"Suns" Plot
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What are some themes?
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Man's inhumanity to man, Systematic victimization of women by patriarchal institutions, Spousal abuse, Resistance to victimization, Power of education, Education for women, Corrupting influence of absolute power
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How old is Mariam at the beginning of Chapter 1?
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five years old
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Describe Nana's reaction to Mariam's breaking the bowl.
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Nana calls Mariam a harami, and says that a clumsy harami is her reward for everything she has done. Nana is furious at Mariam for breaking an heirloom.
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Why does the speaker assert that the harami is innocent?
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The only sin the harami committed was being born; the creators of the harami are to blame
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Describe Jalil's family and business life.
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Jalil is rich. He owns a cinema and has a large family (3 wives, 9 legit kids). One of Herat's richest men. He also owns 3 carpet stores, a clothing shop, and a black 1945 buick roadmaster.
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What happened to Nana after she became pregnant with Mariam?
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Jalil's wives demanded he fire her, she was disowned by her father.
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What does Nana wish her father had done?
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She wished her father had killed her, the "honorable thing" to do
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How does Nana react after Jalil told Mariam about the pistachio tree?
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She claims it is lies, that this never happened. She says Jalil cast them out of his big house happily and that he does not care about either of them.
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Nana tells Mariam, "Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam." What does this mean?
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It means no matter the truth or evidence, a man will always blame a woman for his wrongs.
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Why had Nana refused to live in Herat?
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She didn't want to watch Jalil with his wives or live in her father's empty house.
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When Nana was fifteen, she almost got married. Why was the wedding called off?
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Nana had seizures ("Jinn entered her body") and the fiance didn't want to deal with it. Apparently, the suitor was spooked.
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According to Nana, why did Jalil build her and Mariam's house instead of hiring workers?
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She said it was "his idea of penance".
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Contrast Nana's and Jalil's versions of Mariam's birth.
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Nana said Jalil didn't bother to call anyone for help and Nana gave birth on the floor of the kolba with a knife in her hand. She said it took Mairam two days to come out. She also claimed Jalil stayed horseback riding for another two weeks after Mariam was born. Jalil said he arranged a bed in the hospital, it took less than an hour, and he had ridden home as soon as he heard the news.
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What chores do Nana and Mariam enjoy together?
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milked goats, fed hens, collected eggs, made bread, kneaded dough, kindled tandoor, slap flattened dough, sewing, cooking.
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Who is Mullah Faizullah?
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an elderly Koran tutor
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What in this section indicates that Mariam and Mullah Faizullah have a close relationship?
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Mullah taught Mariam how to read and write, went for walks together, he comforted her with the words of the Koran and listened to her.
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What does Mariam tell Mullah Faizullah she wants?
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She says she wants to go to school
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When Mullah Faizullah asks Nana to permit Mariam to attend school, she says to Mariam, "What's the sense schooling a girl like you? It's like shining a spittoon." What does Nana's simile mean?
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It means it would be impossible for Mariam to be taught anything because she is stupid. It means giving Mariam an education would be useless as the knowledge would be wasted on someone like Mariam. It is impossible to make someone like Mariam smart.
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Describe the anxiety Mariam feels as Jalil's visit approaches.
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She wouldn't sleep, she was scared he wouldn't come, she paced, she would wait for hours.
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What characteristics of Jalil indicate that he is of a different socio-economic class than Mariam?
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He wore a suit, he had white teeth, well-manicured hands.
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When Jalil tosses Mariam in the air, Nana says that one day he will drop her. What does this imply about Nana's feelings for Jalil?
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Nana believes Jalil is untrustworthy and abandon Mariam like he did to Nana.
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Why do you think Nana behaves civilly when Jalil visits?
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She does not want to seem like a savage and wants him to remember her as she was not as she is.
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At the beginning of Chapter 5, how old is Mariam?
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fifteen years old
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What tactics does Nana use to keep Mariam from going to visit Jalil? List as many as you can.
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she called her a traitor, said she'd die, called Mariam ungrateful and other names, said Jalil didn't actually want her, she claimed she loved her.
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After Nana's emotional outburst, Mariam wishes she could tell her mother certain things. What does she want to tell her, but does not?
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"you're afraid that I might find the happiness you never had. And you don't want me to be happy. You don't want a good life for me. You're the one with the wretched heart"
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What does Mariam assume when Jalil does not arrive on time, and what does she do instead of waiting for him?
