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Mahitab Mahmoud is an author, educator, and researcher whose work explores the inner lives, silence, and resilience of women, men, and the LGBTQ+ individuals in the face of cultural and societal expectations and toxic masculinity. Her stories give voice to characters navigating oppression, identity, and love across Egypt and beyond. She splits her time between Connecticut and New York City. Mahitab holds a Master’s degree in English, and she is pursuing her second in Special Education at Adelphi University. She has taught English, Linguistics and Research Methods at private universities in Cairo and Alexandria. She now works in New York City as a certified teacher. Her research has been presented at international conferences in Barcelona, Kaliningrad, and Cairo, reflecting her dedication to bridging literature, language, and social justice. She also wrote articles for Outfront Magazine.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
When Silence Shatters by Mahitab Mahmoud is a collection of original short stories, all of which, in their own way, lean into societal pressures and personal agency in Egyptian life. In Stained, Mariam intervenes when a teenage girl is harassed, confronting public scrutiny and social media attention while looking back on a past relationship and the influence of a controlling psychiatrist. The Niche follows Farida as she prepares for her sister Nesma’s arranged marriage meeting, observing and responding to traditional engagement rituals while asserting independence against family expectations and social norms. Because They Can traces young Rahma’s life under paternal control, including forced marriage and abuse, while she seeks autonomy through education and support from relatives.
Mahitab Mahmoud’s When Silence Shatters is a beautiful, careful handling of human feeling and story design. While it is difficult to pick a favorite among the collection, At 7:00 PM stands out as a heartening tale of connection and brief recognition, following Layla as she notices and is noticed by Tina during routine evenings at the grocery store. A close second is The Dolls Theater, with its portrayal of constructed gender roles through six-year-old Malika, who wants a toy that is considered inappropriate for girls during Eid al-Fitr. Across the collection, Mahmoud’s observation of gesture, dialogue, and the importance of ordinary moments makes every story sing, and with tight writing and a gift for subverting reader expectation, Mahmoud packs a big punch in her bite-sized stories.
