
In 1999, Zahra begins to re-examine her identity and relationship with her father’s heritage following the birth of her son. Desperate for a sense of belonging and believing she may find answers in her absent father, Ahmed, she decides to take her baby to Morocco in search of him. While she finds a welcoming and loving extended family, no one knows where Ahmed is.
Meanwhile, Zahra’s grandmother Khadija, on death’s doorstep, relives her childhood, her marriage and move to Marrakech and the troubles that plagued her as a daughter, wife, mother and friend. Zahra, finding a box of Khadija’s memories, soon believes that the older woman may know more about Ahmed’s disappearance.
There are so many things to love about this book. In the author’s note, Mahjouri notes that this fictional tale is based on real life experiences, and the vibrancy of the settings and intensity of the emotions is a testament to the authenticity of the experience. From the small island cottage in south Tasmania, to the bustling streets of Marrakech, and the rural towns in between, the imagery is vivid, and the places feel alive with rich detail.
Likewise, Zahra and Khadija’s emotional journeys and relationships with the people around them feel equally complex and their behaviour is nuanced and messy, just as in real life. Both women’s stories feel like a coming of age. Even Khadija, who moves through the various stages of her life, seems to come of age again and again as her story unfolds.
Zahra’s journey as a biracial woman is also particularly of note as she searches for a sense of belonging. Constantly singled out as ‘different’ in Australia because of the way she looks, she is equally ‘different’ in Morocco for her behaviour and beliefs and her lack of cultural knowledge. Mahjouri deftly explores the complex emotions, both difficult but also positive, of the biracial experience.
This story didn’t end where or how I thought it would. The final part was a surprise as I thought the main character growth had already happened, and yet Mahjouri reminds us that endings are not always final in real life, and that we are continually growing and reacknowledging our growth.
Half Truth is a complex, delightful, powerful and sobering story. I was enraptured by the inclusion of Moroccan history which I knew nothing about, and the reflections on culture and cultural differences that remind us of the multitude of ways to live and experience life.
If settings that make you feel like you are actually in the location and multigenerational tales of family drama appeal to you, don’t miss Nadia Mahjouri’s Half Truth. It is a touching exploration of the feminine experience and the role of family and culture in a sense of belonging and self-belief.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Nadia Mahjouri’s Half Truth is out now through Penguin. Grab yourself a copy from your local bookstore HERE.
Header Image supplied by Penguin