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Something came up because Jalil is a business man. She crossed the stream and walked to Herat.
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Describe what happens when Jalil's driver tries to get Mariam to get into the car?
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She refuses him and continues to wait outside the house, even after he offers to book her a room at the hotel. She spent the night outside.
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The driver returns Mariam to her house, but at the last second, he yells, "Go back! No. Don't look now." To what is he referring?
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Nana hung herself and the driver does not want Mariam to see the body.
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After the death of her mother, how do Mariam's feelings for Jalil change?
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She feels Nana's resentment. She no longer wants to see Jalil. She hears his insincerity, his false assurances.
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Mariam watches the "comings and goings of Jalil's daily life" from her bedroom window.
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Servants rushed in and out of the front gates, a gardener tending to the garden, cars driving, children playing.
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Mariam feels guilty about her mother's death. Why and how does Mullah Faizullah try to comfort her?
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He says Allah will forgive her, that she has done a terrible thing. he tries to comfort her with the words of the Koran.
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What shocking news do Jalil's wives tell Mariam at the beginning of Chapter 7?
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Mariam is having an arranged marriage with Rasheed.
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Describe Rasheed.
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he smokes, he's tall, broad, fat, huge. 45 years old. Owns a shoe store.
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Find and list three similes in this chapter.
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"his harsh, raspy voice reminded Mariam of the sound of dry autumn leaves crushed under foot" "his nails were yellow-brown, like the inside of a rotting apple" "she did not look back to see him receding, to see him disappear in the cloud of exhaust and dust"
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Describe the process of the marriage.
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Hurried, rushed, hesitant on Mariam's part.
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Re-read the part describing Mariam and Rasheed's hurried wedding. Find and list one example of foreshadowing. What event do you think is being foreshadowed?
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"mariam's own band was a little tight, but Rasheed had no trouble forcing it over her knuckles" It foreshadows Rasheed's apathy towards Mariam's well being and his eventual abuse towards her.
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How does Mariam respond when Jalil tells her he will visit her in Kabul? How does Jalil then react to her response?
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She says she does not want to see him, ever again. He is wounded by her words and asks her to take them back and not leave like this.
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Why does Mariam have difficulty understanding Rasheed?
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He has a Kabuli dialect when he speaks Farsi and an underlying accent of Pashto.
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Why does Mariam start to cry in the middle of the living room?
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Everything was unfamiliar and Mariam felt as though she was suffocating. She wanted to see Nana and Mullah Faizullah.
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In Chapter 10, how much time has gone by, and how has Mariam responded to her new home?
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a few days; Mariam is still unused to things and stays in her room.
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What does Mariam do the day after Rasheed tells her he expects her to "start behaving like a wife"?
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She begins to cry; she unpacks her bag and cleans the house.
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What does Mariam hear some of the other wives saying about their husbands?
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how lazy and ungrateful they were.
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When the women approach and encircle Mariam, they do so out of curiosity and a welcoming spirit. Why do you think Mariam panics?
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She is unused to attention and does not know how to react to it.
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Mariam feels "a flare of pride" when Rasheed compliments her cooking. Why does this surprise her?
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She has never desired Rasheed's attention or his gratitude
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Why does Mariam first begin to get nervous while standing in line?
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She was afraid everyone knew she was a harami and they were all silently judging her.
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What does Rasheed say about Fariba and the other women who do not wear burqas and who look him in the eye?
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He says it embarasses him to see men who have lost control of their wives, and how a woman's face is her husband's business. He says they're spoiling their honor and pride.
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Standing on Chicken Street, Mariam sees many "modern" women. Describe these women and how they make Mariam feel about herself.
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They were confident and she imagined they all had university degrees; they made her aware of her lowliness, her lack of aspirations, and her ignorances
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How do Mariam and Rasheed observe Ramadan differently?
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Rasheed does not fast on all days, but when he does he is very impatient with Mariam's cooking and serving. Mariam remembers Ramadan at the kolba. She said she tasted for the first time in her life the sweetness of a communal experience.
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What does Mariam remember about Ramadan back home at Gul Daman?
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Mariam recalls how Jalil would come to the kolba on Ramadan to celebrate Eid with presents, but would leave to celebrate with whom Nana called "his real family".
