The Observation Deck

I'm up for whatever you suggest Brad. This group has stretched my limits, so I'll try the next new thing. Let us know what you decide, or someone else can jump on board....

I'm tempted by the Chinese mystery because of it's basis in ancient documents, and it's setting in ancient China, but I would like to investigate it more. Lynn, I also thought No Longer at Ease was the most appealing of Achebe's books. (Again, for your own reference, I loved Things Fall Apart - you should check it out.)

If it's OK with you two, I'll allow the weekend to see if anyone else would like to join with a suggestion, and I'll decide between these two books on Monday. Sound good?

While we await for Brad (or someone else) to make the next book selection, I have two final questions:

8. The phrase "a thousand splendid suns" appears twice in the novel-once as Laila's family prepares to leave Kabul and later when Laila decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in the final lines: "Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns." What was the symbolic significance of this phrase?

9. The first three parts of the novel are in the past tense. The final part is written in the present tense. How does this change the effect of this final section?

Lynn or Brad, this was an extensive novel. If I left anything out of the discussion that you've been waiting to chime in on. Please feel free to add your questions/comments!

Here are my thoughts:

8. The phrase "a thousand splendid suns" appears twice in the novel-once as Laila's family prepares to leave Kabul and later when Laila decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in the final lines: "Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns." What was the symbolic significance of this phrase?

Laila's father first quotes the phrase in a poem about Kabul. He is weepng over having to leave his home, and Laila tells him that they will come back to Kabul when the war is over. When she decides to return to Kabul, the poem reminds her that it is the right thing for her to do. I think the author uses the phrase to demonstrate that despite the horrors that we have seen in Afghanistan, there is beauty and love there. Most of all, just as Mariam lives on in Laila's heart, hope for the future lives on as well...

9. The first three parts of the novel are in the past tense. The final part is written in the present tense. How does this change the effect of this final section?

The final part of the book shows Laila as empowered. She is a women of action. She is making a difference in the the lives of the children of Kabul. It leads you to feel hopeful for the future of Afghanistan, the women and children in particular. However, I continue to have lingering doubts of lasting change. The current situation in Afghanistan continues to be very dangerous. I just read a Newsweek article this week that described how Afghan poppy farmers are unable to pay their debts and give their daughters to their debtors to pay off what is owed. Babies as young as 2 months old are promised to grown men. Young girls are made to work in their future husband's households until they are old enough to marry. My heart breaks for the women and children of that country, and I am reminded of how blessed I am to be a woman born in the United States.

I think we'll give The Chinese Maze Murders a shot, unless anyone has strong last minute objections. I was reading a lot of customer reviews - positive - and many said that aside from being really good detective stories (compared to Sherlock Holmes, which I love), this book is very educational about ancient China and has a lot of geographical and cultural detail.

It will be interesting to see how this type of story lends itself to book club discussion, but honestly I'm so intrigued I just can't resist!


8. The phrase "a thousand splendid suns" appears twice in the novel-once as Laila's family prepares to leave Kabul and later when Laila decides to return there from Pakistan. It is also echoed in the final lines: "Mariam is in Laila's own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns." What was the symbolic significance of this phrase?

I've always been terrible with poetry, and whenever this line was mentioned, I couldn't even figure out what it was trying to say about Kabul, let alone about Mariam.

But I guessed its significance to be tesitfying to the endurance of Kabul (read: Afghanistan and Afghanis), especially given its context in the book - once when leaving a tumultuous and dangerous Kabul, and again when returning to a Kabul of hope for the future.

9. The first three parts of the novel are in the past tense. The final part is written in the present tense. How does this change the effect of this final section?

I noticed this. I took it to mean that Hosseini was emphasizing that the story is ongoing, even if the book ends. It struck me, too, when the wars are so unpopular here in America, that Hosseini treated the current situation in Afghanistan pretty positively, or at least hopefully, and they've had a much worse time of it than we Americans have.

I got my copy of The Chinese Maze Muders today. I can't wait to curl up with it this weekend. It looks like an interesting book, and definitely not something I would have found on my own. I love mysteries and I hope this is a good one!

Where did you find it, Jennifer? I know it's readily available online from Amazon or Borders, but I haven't been able to find it at several stores.

I recently received a gift card to Barnes and Noble, so I used it and ordered online. I would think that most major book stores can order it for you if they don't have it in stock.