The Taliban

The Taliban forbid "writing books, watching films, and painting pictures;" yet the film Titanic becomes a sensation on the black market. Why would people risk the Taliban’s violence to watch the film?

Thousand Splendid Suns

Why Do You Believe, That Laila Went To Herat and finally to Mariams Kolba? Do You Believe It Made Peace With Her Soul? Why Or Why Not

Are the Suns Really that Splendid

Throughout the book, A Thousand Splendid Suns, one of the main characters (Mariam), endures a lot of neglect, abuse, emotional as well as physical pain. When she finally gains that love she always wanted, she commits a crime and is sentenced to death. My question is with all the adversary Mariam went through, do you think that she deserved to be executed? Was killing Rasheed wrong? Or was it the fact that she took a father away from a son that admired him so much? Tell me what you think?

Book of Negroes and Thousand Splendid Suns. Similarities

After reading The Book of Negroes and A thousand Splendid Suns which similarities did you find between some of the characters in the novels.

Book Of Negroes

Why do you think Fanta slit the throat of her new born baby, and also threw Sanu's baby overboard ?

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The phrase "a thousand splendid suns" comes from the poet Saib-e-Tabrizi. This was quoted twice in the novel, once when Laila's family was going to leave Kabul, and when she decided to return Pakistan. Also it was in one of the final lines in the novel, "Mariam is in Laila's heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns". What do you think the significance of this phrase is, and how it is approprate for this novel.

Mohamed Ali

the book of Negroes/ thousand splendid suns question.

The book of Negroes and a thousand splendid suns, both share a similiarity. And that is the bad treatment of women by men with higher status in the society. Rasheed and Appleby are men who use their higher status in society to abuse females. My question is, between Rasheed and Appleby, who do you think is more cruel to females, and explain why.

Book of Negroes

Aminata longs for her home. What is the meaning of home in the novel, and how does the meaning change as the novel progresses?

thousand splendid suns question?

what common facts can you relate between the kite runner and thousand splendid suns? what simliarities do you see between the two books?

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Mariam's Arranged Marriage

When Mariam's mother passed away and was left on her own, Jalil and his wives decided she would need to get married as soon as possible. Once she married Rasheed, he took her out everyday, showed her around the city, and bought her new things regularily. Did you think this would last? That Rasheed was a very kind and generous man? Or did you believe this was just a front for Rasheed and he would treat her poorly the rest of her life?

Solomon Lindo a bad character? Book of negroes

Solomon Lindo is someone who's character is hard to judge. He seems like a good man at first but later we find out that he had sold Aminata's son. But when looking back at his circumstances and the fact that he had taken Aminata away from Appleby he becomes very hard to judge. So, do you think Solomon Lindo was a bad character?

Is there a bias in A Thousand Splendid Suns?

In Khalid Husseinins book, A Splendid Thousand Suns, a negative light is portrayed on Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and equality, however in Huessin's book the Taliban’s demonstrate Islam as a religion of oppression and discrimination. Even though the book is based on some truths, such as men are allowed to be polygamies and it is preferred that a woman travel with a man (for safety issues),Husseini fails to mention that women are given choices of who they marry and that women are seen equal to men. They are allowed to read, write and learn and Islam is not about destruction but rather peace. Do you agree that Khalid Husseini shows a certain bias to Islam by only portraying it through the mentality of the Taliban?

In the novel The Book of Negroes, Aminata makes a vow to herself proclaiming that she will return to her homeland and become the village djeli. Do you believe she accomplished her goal of becoming the djeli? Explain why or why not?

A Thousand Spendid Suns

Do you think that Laila and Tariq can truly be happy together?

Aminata: Best Choice?

Throughout Lawrence Hill’s novel, The Book of Negroes, it is apparent that there is a theme of struggle and survival. This journey of endurance is travelled by Aminata Daillo, the main character in the book. Aminata’s struggles for survival begin when she is taken away from her homeland by the Toubab and end with her in London working with aboltionalists. There are many events in her life that eventually lead her to live a better life than most of the Negroe’s living in Western countries. My question to you is, was Aminata the best candidate as the main character of The Book of Negroes? Aminata is, in a sense, more privileged then the average Negro so is it really fair that the struggle of Negroes is depicted through her life?