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Why does Mariam deny knowing Fariba when Rasheed asks her?
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She does not want to be lectured as Rasheed sees Fariba as a gossip
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Why does Mariam wish Nana could see the fireworks?
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She wanted Nana to see that contentment and beauty were attainable
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Why does Mariam feel Rasheed is a hypocrite for having the magazines?
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He disapproves of females who show him their feet and he insisted Mariam must cover.
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Mariam finds herself in Rasheed's room. What does she find when she opens the drawers of the dresser?
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A gun, porn magazines, and a picture of his old wife and child.
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Later, why does Mariam regret snooping in Rasheed's belongings?
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She thinks he is fine, and that he is a man with needs. She feels sorrow for him as she thinks he has also had a hard life.
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Rasheed has friends over and tells Mariam to stay in her room. Why is Mariam flattered by this demand?
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She thought Rasheed saw sanctity in what they had together and her honor was worth guarding. She felt treasured and significant.
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Why does Mariam now feel "a kinship" with Rasheed?
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They have both experienced loss and a hard times.
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Why does Mariam see bright colors on the ride home from the doctor?
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She was excited and happy to be pregnant; it is the figurative glow woman get
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Why do you think Rasheed wants so badly for the baby to be a boy?
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It is a disgrace to be a girl; men carry on the family name and are overall viewed as superior.
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Why is Rasheed worried about the stairs, the knives, and the stove?
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He does not want anything to hurt the child (his son).
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Describe how Mariam feels when she thinks about the baby.
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She was happy she was having a child. She is excited to be a mom.
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Rasheed covers Mariam in a "stiff, perfunctory" way and complains about the doctor's explanation—"God's will." How is Rasheed feeling at this point?
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He is angry that Mariam had a miscarriage and disappointed that he did not receive a better answer.
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What happens to Mariam at the bathhouse?
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She was bleeding and shivering and scared.
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How has Mariam's mood changed by the end of the chapter?
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She is grieving for her lost child. She is upset.
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Mariam grieves for her unborn baby. Describe the different beliefs and emotions she feels during this time.
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She blames herself, and finds little comfort in the Koran's words. She is upset about their specific baby.
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How has Rasheed changed since the loss of the baby?
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He is angry and easily irritable. He is less kind to Mariam.
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How does Rasheed react when Mariam suggests having a burial service for the baby, and what does she do?
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He thinks it is idiotic and useless. he has already buried one child and does not want to bury another. Mariam buries the jacket Rasheed bought for the baby.
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How long has it been since the last chapter?
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4 years
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How does Rasheed treat Mariam when she asks questions about Mir Akbar Khyber?
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He says she is stupid but isn't surprised she does not know these things. He claims it is common knowledge. He says she is like a child, with no information in her brain.
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Of what does Mariam live in fear?
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Rasheed's shifting moods, his volatile temperament, his insistence on steering even mundane exchanges down a confrontational path that on occasion led to abuse.
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How many babies has Mariam miscarried?
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seven total
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Why is cooking "an exercise in heightened anxiety" for Mariam?
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Her cooking never pleased Rasheed and she is afraid of what he will do to her because of which.
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What happens to Daoud Khan, and what is the result, according to Abdul Qader?
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on April 27, communist rebels led by Air Force Colonel Abdul Qader attack the Presidential Palace and seize Kabul. President Daoud Khan, his family, and all his supporters are killed, many of them in a horrible manner. Abdul Qader announces over the radio that the country will now be called the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. Aristocracy, nepotism, and inequality has ended and the people now have the power. The new government will respect the principles of Islam and democracy. Rasheed predicts that the communist victory is bad news for the rich, but may not be so bad for people like Mariam and himself. Mariam wonders what will happen to Jalil and his sons.
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Describe what happens at the end of the chapter with the pebbles.
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He makes her chew pebbles to demonstrate the bad food she cooks. The pebbles symbolize the family she so longed for and which now she must chew as if chewing up her chance to ever have one.
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How much time has gone by since the last chapter?
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Nine years
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The text states that Laila is "hungry for the sight of her friend Tariq," and that to her, "time stretched an contracted depending on Tariq's absence or presence." What can you infer about Laila's feelings for Tariq?
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Laila loves Tariq and admires him. She feels she cannot live without him.
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Describe Laila's appearance.
