lgaray

This semester I have learned many things about different cultures through reading A Brave New World, Things Fall Apart, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. The book I liked the most was A Brave New World, it was the most ... "Interesting". The main topics in these books were the future, African culture, and life in Afghanistan.  We discussed the differences between their cultures and ours. Themes seemed to have always included the woman's role in society, 'community, isolation, stability', things that are acceptable in the specfic culture, their beliefs, their attire, and food.  Creating the wiki for A Thousand Splendid Suns was really neat because it was up to us to create the 'website' with information and insights about the book. We also read a chapter about the correct way in writing about a place, then we had to choose a place and write about it. This was really neat because we had to pick a place and really focus in on details. So when I picked a place that I loved and have been to 15 times....having to focus on every specific detail made me realize how I often overlook the minor details that make a place special.

Laila and Tariq escape with the kids to a hotel in a place called Murree. She misses Mariam, a lot. It's neat to see how the relationship between Laila and Mariam blossomed. At first it wasn't good, and then it turned to a mother/daughter relationship. Tariq has been getting really bad headaches which worries Laila. When Zalmai first met Tariq he didn't like him but he soon appreciates him. Aziza and Tariq have a bond, Aziza accepted him from the start. When they were at the hotel they heard breaking news of the attacks on the US (9/11). Shortly after, US declared war on the Taliban - Laila and Tariq hopes that this will result for the better. They hope that the United States can conquer the Taliban. This next chapter was very "exciting" to me. A few years later Laila and Tariq moved back to Kabul to help rebuild their home. First, they stop at the hotel in Heart where Mariam lived to say goodbye. They run into Mullah's son who has a locked box that he was instructed to give to Mariam (from JALIL)! Laila informed him that Mariam was dead, so he gave the box to her - she opened it. Inside was a bag of money, the movie Pinocchio, and...a LETTER begging for Mairam's forgiveness. I thought this was great - if only Mariam was alive and knew about it. Her father did love her. In the final chapter we see them living happily in Kabul and Laila is pregnant again. If it is a girl, she decided she would name it Mariam :) .

In this set of reading we learn that Tariq's father continued to have a series of strokes. Tariq is in need of a new leg because he has grown and has to wait 6 months for one. Poor Hasina, not only did she have to have an arranged marriage but she had to get married to....her cousin! Both of these actions are so wrong, especially marrying family members - in todays society that is illegal. Mammy warns Laila that people are starting ot gossip about her because she (Laila) has been seen walking around with Tariq. She says that Laila is only 14 while Tariq is 16 - she warns her to stop because her reputation is very important to uphold. Laila mentions that they are "just friends" and that he is like her brother. Mammy doesn't care she still wants Laila to stop.  I don't understand why they cant talk or be friends because of the age difference or is it because he is missing a leg, or maybe women aren't allowed to talk to males unless they are their "suitor"...? Tariq confessed his secret to Laila saying that he only has eyes for her. This will be an interesting thing to watch because from what I can tell they aren't suppose to be talking or "for each other". Will they let that come in between them? A war brakes out in Kabul which seems to have "phased" Laila (which is understandable) - she doesn't like hearing the whistle everyday at dinner when a bomb explodes, and she often dreams of  fire and the wounded.  

AH! In chapter 25 we learn that Tariq and his family are fleeing so they can escape the war because his fathers heart cant handle it anymore. He didn't want to tell Laila until the day before he left because he knew it would be hard. THEN Babi tries to persuade Mammy to leave and Laila starts to have hope in finding Tariq.

Wow! This was a lot of reading...!

As we first saw in the previous chapter Mariam was given a burqa, which she had never worn before. She doesn't like it because it is long, heavy, and it doesn't allow her to see everything (kind of like "blinders"). After time, she grew to like it, she felt secure in it - no one was able to judge her. Rasheed took her on a tour of the city... she had never been to a restaurant before!!! Then Mariam encountered her biggest fear, sex. She was so scared and anticipated the pain but felt as though he didn't care or understand, he was just in it for himself. He must have been able to tell that something was wrong with her because he then went into telling her how "theres no shame" its what married people do. I feel really bad for Mariam. She didn't ask for any of this! She was "abandoned" by her father, her mother died, had a planned marriage, in a new place, new traditions/customs, and then she had to have sex with someone she doesn't even like.

[[more to come...]]

Shortly after this Rasheed took Mariam to the doctors where they found out that...she was pregnant! Both were really excited by this news and began to brainstorm names - they were almost positive that it was going to be a boy. As a celebration Rasheed took Mariam to the bathhouse - as a gift to her. It was going to be a great day until Mariam and looked down and saw blood - she had a miscarriage. Just as things were seeming to get better for her, poor Mariam goes back downhill again! This only caused more problems...Mariam of course was depressed and angry. Rasheed couldn't stand Mariam and was mad - it wasn't her fault, have some sympathy! They continued to try to have a child but they continued to fail. Because of Rasheed strong disappointment in Mariam he no longer treats her with any respect. He leaves her to walk alone, he no longer appreciates anything she does. This is horrible! As a "punishment" he even forced her to chew pebbles, which left her bleeding and damaged her teeth. How can someone be so cruel? If he is so disappointed can't he get a divorce instead of putting her through all this misery? 

This book starts off like Things Fall Apart - confusing names!
This book takes place in Afghanistan in/near Herat. The main character in the readings so far is Mariam. She is the illegitmate child of Jalil, a wealthy business man, and Nana his former maid. Although he has a nice reputation throughout society....his repuation as a father is horrible - he is a terrible father. He only visits Mariam about once a week - and Mariam is always eagerly waiting for this one visit. Although her mom was there for her - she wasn't help at all, she was always telling Mariam that she was a bastard child and people wouldnt like her...she would have a bad life. ALl she really wanted for her birthday was to see a movie with her father (who owned a cinema) but he left her outside, alone, all night - and never let her in or fulfilled her wish. I beleive this is because the father didnt want to be seen with a bastard child, a disgrace....it made him fearful of his position in society.