Mother/Son relationship

[Iva Stoyanova]

We get to see only his point of view. Mothers love all their children the same; he just sees things from his perspective. Also, he wanted to acknowledge his wonderful relationship with his mother and give her the recognition she deserves.

[Nitika Sood]

While their relationship might seem to good to be true, I've been privelged enough to have been raised by an extremely loving and affectionate mother, so this doesn't seem as preposterous to me. Perhaps when Dr. Berrah found her standing near his bed, looking upon him adoringly, she had just come to check on him at night and he woke up. Its very obvious from the book that he shows a very deep and heartfelt connection with his mother and that she played a pivotal role in his life. But if she is, in fact, the saint of a mother that he painted her out to be, then she most likely treated her other children similarly. He hasn't mentioned his siblings much in the book, so you can't really tell what kind of a relationship they had with the mother, but unless she was hugely biased towards Dr. Berrah, she was just a good mother in general.

[Ngelani R]

It's natural for a mother to have her favorite child among the children. According to the writer's descriptions throughout the story, his mother really loved him.

[LeighBee]

I thought the mother-son relationship was entirely believable. I hope that both of my boys feel like he is the most special to me, despite my love for them being equal. I also thought the scene where the mother has a supernatural connection with Berrah - when she knows he has gotten hurt - is something that I would have rolled my eyes at before having children, but now I have the same sense.

[kdstrack]

It made a difference that he was the only surviving son. Both of the twins died (p. 23), and after his father died, his mother refused to remarry. As the only remaining son, he did have a special place in his mother's heart. He might have embellished the relationship that he had with her, but I am glad that he remembers her that way. He expresses honor and respect for all she did for him. I also think that as you mature, you learn to cherish the positive memories and appreciate the person more as you realize what they sacrificed for your future.

[Drianie]

Even though we only get to see events from his perspective, I'd like to believe his mother loved all her children equally. The fact that he was the only surviving son might have made their bond a bit more special, but she did ask him to care for his sisters, indicating that she cared for them also. I think their relationship was beautiful, and this was his way of honoring her memory.

[Mtibza eM]

Their relationship was beautiful because it was relatable. Even my mother likes to tell me that even though I am taller than her, she will always be my mother and older than me. I mean? It's not like...but anyway It's was refreshing to witness such a close relationship. It was a tight-knited relationship.

[lavkathleen]

"Embellishment" is taking a little too far. The author did his best to put their mother-son relationship and their affection for each other into words. Because of that effort, it seems to me that they had a really loving and caring relationship that a lot of people could only ask for.

[lavkathleen]

Indeed, there are some aspects that seem to be too good to be true. Besides, thinking that his mother was so kind and affable it's hard to think that she would only care for him and not for his siblings. Maybe he saw his mother standing by his bed one time and thought that it could be a good image to illustrate her kindness. It's something hard to explain though.

Of course, he wouldn't be able to tell if their mother did the same thing for his siblings or not, unless they told him. Besides, with the way he was describing her, it would be weird to think that she only did it with him. It's also not suffice to use it to measure her love for them and her motherhood.

[lavkathleen]

Theauthors mother seemed to be very caring but then again we only see it from his point of view. He doesn’t seem to include many memories of his siblings. However, As I read, I do think he had a good relationship with his mother. I enjoyed this book and i recommend it.

Right? He barely mentioned them, to the point where I almost forgot he even had siblings. But going back to their mother-son relationship, they definitely had a loving relationship. With the way he described her, I like to think she treated her other children the same way.

[lavkathleen]

I don't think that it was too good a relationship to be real. His mother may have been more fond of him, seeing as he was the only surviving son. Of course, since the story is completely from his viewpoint, it seems like she loved him more. But, as shown by her dying request for him to look after his sisters, she loved the other girls. All in all, I believe their relationship is a lovely representation of a relationship between mother and son.

If ever we're able to confirm that he was her favorite, this would explain it. I guess in their culture sons are put on a higher regard, especially since he was her only surviving son. Nevertheless, you're right; their mother-son relationship is something that a lot of people could only wish for.

[lavkathleen]

I think he wanted to give some extra credit to his mother. I am pretty sure that his mother was an amazing woman, and he had raised such a wonderful kid. But he could not have been her only focus. So he might have used a little exaggeration when describing how he found her standing at his bedside at night when he suddenly woke up

I wouldn't say that the action/event was exaggerated. Apparently, a lot of mothers do exactly that. But I agree, he probably wanted to present her mother with utmost respect, love, and pride, and this was obvious with his words. I'm sure she showed the same love for her other children.

[lavkathleen]

That's true. I am sure she was a loving mother to all of her children. And the author is, in fact, telling his own story so he is remembering it as HE saw it, not as his siblings might have remembered it, so you make great points!

Exactly. We can't entirely be sure why he barely mentioned his siblings in his memoir, but we can be sure that the way he portrayed his mother can't be far from the truth. It would be weird to think that she only showed this level of care and affection to one of her children. Nevertheless, what the two of them had was adorable and heart-warming.

[Surabhi Rani]

I simply adore Berrah's relationship with his mother as described in the autobiography! I feel that mothers are closer to their child who they feel is destined to reach a higher goal in life than the rest of their children. I believe that the relationship between Ghoulem Berrah and his mother was true and authentic. Berrah's mother was the reason for all his accomplishments. I was well able to identify with a mother's love when the author was blessed by his mother that he would always be surrounded by greener pastures.

[aby johnson]

Well i believe that his mother was a good mother who took care and loved all of her children equally. Because a partial mother wouldn't have inspired such a great man. I'm sure the author haven't included everything about his mom, just the parts we should know. The book does appear too good to be true at times but i believe it's all true.