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Laila has light, blonde hair and jade green eyes.
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What character from earlier in the novel is Laila's mother?
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Fariba
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Describe Babi, Laila's father.
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He values education and wants Laila to put learning before anything else. He enjoys reading. He loves Laila, he is understanding and kind, albeit absent-minded.
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Laila sees a blue Mercedes Benz in her neighborhood. The man in the back seat is wearing "a dark brown suit, with a white handkerchief triangle in the breast pocket." Who is this man, from earlier in the novel?
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The man is Jalil.
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How is Laila's teacher different from an American teacher? How is she similar?
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Her teacher stresses gender equality but encourages the kids to spy in support of the communists.
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Contrast Shanzai's opinion of Russia with her opinion of America.
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Shanzai, Laila's teacher, supports Russia
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Describe Giti and Hasina, Laila's two friends from school.
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They are going to be married off at a young age. Laila's close school friends, share stories and comfort each other.
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Why does Laila wash herself thoroughly after the boys squirt her?
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The squirt guns were filled with pee
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What is a good day like for Mammy?
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when she springs out of bed bright-eyed and playful. She bathes. At these times, there is a puff of contentment throughout the room and Laila catches momentary glimpses of the tenderness and romance that had once bound her parents. Sometimes, Mammy bakes and invites the neighborhood women for tea and pastries.
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Based on the information in this chapter, why do you think Mammy stays in bed until three in the afternoon?
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She is depressed about her sons serving in the army.
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Laila worries why Tariq has been away so long. What are some things she suspects has happened?
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She thought that his parents had moved away for good, or another land mine had gotten to him.
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What sign does Laila receive that shows he is all right?
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He shines his flashlight in her window.
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Why has Tariq been away longer than he anticipated?
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His uncle was sick.
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Describe Laila's relationship with Tariq's family. Give details from the text that support your ideas.
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They are close. They invite Laila to dinner and welcome her into their home without any questions.
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What causes Laila to learn that "boys differed from girls"?
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Boys didn't make a show of friendship. Laila came to see boys "treated friendship the way they treated the sun: its existence undisputed; its radiance best enjoyed, not beheld directly."
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What happens when Laila tells Tariq about Khadim and his squirt gun?
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Tariq beats Khadim with his prosthetic leg
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How do Babi's and Mammy's views of the communists differ?
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Babi says even though the Communists are bad, they had commanded that girls be educated and that was a good thing. Mammy despised the communists.
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What news does the visitor bring Laila and her family?
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Laila's brothers have died fighting.
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Laila tries to console her mother, but the other women do not let her. How does this make Laila feel?
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Laila feels useless, unloved, and unbelonging.
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Why does Laila have a hard time putting herself in her mother's shoes?
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She did not know her brothers as well as her mother had and does not feel grief on the level her mother does.
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The deaths of Laila's brothers debilitate Fariba. How does Laila's role in the household change?
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She has to take the role of the mother and clean, cook, and make sure everything goes smoothly.
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Laila believes that "her future was no match for her brothers' past." What does this mean?
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She thinks she will never compare in importance to her brothers, regardless of what she does, in her mothers eyes. She believes as attempts to be viewed as useful are futile as her mother is hung up on how great her brothers were.
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Laila fears Mammy might kill herself. Mammy assures her she will not, but, if that is the case, why is Laila left with "dueling emotions" ?
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She was reassured that Mammy wanted to live but she was hurt that she wasn't the reason and that she would never be loved like her brothers were.
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What historical landmark does Babi take Laila and Tariq to see?
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The Bamiyan valley and its statues of the Buddhas.
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What causes "a wave of affection" to come over Laila?
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Hearing Babi talk about Mammy's laugh and how he fell in love with her.
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In what way does Babi say his grief is different from Mammy's?
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He does not have extreme emotions like Mammy and is able to hide his easier.
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Babi speaks of leaving Kabul. Why would this idea never actually happen?
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Mammy has too much attachment and believes leaving Kabul would be dishonourable and a disgrace to Laila's brothers.
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What does Babi tell Laila that she probably wishes to hear from her mother?
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She wants to be loved and hear the sounds of her mother when she was animated and lively.
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What do Tariq and Laila say about marriage while watching the movie?
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Neither of them would ever want to get married unless they were forced to.
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How does Tariq cut the tension during the kiss scene?
