Son of Mine is a beautiful, multi-layered account of what it means to be a family. Peter Papathanasiou successfully intertwines two life journeys - his own and his mother's - over the course of nearly a hundred years, to tell the story of an astonishing act of kindness, and an incredible secret kept hidden for two decades.

This exceptional memoir sensitively documents the migrant experience, both from the unfamiliar perspective of first-generation migrants and the tension felt by the second-generation trapped between two cultures. At its core, Son of Mine is about the search for identity - for what it means to be who you are when everything is torn down and questioned, and the wisdom we can pass on to the next generation.

Son of Mine is a compelling account of unknown heritage, of life gifts and losses, and the reclamations of parenting. It is dramatic, poignant and uplifting. But above all, it is a memoir of shock, discovery and reconciliation, all delivered in exquisite prose.

About the Author
Peter Papathanasiou was born in a small village in northern Greece. His writing has been published internationally by numerous outlets including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Good Weekend, ABC, SBS, The Pigeonhole, Caught by the River, Structo, 3:AM Magazine, Elsewhere, Litro, Meanjin, and Overland. He has been reviewed by The Times Literary Supplement in the UK and holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of London.

Reviews

Aged 24, Peter Papathanasiou was summoned to his mother's bedroom and told he was adopted. This kickstarts a search for identity that echoes across decades and continents as the author moves between his mother's life in Greece and Australia. Though this is a unique family history, there's something universal about this affecting memoir, particularly when Papathanasiou becomes a parent himself. The writing is graceful but never portentous, filling this debut with heart and meaning.

-- Ben East * Observer *



Book Information
ISBN 9781784631680
Author Peter Papathanasiou
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Salt Publishing
Publisher Salt Publishing
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 28mm