Lifestyle of Afghanistan

Khaled Housseini does an amazing job portraying his homeland Afghanistan in the eyes of a woman (A Thousand Splendid Suns) and a man (Kite Runner). What I've heard of Afghanistan and it's lifestyle of both genders are just unfair considering our society. For example, A woman isn't even allowed to leave her own home without her man being with her. And a man is allowed to marry more than 1 woman at a time. Thinking about Canada and our lifestyle, what do you think of this?

-Abdul

Thousand Splendid Suns

What is the most interesting point in the novel.

History of Afghanistan

Throughout time this country has seen its best and worst times.After reading A Thousand Splendid Suns what did you learn about Afghanistan and has it changed your view about the country?Did anything suprise you if so descride?

thousand splendid suns

When Mariam's husband Rasheed married Laila would you say that it helped Mariam out throughout the book or made her life worse.?

A Thousand Splendid Suns

The relationship between Laila and Mariam begins with Mariam feeling flat-out dislike for Laila because she believes Laila is steeling her husband Rasheed. But not long after Rasheed marrys Laila there becomes an understanding between the two women that blossems into a wholehearted connection making their relationship practically mother-daughter like. A few times in the book they do pass themelves as mother and daughter. How do you think the relationships between Laila and her mother, and Mariam and her mother shaped the way they treated eachother, and the family they share.

Throughout the novel, Aminata gets married and has a family of her own. Although she is withdrawn from her family, she is somehow brought back together with one of her children and her husband. What does this tell you about Love and Loyalty?

Aminata Diallo - Freedom

In The Book of Negroes, author Lawrence Hill depicts the significant theme of freedom through the journey of the main character Aminata Diallo. As an admirable heroic figure, Aminata is faced with several challenging struggles that shape her incredible qualities.

In your opinion, what is/are her most valuable characteristic(s)?

How did her valuable charcterisitc(s) influence other characters in the novel?

Give an example from the novel where the theme of freedom is greatly portrayed.
(This can be through recognized character development, incidents, or symbols, etc.)

Aminata is a strong character. she knows how to catch babies, read, write, speak multiple languages and etc.

Name one of the characteristics you like about her?
Where is it displayed in the book?
Do you think you have similar traits to Aminata?

A thousand Splendid Suns

Rasheed said he knew Aziza wasn't his daughter all along,how do you think he found out ?

                                                                                                                     -Ziniira

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Do you think that Mariam was the one that led to Nana's suicide? Why or Why not?

-Uros

Fanta killing the babies - Was it necessary?

In the book of Negroes, we notice that Fanta, a character full of pride and stuborness, transform into a character full of rage as she slits her own newborn baby and also throw Sanu's baby off the ship causing Sanu to dive into the water after her baby nearing the end of the journey. Was there a clear reason as to why Fanta responded this way during this situation?

The Book of Negroes - Survival

Aminata Diallo, the main character in this story faces many troubles throughout her entire life. She learns to overcome every trail in her life, even when she did not want to. This book is about survival. Not just Aminata's survival throughout her own life, but the survival of all the characters in the book.


How does the author of this book, Lawrence Hill, tell us about survival?
(Give examples of how the author displays it.)


Which characters learn to survive the best in the conditions they face?
Why do they survive?
(List the character and show a situation and why they survive.)


Are the Negroes the only ones that have to survive in hard situations?


Answer any 2 of the 3 sections above or ALL! If you want.
Or ask questions.

Thousand Splendid Suns - Rasheed

in an attempt to try this out:

I really dislike the character Rasheed. I don't like his ideas of male dominance and his actions. His violent actions towards Mariam (like when he shoved rocks in her mouth) really sadden me and I wonder how we would react if we were in her situation.

So to all the females:

Would you have let your husband abuse you knowing that this is normal?

(Or in other words, would you have fought back against him or would you keep quiet?)

And if you did, what would you do about it if you were Mariam?

and to all the males:

Would you have the integrity to beat your wife knowing that you can get away with it?

(Apparently in Afghanistan at that time, it was normal for men to overpower women with brute strength. A wife beaten was no serious thing.)

Feel free to answer both or add more questions if you want.

-Sola

WELCOME

Hi Grade 12's! Welcome to our very own class blog. This forum is for discussion of texts we are reading for our ISU. Because not everyone will finish the novels at the same time I would ask that you don't spoil any endings!! Also, I would ask that you put the novel title in the subject line of the thread you start. Thank you and enjoy.