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He says, "Did you know that if you fling snot in Siberia, it's a green icicle before it hits the ground?"
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What happens to Hasina?
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She ended up marrying her cousin in Lahore.
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What happens between Najibullah and the Mujahideen, and how does this development affect Fariba?
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The Mujahideen defeated the Najibullah. Fariba is slightly more happy.
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What warning does Fariba give to Laila about Tariq?
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She says Laila should not be hanging with a boy at her age or people will talk.
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Laila tries to ease Fariba's mind by telling her that Tariq is like a brother. How does Fariba react to this statement?
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She is insulted because she doesn't think anyone should ever be compared to Laila's brothers.
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Why does Laila feel it is not fair for Mammy to counsel her about Tariq?
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it isn't her relationship and she has no business in doing so. Mammy has also never acted like a mother before and feels it is unfair that she chooses when she should be one.
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How has Giti changed, and why?
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She is no longer shy because she has a crush on the goalkeeper for a soccer team.
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What irritates Laila about Tariq and his new friends?
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they dress in pleated trousers and tight shirts, put too much cologne and smoke
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What does Tariq say that makes Laila swoon?
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He says "us", referring to his relationship with Laila.
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Laila ironically describes the bomb blasts as "blissfully elsewhere." What does she mean by this?
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She is glad she was not hit
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What is the "flip side of being spared"?
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Knowing someone else was not spared.
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What event causes Tariq to buy a gun?
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The militia shoot random citizens and he wants to be able to defend himself.
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Why have people been spray painting their cars yellow?
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Militiamen fired rockets at cars but not at taxis, so if all cars looked like taxis they wouldn't be hit.
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What happens to Giti?
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She is killed in a rocket blast. Her family is devastated.
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Why is Tariq leaving Afghanistan?
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His parents deem it unsafe and want to feel protected or at least not constantly in danger. His father is getting sicker and sicker
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Why does Laila say she cannot marry Tariq?
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She is all her father has and cannot leave him
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Describe what Laila experiences in trying to remember Tariq.
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She feels guilty about having sex with him but tries to justify it to herself. She misses him.
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What does Mammy finally agree to, and why?
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Mammy finally agrees to leave Afghanistan because she does not want to lose all her children
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Why does Laila have hope that she will see Tariq again soon?
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They are going to stop in the city he is staying in
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What "painful task" does Babi have in preparing to move?
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He has to decide what books to leave behind and what books to take with him
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What happens to Laila's family at the end of the chapter?
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They are killed in a bomb blast
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What can you infer has happened to Laila since the explosion?
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She is deaf in one ear and orphaned
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What actions of Rasheed and Mariam show that they care about Laila?
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They nurse her back to health, give her food and shelter, bring her blankets and pillows
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What has happened to Tariq's house?
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It is inhabited by Sayyaf's men
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Why does Laila believe she should have been in the house during the explosion?
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she should have been cleaning and packing. It is symptoms of "survivor's guilt". She was taking out books that her father had said were to heavy for her.
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Why can Mariam not find any comforting words for Laila?
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Mariam received little comfort from others words said to her and did not know what would make Laila feel better.
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List and identify two examples of figurative language in this chapter.
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"her legs felt heavy, as though weights had been tethered to them"- simile "She had to steel herself. If she didn't, she feared she'd become unhinged."-metaphor
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What did Abdul Sharif talk to Tariq about in the hospital?
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They talk about Kabul and Laila
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What, according to Abdul, did Tariq mostly talk about?
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Laila
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Abdul Sharif reveals that he considered not telling Laila about Tariq after hearing how her parents died. Do you think Abdul is insensitive in bringing Laila this bad news, given everything else she has been through?
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No, she deserves to know
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Why does Laila think this news is a punishment?
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It is bad and believes because she and Tariq had sex they are being punished
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What is suddenly different about the way Rasheed eats?
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He closes his mouth, uses his napkins, has manners
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What is Rasheed's attitude toward Americans?
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He thinks they don't care about Afghanistan and that they only used Afghanistan to win the war against the Soviets.
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What becomes painfully clear to Mariam after dinner while she is in the kitchen?
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Rasheed is courting Mariam
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List three ways that Rasheed tries to justify marrying Laila.
