Half Mother

With delicately drawn characters, Shahnaz Bashir tells the heartbreaking story of one woman s battle for life, dignity and justice. Mirza Waheed, author of The Collaborator The night is tired now, the old moon, hanging in the dark sky, is tired too It is the 1990s, and Kashmir s long war has begun to claim its firstvictims. Among them are Ghulam Rasool Joo, Haleema s father, andher teenage son Imran, who is picked up by the authorities only todisappear into the void of Kashmir s missing people.The Half Mother is the story of Haleema a mother and adaughter yesterday, a half mother and an orphan today; tormentedby not knowing whether Imran is dead or alive, torn apart by herown lonely existence. While she battles for answers and seeks outtorture camps, jails and morgues for any signs of Imran, Kashmirburns in a war that will haunt it for years to come.Heart-wrenching, deeply troubling and written in lyrical prose, TheHalf Mother marks the debut of a bold new voice from Kashmir.'