The Silence Between Us: A Mother and Daughter's Conversation Through Suicide and into Life

The Silence Between Us is a raw and original double memoir that explores a mother and daughter's relationship after the daughter's suicide attempt. It is filled with old diary entries, emails, hospital records, and psychiatric reports, interspersed with Cécile's account of caring for her daughter. It reveals the intergenerational trauma and the campus sexual assault that led to the chasm between them, and how they are attempting to negotiate the mental health and legal systems while mending the fractures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2021
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books

The Silence Between Us is a powerful and raw double memoir that delves into the depths of a mother-daughter relationship, following their journey of understanding and rebuilding after the daughter's suicide attempt. Due to Oceane's young age at the time of her attempt, the hospital respected her request to not notify her parents. However, years later, when Oceane asked her mother, Cécile, to write something together about this period of their lives, she was surprised to discover that Cécile had already compiled a substantial collection of pages, filled with words she had written when she learned of Oceane's suicide attempt.

Through a combination of old diary entries, emails, hospital records, and psychiatric reports, Oceane pieces together her story, interspersed with Cécile's own intense account of caring for her fiercely independent daughter. As the narrative unfolds, we gradually uncover the intergenerational trauma that strained the bond between Oceane and Cécile, as well as the campus sexual assault that pushed Oceane to her breaking point.

Through their journey of reconciliation, Oceane and Cécile navigate the complexities of mental health and legal systems, while also beginning to mend the fractures that had formed between them. The Silence Between Us is a delicate and unflinching exploration of mental health, women's voices, and family relationships. It dares to address the topics that we often shy away from, offering a frank and honest portrayal of the challenges and complexities that these issues entail.

The memoir includes a foreword by psychiatrist Pat McGorry AO, a renowned expert in youth mental health and a former Australian of the Year. McGorry's insights add depth and perspective to the narrative, highlighting the importance of addressing mental health issues and promoting women's voices within families.

Overall, The Silence Between Us is a captivating and deeply moving exploration of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, mental health, and the power of healing. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 137 x 209 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781743796702