Mother and I

by Ianto Ware

After his mother's death, Ianto Ware revisits his childhood in suburban Adelaide, where his mother — single parent, lesbian feminist, and ardent socialist — waged a four-decade war on her conservative neighbourhood, primarily through the medium of gardening.

Driven by humour, insight, and love, this is part family memoir, part history of working class life, and part homage to suburban eccentricity.

Mother and I: The Fable of a Wilful Family celebrates the force of character that defies conformity and the love that prevails against bigotry.

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 31, 2023

Reviews

[April Bradford]

Ware's latest work makes you want to give your mother a tight hug.

If you're looking for a memoir that chronicles the unique struggles of growing up in an LGBTQ+ family in Australia: this is it.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last book that made me sob and sob, but this one did. It’s a son’s poignant and loving memoir of his mother. Dimity Ware was a fabulously non-conformist lesbian who raised her son alone in the 80s and 90s. Great reading for gaybys, lesbian and queer parents and the old groovers from RAdelaide. I need to hug my kids, and my Mum.