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1. it would ruin his reputation to have an unmarried girl living in his home 2. Would give Laila a place to stay 3. Would give Mariam more help around the house
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What image does Rasheed paint of Laila if she were to leave his household?
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She would be raped, kidnapped, killed, eventually dead before the week ends
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Why does Rasheed consider his offer to be "charitable"?
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it gives Laila a place to stay and gives mariam help around the house
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What is Laila's answer to Rasheed's proposal?
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Yes
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How does Rasheed afford to give Laila a ring?
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He sells Mariam's old ring
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What might make Rasheed "suspicious"?
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Laila was pregnant after Tariq left, needing to have sex with Rasheed
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In what ways does Rasheed verbally degrade Mariam?
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He calls her a harami, saying if she were a car she would be a volga
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Why does Rasheed have reservations about Laila's upbringing, and what changes will he enforce?
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Laila has no more freedom, no education, has to wear a burqa, can't go outside without Rasheed
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Mariam confronts Laila about both their roles in the household. What rules does Mariam lay down?
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Mariam will cook and wash the dishes and Laila will do the laundry and sweeping.
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How does Mariam feel after establishing the rules?
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She was nervous and felt little satisfaction
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What new information do you learn about the death of Rasheed's first child?
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Rasheed used to drink and was drunk and hungover when his son drowned
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Why does the Koran forbid drinking?
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"It always falls on the sober to pay for the sins of the drunk"
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How does Laila deal with her grief over the next several months?
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she would walk around the house, watch the snow fall.
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How does Laila feel about wearing the burqa?
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She was afraid of tripping on the hem. She liked not being able to be recognized by people who used to know her.
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What do Mariam and Laila get into a fight over?
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The misplacement of a wooden spoon Mariam uses to stir rice
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Why might the two women have enjoyed the argument?
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It allowed them to express their emotions
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What is unusual about Laila's arrival home from the hospital? Explain.
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Rasheed does not treat her with kindness
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What complaints does Rasheed have about the baby?
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She is too loud, she is useless,
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Why does Mariam "smirk" when she hears Rasheed complaining?
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She is not the cause of it
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Why are the baby's clothes an issue?
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The clothes are made for boys
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Rasheed now ignores Laila. What is Mariam's reaction to this behavior?
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Mariam pitied Laila
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Describe what happens during the fight between Rasheed and Mariam.
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Mariam is afraid but Laila intervenes.
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What does Rasheed try to blame Mariam for?
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He blames her for Laila denying rasheed sex
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Describe Mariam's middle-of-the-night encounter with the baby. What can you infer from it?
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She finally looks at the baby as a person, she feels a connection with her
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What does Rasheed ask Laila about Tariq?
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She asks if they were more than friends, if he had anything to worry about, if they had sex
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What gift from Mariam does Laila find outside her bedroom door?
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Girls clothes that she has made
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How does Laila finally win over Mariam?
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She explains her plan of running away
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When the "look passed between Laila and Mariam," what do the two women come to understand about each other?
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They are both in hard situations
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What behaviors at the beginning of Chapter 35 show that Laila and Mariam are becoming friends?
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They did their chores together
question
Mariam is slightly awkward with Aziza and tells her, "I am nobody...What have I got to give you?" Why does Mariam behave this way?
answer
She has always been raised being taught she is useless and does not understand why Aziza likes her so much
question
Mariam says she has a life of "false, failed connections." Who are or were these connections, and why?
answer
Jalil and her mother; they both were important to her but she realized how fake and insincere they both were
question
How and why has the war worsened?
answer
The Afghan warriors turned on themselves. Soviets left. Taliban have more power.
question
Mariam says that "love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion." Do you agree? Explain.
answer
Yes, it gave Mariam false hope of being loved. She dreamed about being able to live with Jalil but had to realize he never cared for her.
question
How does Laila's secret make Mariam feel a stronger connection to Aziza?
answer
They are both haramis
question
Why must Laila and Mariam find a male escort?
answer
Women and forbidden to ride alone
question
What does Laila tell the young man about her family situation?
answer
She is Mariam's daughter and Mariam is widowed.
question
How does the young man betray Mariam and Laila?
answer
He informs the taliban that they are travelling alone
question
During the interrogation, how does the policeman try to catch Laila and Mariam in a lie?
answer
He asks them questions that only the truth could answer to. They had not made a detailed enough backstory to answer him.
