~ Book Club Questions ~

I am so happy to know that you’re interested in reading Brick Walls in your book club. It’s a great book for a reading club because it is naturally divided into seven parts. I recommend reading one story for each club meeting. Remember to contact me 4-6 weeks in advance if you’d like me join via Skype or Google Hangout.

Angel of Hope

1. Which character of the story did you personally identify with?

2. If you were in Asma’s shoes, how would you deal with your child’s illness?

3. What did you make of Pakistan’s culture in terms of fashion and lifestyle? How is it similar and different from your own country?

4. Do you have people like Mrs. Malik and Akbar in your own life? How do you deal with them?

5. What did you learn about sexual relations in a country like Pakistan from Asma’s and Mr. Malik’s communications? What was the most surprising aspect to you?

6. What did you think of the ending of the story? What lessons can you glean about trust and intuition from the ending?

7. If the author had continued the story how do you think it would have progressed?

Paradise Reinvented

1. What was the most interesting or thought provoking aspect of this story?

2. Why do you think Faisal was so easily trapped in the madrassah? What were some of his personality traits that Qadeer was able to use to his advantage?

3. Did this story change your perception of suicide bombers or terrorists in general? If so, how?

4. If you were in Faisal’s situation, how would you have reacted towards the end of the story?

5. What did you learn about religious life in Pakistan from this story? Was any of it new information?

6. Were there any aspects of religion or culture here that resonated with you or that you found familiar? How would these aspects compare with religion and culture for in your part of the world?

7. What could have been an alternate ending to this story that would have been equally or more satisfying?

Bittersweet Mangoes

1. What did you learn about economics (poverty, class divisions etc.) in Pakistan from this story? How much of this information was new to you?

2. What did you think of Rabia? Is she someone whom you would have associated with Pakistan?

3. How did you see Rabia’s character evolving as the story progressed? Who do you think had the biggest role in this evolution?

4. What did you make of the way romance is depicted in this story? How is it different or similar to your own experiences with romance and how relationships are depicted in your culture?

5. Rabia’s family is from the political elite. How is this section of society different in your own country and in what ways is it similar?

6. What was the most upsetting or disturbing aspect of this story for you? Why?

7. What did you think of the ending? Did you think it was feasible or believable? What did it teach you about class relationships and dependencies in third world countries?

Tonight’s the Night

1. What were some things you learned in this story about the northwestern part of Pakistan, including Pushtun culture?

2. What did you think of Javed Gul and Harris? Did you know musicians such as these young men existed in Pakistan?

3. This story is written mostly in a narrative style, with much of the back story being explained through an interview. What did you think of this style of story telling and how effective was it for you?

4. What did you think about the dichotomy between Javed Gul’s profession as a rock star and his religious/cultural beliefs? Do some of the same dichotomies exist in your own culture?

5. What did you know about the Taliban before reading this story? Have your opinions changed in any way after reading this story?

6. What did you think of Nazia? How is the romance between her and Javed Gul different compared to the romance in Bittersweet Mangoes?

7. Could this story have ended any differently? How?

A Mother’s Heart

1. What was the best and worst part of Farzana’s character? Do you know anyone like her?

2. What did you learn about the lives of elders in Pakistan? How are elders treated differently or the same in your culture?

3.  What was the most surprising part of this story? Was there anything you expected to occur?

4. An important topic in this story is that of the “brain drain” – the migration of educated people from a third world country to other places with better economics and opportunities. Did your opinion about Pakistan or its problems change in any way after you understood the brain drain?

5. Farzana is beset from all directions by people who seem to know what’s best for her. Is there any character who you think she should have trusted? Why?

6. What did you think of Farzana’s children? Do you see these characters in your own lives and if so, do you deal with them the same way as Farzana or differently?

7. What did you think of the ending? The author had originally written a very different ending for this story, but was convinced by her editors to change it in order to make it more realistic. Do you think this ending does a good job of explaining Farzana’s situation in realistic terms? What could the alternative ending have been?

Making the Team

1. This is the only story in the collection with a child as the main character. How do you think this fact lends credibility or richness to the collection?

2. What did you learn about Nida in particular and the state of childhood in Pakistan in general?

3. Nida’s character doesn’t develop or evolve in any significant way in this story. Why do you think that was not needed for the story?

4. What new or surprising thing did you learn about sports in Pakistan?

5. What did you think about Nida’s solution to her problem? Do you think there should have been a different way for her to deal with the issue at hand?

6. What did you learn about life in Islamabad from this story? What were some particularly interesting pictures that came to mind after reading about Nida’s little neighborhood?

7. What is the state of gender in sports in your country? In what ways does it differ and how is it similar to the situation described in this story?

Free My Soul

1. This story is written in journal form. Once you realized this, what were some of your expectations of the story?

2. What was the most disturbing aspect of Lubna’s story? What was the most uplifting?

3. An important theme in this story is justice. In what ways did each major character attain justice or closure in your opinion?

4. How do issues of crime, trial and incarceration play out in your own country? How different would it be from Lubna’s experience, if a poor girl in your own country was falsely accused of a crime?

5. The author has tried to depict the women’s section of the Karachi jail quite faithfully, although things may have changed since the writing of the book. What did you think of the jail and all the amenities available there? Why do you think that in a country where gender inequality and abuse still exists, the women’s jail was such a beacon of hope and light?

6. Apart from Lubna, which character did you enjoy the most? Why?

7. Try to continue the story. What do you think will happen to Lubna after she leaves the jail?