Friday, November 27, 2009
Thoughts For Our Next Reading Selection
Since we've run through almost our whole reading selection so far and it's time to start choosing the next set of books to read, I wanted to get a sounding for what people think of how this round went and whether we should try something different for the next one. Do we want to go with some sort of theme, like books that have won awards, or stick with choosing books that we all want to share or want to read with a group like we did last time around? I've got some ideas for books I want to share, but I want to know how everyone else feels and open the floor for other ideas. Theme ideas could include things like genre, author, subject, time period, award winner, favorite from a particular time in life, and so on.
Seven Daughters and Seven Sons Finale - Part 3 Discussion
So. What do you think? How did you like this book?
I really enjoy this section. In addition to her return home and reunion with Mahmud, it's neat at the beginning to get Buran's perspective on some of the events from Part 2, especially insight on Amin and his attitude towards her.
Rather interesting what happened to her cousins, isn't it? Hassan's situation was especially sad. What do you think of her revenge on all of them, and the unforeseen advantage it would give her later? At one point after arriving home, she laments,
"I wept of the lonely years that stretched in front of me like an empty track through the desert. Of what use was it to be rich as the caliph is there was to be no one in the world that loved me best, no one in the world whom I loved best? The revenge I'd achieved on Hassan was as empty as death. I'd have given it over in a instant for five minutes with Mahmud. What good is revenge when you're alone at night?" (p. 196 of my book)
Any thoughts on this? Have any of you ever sought revenge and achieved it? Would you be willing to share how you felt?
Did anyone look into where Orontes is located? I checked it out and it is a river in Syria. But I don't really understand why someone would say they were from a river. Also, she's shocked at how far away the man from Orontes had come just to court her, but from what I could tell on a map, she'd had other suitors that were from places not much farther away: Aleppo, Damascus... Just a random thought there.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this book! Thanks for reading it with me!
I really enjoy this section. In addition to her return home and reunion with Mahmud, it's neat at the beginning to get Buran's perspective on some of the events from Part 2, especially insight on Amin and his attitude towards her.
Rather interesting what happened to her cousins, isn't it? Hassan's situation was especially sad. What do you think of her revenge on all of them, and the unforeseen advantage it would give her later? At one point after arriving home, she laments,
"I wept of the lonely years that stretched in front of me like an empty track through the desert. Of what use was it to be rich as the caliph is there was to be no one in the world that loved me best, no one in the world whom I loved best? The revenge I'd achieved on Hassan was as empty as death. I'd have given it over in a instant for five minutes with Mahmud. What good is revenge when you're alone at night?" (p. 196 of my book)
Any thoughts on this? Have any of you ever sought revenge and achieved it? Would you be willing to share how you felt?
Did anyone look into where Orontes is located? I checked it out and it is a river in Syria. But I don't really understand why someone would say they were from a river. Also, she's shocked at how far away the man from Orontes had come just to court her, but from what I could tell on a map, she'd had other suitors that were from places not much farther away: Aleppo, Damascus... Just a random thought there.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this book! Thanks for reading it with me!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Seven Daughters and Seven Sons - Part 2 Discussion
Okay, everyone, with your hand on your heart and a romantically-touched look on your face, take a deep breath and sigh with me, "Awwwhhh." That pretty much describes what I did when I finished Part 2. Were you able to keep from starting Part 3? Confession: even though I've read this book multiple times, I gave in and finished in. I know! I'm a horrid example.
This section touches on a couple topics that I thought were interesting:
-Friendship and what attributes true friends possess (or what attributes fake friends have) - I find it interesting that from the very beginning of Mahmud's account, he basically says that Amin and Uthman are not true friends. What is it about his friendship with Nasir that gives them a strong relationship? How are our friendships? What do you think of Uthman's attempt at being a true friend at the end?
-The relationship between men and women - Of course, we all recoiled at the men's narrow-minded attitudes towards women. I personally believe these attitudes are still pervasive in our society, but much more disguised. Can you think of any ways it's hidden? I love how Nasir defends women against the men's views.
-Deception - This topic continues into the next section. Does deception have a time and a place when it may acceptable?
It was in this section that we get an idea of what Buran/Nasir looks like. I got a kick out of Mahmud describing Nasir as "a slight, remarkably good-looking young man..." (p. 88 of my book).
One thing that bothers me is how lightly some of the morals of the characters' religion are regarded. It seems that Uthman and Amin don't exactly engage in wholesome entertainment. Mahmud gets drunk. And other types of immorality are implied in a general sense in Part 1.
I love how Nasir/Buran cleverly reveals her secret to Mahmud. Beautifully poetic.