question
Why is it ironic that the policeman says, "It is my responsibility, you see, to maintain order"?
answer
Rasheed's treatment is unfair and they should be protected.
question
Summarize Rasheed's brutal reaction to Laila and Mariam's attempt to run away.
answer
They are locked away and did not get food, water, or fresh air for days.
question
What effects of heat and dehydration do Laila and Aziza experience?
answer
The room is very hot and they are constantly dizzy. They pass out in intervals and can barely move.
question
Who are the Taliban, and what is Rasheed's opinion of them?
answer
They are the new government group. Rasheed highly supports them.
question
How do the citizens of Kabul react to the Taliban's arrival?
answer
The citizens greeted them, waving flags, threw rice.
question
The Taliban ride through the streets of Kabul announcing its rules over a loudspeaker. Which of the rules is most surprising to you, and why?
answer
Women shouldn't be educated; The Koran, who the Taliban claim to represent, states the education of women is a sacred duty.
question
Describe some ways in which the Taliban soldiers destroy Kabul.
answer
they swarmed the dilapidated kabul museum and smashed pre-islamic statues to rubble.
question
Rasheed likes the Taliban's strict laws regarding women. In what way does he wield power over Laila?
answer
He threatens her
question
Explain why Laila is in the bathroom with a bicycle spoke.
answer
She is considering aborting Rasheed's baby
question
What is wrong with Laila when Rasheed and Mariam take her to Malahai Hospital?
answer
Laila is in labor
question
Why can Laila not get medical attention there?
answer
None of the main hospitals treat women
question
In what ways is Rabia Balkhi Hospital different from a hospital you might visit?
answer
They do not actually have medicine, it is full of savage women desperate for medical attention
question
While at the hospital, Mariam comes to understand Nana. How so? Explain.
answer
She understands the sacrifices and hardships of being a mother
question
How old is Laila's son now?
answer
two years old
question
How is Rasheed's treatment of Zalmai different from his treatment of Aziza?
answer
He treasures him and believes he can do nothing wrong
question
How does Aziza treat her little brother?
answer
She plays hide-and-seek with him, she treats him kindly
question
Why is it risky for Rasheed to buy Zalmai a television?
answer
The taliban banned television
question
Why does Rasheed suggest to Laila that they let Aziza beg on the streets?
answer
They are in massive debt and Rasheed needs to pay back the people who have loaned him money.
question
Laila punches Rasheed. What is his response?
answer
He shoves a gun in her mouth
question
What do they bury in the back yard?
answer
The television Rasheed bought for Zalmai
question
Why, according to Laila, do the Afghans love Titanic?
answer
Everyone wants Jack to rescue them from disaster.
question
What happens to Rasheed's store?
answer
It is closed down
question
All the problems and the family's need to sell their belongings upsets Rasheed. In what ways does he express his anger and frustration?
answer
He abuses Laila and Mariam.
question
What does the family do to continue to put food on the table?
answer
They put Aziza in an orphanage
question
Why does Mariam call Jalil, and what is the result of the call?
answer
She tries to get money from him but ends up finding out that he has died.
question
What truth has Laila not been able to tell Aziza?
answer
That she is sending her to an orphanage
question
What does Laila tell Aziza to say if she is asked about her father?
answer
He is dead
question
Why do some of the children have shaved heads?
answer
For cleanliness
question
Describe what Laila sees and smells inside the orphanage.
answer
Urine, unmade beds, talcom powder, old tires
question
How is Laila treated by Zaman? Explain.
answer
He treats her kindly and tries to comfort her
question
How does Rasheed try to prevent Laila from visiting Aziza?
answer
He would complain about how much walking to the orphanage tired him.
question
How has Aziza changed since arriving at the orphanage?
answer
She stutters, is more nervous, more aware. Better at concealing her emotions. More mother-like.
question
Why do the children have to pull the curtains during lessons?
answer
So that the Taliban won't catch them teaching.
question
What new job has Rasheed acquired?
answer
He is a doorman for the Intercontinental.
question
How does Aziza's explanation of plate tectonics relate to the story?
answer
Everything goes and shifts. Things are easily changed.
question
Why does Mariam feel she has no authority over Zalmai?
answer
He is a boy, she is not his mother
question
Based on Zalmai's behavior with Mariam and the ball, how would you characterize him?
