Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Chapter 10: Loneliness

I was very moved by the description of Maryam's life in this chapter. I was also somewhat surprised by her feeling that it was an effort for her to go out and that she felt lonelier in public than at home. Throughout the book, she presented herself in a very self confident way and she seemed satisfied with her life. But in chapter 10, she seemed much more vulnerable. One example is her worry that engaging in conversation raised the possibility of mistakes. Perhaps the developing relationship with Dave and the Donaldsons disrupted her equilibrium, and she needed time to decide whether she was going to open up her life or if she would return to her small quiet world.
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3 comments:

  1. MIT Spouses & Partners Book GroupApril 30, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    This chapter was sad. It sounded like Maryam was beginning to become depressed. She no longer enjoyed her friends or former social life as she used to. Not sure if Dave & the Donaldson clan could be completely responsible for disrupting her equilibrium - though they were a force of nature! =)

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  2. JenniferApril 30, 2009 at 4:27 PM

    It was very sad. But do you think the ending was hopeful?

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  3. MacarenaMay 1, 2009 at 4:13 PM

    I personally liked this chapter, where Maryam´s personality and deep feelings come clear. For me, here she is depicted as a more real, sensitive person, with a lovely inner life. Although she seems to be going through some kind of more introvert stage in her life, I personally didn’t feel it was very sad... Maybe, as Jennifer has put it, she was feeling some kind loneliness. Wanted loneliness?
    I loved the end of the book, too. Is as if she realizes that being vulnerable doesn’t have to be bad, or that having people in her life, even if they kind of disrupt her equilibrium, doesn’t mean that she has to change.

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