Family history and identity: The novel Woman in the Moon inspires!

Family history and identity: The novel Woman in the Moon inspires!

The novel “Woman in the Moon” by Pierre Jarawan, published on April 4, 2025, powerfully addresses the politicization of family history and Lebanon’s complex identity crisis. At 496 pages and priced at 26 euros, Jarawan has created a work that goes beyond personal history and delves deeply into the cultural and political realities of the Middle East. The main character Maroun el Shami, who emigrates from Lebanon to Canada with his mother, embodies this struggle for identity and belonging, while at the same time shedding light on the history of his family and its roots.

Maroun, who saw Fritz Lang's film as a ten-year-old in Montreal, is studying physics at McGill University and is therefore the only student with Lebanese roots. In the 1960s he founded the Lebanese Rocket Society in Lebanon, whose history is also covered in the book. Important political issues are addressed, including the Armenian genocide from which his grandmother Anoush escaped, as well as current challenges such as corruption in Lebanon and the impact of the 2020 Arab Spring.

Family history and identity

A central element of the novel is the search of Lilith, one of Maroun's granddaughters, for her identity. She is particularly interested in her grandmother, who has Armenian roots, and goes to Beirut to find out more about Anoush. This journey is not only personal, but also reflects the deep tensions and challenges facing Lebanon.

The social situation in Lebanon is characterized by a multitude of identity conflicts that are fed by historical narratives. At least 20% of the population there currently live as Syrian refugees, which makes the atmosphere in Beirut even more tense. Although coexistence between Lebanese and Syrian refugees is largely good, there is often mistrust in Christian communities. Rita Makhlouf, who runs a children's home, struggles with acceptance in her neighborhood, highlighting the deep cracks in Lebanon's social fabric.

Political tensions and cultural identity

Lebanon has a so-called sectarian system that brings with it both stability and fragility. The various religious communities, 18 in total, give the country a certain diversity, but also bring with them conflicts. Historical identities, often contested, make the search for a common Lebanese identity an ongoing challenge. While the Shiites have gained social influence in recent decades, Hezbollah is perceived as a legitimate political party in Lebanon, while international discourse often takes a different view.

Jarawan's novel ties these complex themes together through a narrative style that combines wit, original imagery and ironic elements. The structure of the novel follows a countdown pattern that parallels Maroun's development and the various social issues. Ultimately, “Woman in the Moon” sheds light on the question of how family history can be recorded and passed on in a context marked by conflict.

With this combination of personal and political history, Pierre Jarawan offers a touching insight into the challenges and dreams of the people of Lebanon, and at the same time a reflection on human identity as reflected in history.