answer
He is spoiled and jealous of Laila's love for Tariq
question
Mariam realizes now why the doorman at the hotel seemed familiar the other day. Why?
answer
He was the man who told Laila of Tariq's death.
question
Laila is overjoyed to see Tariq again, but she feels ashamed. Why?
answer
She has yellowing teeth, the missing incisor, her withered looks, her swollen lip.
question
How has Tariq changed?
answer
He is older, more mature
question
What does Tariq tell Laila about his parents?
answer
They had died
question
Why did Tariq have difficulty getting work?
answer
He only had one leg
question
Why did Tariq end up in jail?
answer
He was caught taking a coat to Lahore;
question
What are the concerns expressed just before Tariq and Laila part?
answer
Tariq needs to go back but Laila cannot leave
question
Mariam comes to Laila's defense, clawing and tearing at Rasheed's face, as he whips Laila for visiting with Tariq. What does Mariam come to understand about herself during this fight?
answer
She has never stood up for herself and it feels good
question
What does Mariam do with the shovel?
answer
She kills Rasheed
question
Where do Laila and Mariam take Rasheed's body?
answer
the shed in the yard
question
What does Laila tell Zalmai about his father, and what does Zalmai ask in the middle of the night?
answer
She says Rasheed has left, and he asks when he will come back
question
Mariam is certain the police will eventually find out she killed Rasheed. What does she plan to do?
answer
She plans to turn herself in
question
What is the last image Laila has of Mariam?
answer
Mariam with sunshine on her face
question
Describe the Walayat women's prison.
answer
drab, square-shaped, near Chicken's street
question
In what ways is the prison inhumane?
answer
no curtains, the guards made cruel comments about the women. No plumbing.
question
Mariam remembers Nana telling her, "Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always." How do these words relate to Naghma?
answer
Naghma attempted to elope with her lover but was caught. Her lover claimed she put him under a sexual spell and it was all her doing.
question
In what ways does the judge show Mariam compassion? Do you think this is unusual?
answer
He says she is not a wicked woman but has done a wicked thing. It is unusual because men treat women harshly and with malice.
question
As Mariam signs her sentence, she remembers the last time she signed a document. How are both documents "death sentences" ?
answer
Her marriage contract symbolized the death of her freedom and happiness.
question
What is ironic about the guard who rides in the truck with Mariam?
answer
He is a Talib who treats her kindly and tells her it is alright to be afraid.
question
What does Mariam wish for in her last moments of life?
answer
She wants to live longer to experience more beauty
question
As Mariam draws nearer to her executioner, her regret is replaced by another feeling. Explain.
answer
Relief. She will finally be released of her burdens.
question
What is the first thing Laila and Tariq do when they arrive in Murree?
answer
They get married.
question
What does Laila like about Murree, and how is it different from Kabul?
answer
Murree is comforting and tranquil
question
Laila dreams of hearing a woman humming a Herati song. Who is the woman, and why does the dream leave Laila "shaken"?
answer
Nana, it gives her a sense of loneliness and devastation
question
What news does Tariq bring at the beginning of this chapter?
answer
Shah Massoud has been murdered.
question
Tariq suggests that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan might not be so bad. Why does he believe this, and what is Laila's reaction?
answer
it will quicken the end of the war. Laila yells at him, saying people like her parents are being killed
question
Despite her love of Murree, Laila longs to return to Kabul. Why?
answer
It is her hometown
question
How does Tariq respond to Laila's request to move back to Kabul?
answer
He says if it makes her happy, he'll do it
question
The title of the novel appears in this chapter, in a couple of lines from a poem. What do the lines mean?
answer
It speaks of magnificence and of how it is impossible to truly gauge one's significance
question
Laila visits Herat and goes to the home of Mullah Faizullah. His son escorts her to Mariam's kolba. Why do you think the visit is meaningful to Laila?
answer
It gives her insight on Mariam slife
question
What is in the box Jalil left for Mariam? What is the significance of one of the items.
answer
Pinocchio is something Mariam always wanted to see and her father finally relented and showed her.
question
What has Laila done with Mariam's money?
answer
She rebuilds the orphange
question
Summarize what Laila and her family are doing now.
answer
They run the orphanage and teach kids
question
How does the novel end?
answer
Laila is pregnant and the family is discussing names for the baby if it is a boy. It will be named Mariam if it is a girl