Finally, finish the book this week and we'll open the discussion on Friday, November 27th. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
This section touches on a couple topics that I thought were interesting:
-Friendship and what attributes true friends possess (or what attributes fake friends have) - I find it interesting that from the very beginning of Mahmud's account, he basically says that Amin and Uthman are not true friends. What is it about his friendship with Nasir that gives them a strong relationship? How are our friendships? What do you think of Uthman's attempt at being a true friend at the end?
-The relationship between men and women - Of course, we all recoiled at the men's narrow-minded attitudes towards women. I personally believe these attitudes are still pervasive in our society, but much more disguised. Can you think of any ways it's hidden? I love how Nasir defends women against the men's views.
-Deception - This topic continues into the next section. Does deception have a time and a place when it may acceptable?
It was in this section that we get an idea of what Buran/Nasir looks like. I got a kick out of Mahmud describing Nasir as "a slight, remarkably good-looking young man..." (p. 88 of my book).
One thing that bothers me is how lightly some of the morals of the characters' religion are regarded. It seems that Uthman and Amin don't exactly engage in wholesome entertainment. Mahmud gets drunk. And other types of immorality are implied in a general sense in Part 1.
I love how Nasir/Buran cleverly reveals her secret to Mahmud. Beautifully poetic.
Finally, finish the book this week and we'll open the discussion on Friday, November 27th. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Seven Daughters and Seven Sons - Part 1 Discussion
As I read this section, it reminded me that my roommate friend dreamed of making this book into a movie. Even though the book starts out kind of slow, it's beginning to pick up and the plot thickens.
This section has some lines in it that impress me as being quite wise. One of them is in the first paragraph of Buran's account: "What we imagine to be a blessing can actually be a curse, and what we suppose to be a curse may blossom into a blessing." Have you had any experiences where this has been the case?
I really admire Buran's parents. Her father seems like a really sweet guy, especially in his graciousness of having to put up with his snotty brother practically every day. I imagine her mother to be like Golda, the matriarch in Fiddler on the Roof. What do you think of the mother's saying, "Each of us has a place, and if we fall out of it, the world will turn upside down" (p. 33 of my book). Does she make a good point, or is she being a little close-minded? Will Buran prove her wrong? Exactly what is our "place?"
One of my favorite secondary characters is Gindar the Chief. He's just cool.
For this next week, read Part 2 and we'll open the discussion for it on November 20th.
This section has some lines in it that impress me as being quite wise. One of them is in the first paragraph of Buran's account: "What we imagine to be a blessing can actually be a curse, and what we suppose to be a curse may blossom into a blessing." Have you had any experiences where this has been the case?
I really admire Buran's parents. Her father seems like a really sweet guy, especially in his graciousness of having to put up with his snotty brother practically every day. I imagine her mother to be like Golda, the matriarch in Fiddler on the Roof. What do you think of the mother's saying, "Each of us has a place, and if we fall out of it, the world will turn upside down" (p. 33 of my book). Does she make a good point, or is she being a little close-minded? Will Buran prove her wrong? Exactly what is our "place?"
One of my favorite secondary characters is Gindar the Chief. He's just cool.
For this next week, read Part 2 and we'll open the discussion for it on November 20th.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Seven Daughters and Seven Sons - Part 1
Howdy, y'all,
I first encountered Seven Daughters and Seven Sons when a college roommate introduced it to me. It's a girl power book and I have an affinity for those. It also gives readers a glimpse of Middle Eastern culture, which I love to learn about. This is my third or fourth time reading it and I'm excited to read it again. From the little background research I've done, I've found out that this story has been part of Iraqi folklore since around the eleventh century.
This book is a fairly quick and easy read. It's divided up into three parts and I'm thinking we'll read one part a week. If this is too fast and we need to wait for anyone to catch up, just let me know.
One thing I've never done while reading this book that I'd like to do this time is to find the locations of the many geographical features mentioned...mainly cities and rivers. Just an idea for anyone that wants to join me in that.
I think that's about it. So, finish reading Part 1 by Friday, November 13th and we'll go ahead and start the discussion for it whenever anyone is ready. Alsalamu alaykum.
I first encountered Seven Daughters and Seven Sons when a college roommate introduced it to me. It's a girl power book and I have an affinity for those. It also gives readers a glimpse of Middle Eastern culture, which I love to learn about. This is my third or fourth time reading it and I'm excited to read it again. From the little background research I've done, I've found out that this story has been part of Iraqi folklore since around the eleventh century.
This book is a fairly quick and easy read. It's divided up into three parts and I'm thinking we'll read one part a week. If this is too fast and we need to wait for anyone to catch up, just let me know.
One thing I've never done while reading this book that I'd like to do this time is to find the locations of the many geographical features mentioned...mainly cities and rivers. Just an idea for anyone that wants to join me in that.
I think that's about it. So, finish reading Part 1 by Friday, November 13th and we'll go ahead and start the discussion for it whenever anyone is ready. Alsalamu alaykum.
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