A Tale of Love and Darkness

Amos recalls his early childhood spent in Jerusalem during the British Mandate of Palestine. He shares a particularly close bond with his mother, Fania, who often recounts stories from her past, many filled with sorrow and violence.

Amos's Ashkenazi Jewish parents navigate the challenges of life in a new country, far from Fania's family in Tel Aviv. The harsh desert landscape poses numerous difficulties, and communication with relatives is often sparse.

Amos is entrusted by his parents to a childless couple who introduce him to a Palestinian Arab friend. In a moment of playfulness, he accidentally injures the Arab boy on a swing, leading to panic and a hurried call from his father to ensure the boy receives medical care.

On November 29, 1947, Amos and his family gather with neighbors to hear the broadcast announcing the UN's proposal for the partition of Mandatory Palestine. The news brings joy to his parents, particularly as Arieh shares stories of the anti-Semitic violence faced by his own family in Europe.

Following the UN announcement, civil war breaks out as tensions rise between Jews and Arabs. Arieh enlists in the fight, leaving Amos and the other children to support the effort by collecting materials for the war.

The conflict takes a personal toll when one of Fania's friends is killed by a Palestinian sniper. This event heightens the fear and sense of loss within Amos's family and their community during a time of strife.

In the aftermath of the war, Fania falls into a deep depression marked by insomnia and a loss of appetite. Both she and Arieh struggle to cope with their shared grief, which puts immense pressure on their family dynamics.

Despite attempts at finding relief through medication, Fania's condition worsens. In 1952, she tragically chooses to end her life through an overdose, reflecting the pain that had overwhelmed her throughout the years.

In the years that follow, Amos finds purpose on a kibbutz, working to fulfill his mother's dream of transforming the desert into a thriving land. This experience shapes his character, yet he grapples with his complex identity as an intellectual.

As a teenager, Amos visits his father and shares stories about his new life on the kibbutz. He acknowledges his efforts to become more robust, but admits that he still feels pale and weak due to his intellectual inclination.

Years later, an elderly Amos Oz begins to pen his memoirs, capturing his life's experiences and memories. He starts this journey with a poignant invocation of the word 'Mother,' signifying her lasting impact on his life.