BookBrowse BookTalk : Conference : Active Book Club DiscussionsConference : Active Book Club Discussions : New book discussions each month. Please join us to talk about some of the best book club books
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RE: Did you highlight or bookmark any ...Yes, on the dedication page she writes: You will find that most things in life are more complicated than they appear, yet I wish you many simple, beautiful moments. May you always remember your hearts. 

It was strange how memories worked. The harder you chased them away, the more tightly they grasped you, and always at the wrong time.
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2024-03-28T19:28:14-05:00Did you highlight or bookmark any passages from the book?RE: What did you think of the couple&#...I think Farzad loves Amineh but is not really enthralled by the idea of marriage. I think he was encouraged by friends and family. They met and married within a months time so it is no surprise that they know nothing about each other. It is annoying Amineh wants to please Farzad at all costs in the beginning, but she is young and hopefully will come around to realizing its not all about the husband. Arguing on a honeymoon shows one member of the couple thinks they have made a mistake.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E6CB1F2-D59B-8D69-D20D3CE352181263&r=2
2024-03-28T19:22:53-05:00What did you think of the couple's argument while on their honeymoon?RE: Why is Amineh so lonely?Obviously because she has lost her parents. It is implied she had a wonderful relationship with her mother especially when it came to the roses, and her father she just adored. When she had to live with her grandmother, I think she lost a lot of self- esteem. If anyone has ever been in a relationship like that, all you want is to be accepted and loved and know that you are valued as a person.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E3768E3-E0DA-AAB7-CBD9F5690CF75DE3&r=3
2024-03-28T19:14:36-05:00Why is Amineh so lonely?RE: Overall, what do you think of Half a...I have not finished the book yet, but so far I am enjoying it. I had to write down all the names of the characters so I could keep everyone straight. I normally do not like weak women, but I think Amineh is going to come out strong in the end. The author does a good job on making one feel they are there with her words and descriptions of the land and what is going on at the moment.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EE16737-AF42-AB3F-CA5FF99584949BA5&r=4
2024-03-28T19:08:30-05:00Overall, what do you think of Half a Cup of Sand and Sky? (no spoilers)RE: Overall, what do you think of Half a...I found the book to be a wonderful fusion of love & marriage, family, personal growth, social change, and historical background. I learned more about the Iranian people (and their cooking), the global politics of disarmament, and how both familial and societal expectations are ever present in the choices we make wherever we are in this world. For me, Half a Cup of Sand and Sky was a magnificent and well-written read!
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EE16737-AF42-AB3F-CA5FF99584949BA5&r=5
2024-03-28T16:34:43-05:00Overall, what do you think of Half a Cup of Sand and Sky? (no spoilers)RE: The "would-be widows" are ...In this country women have many more opportunities to determine the paths our lives take. We are more free than the women of this book. They are subject to arranged marriage and must defer to their husband and his family.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=384E279D-9761-8A45-EFA81E07E1DC5AF7&r=6
2024-03-28T14:44:11-05:00The "would-be widows" are equating being widowed with being free. Would you equate these two things in the same way?RE: What did you think of the author&#...I thought the book was very entertaining. The author writes humorous dialogue while exposing the treatment of women in rural India.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=3817E309-E4C3-32A3-5B6B52A013AFA6C2&r=7
2024-03-28T14:34:46-05:00What did you think of the author's choice to use humor to explore serious topics?RE: Why is Amineh so lonely?Amineh was like I think many women: she wanted to be loved, respected and appreciated. Not being able to find this because her husband was not able to deal with his emotional side as well as his intellectual one, Amineh was doomed to loneliness in that marriage. She kept thinking it was herself when really Farzah didn't help much. That's why I loved Patrik so much because he could see who Amineh. I wished he had married her first.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E3768E3-E0DA-AAB7-CBD9F5690CF75DE3&r=8
2024-03-28T14:17:54-05:00Why is Amineh so lonely?RE: Did Farzad and Amineh make the right...I'm not sure I agreed with them staying - I did remember as I read thinking: leave! I'm not sure much would have changed as far as their relationship was concerned if they had left though. Besides Farzah was so dedicated to his work he couldn't see the trees from the forest. He missed a great opportunity to love a good woman in doing so.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E58AB69-9A99-3376-48304061C66B0716&r=9
2024-03-28T14:15:16-05:00Did Farzad and Amineh make the right call in choosing to stay in Iran?RE: What did you think of the couple&#...Well it is their honeymoon and their relationship should be equally as important as his work because without working on a relationship couples can't grow closer and come to respect and appreciate each other - and that is shown throughout the story. Farzad was older than Amineh too and rather set in his ways so this marriage was not destined to the great love of her life thing for Amineh.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E6CB1F2-D59B-8D69-D20D3CE352181263&r=10
2024-03-28T14:12:42-05:00What did you think of the couple's argument while on their honeymoon?RE: Ava feels risks are necessary to ...I admire people who think this way and are willing to risk to effect change, though I admit I'm not sure I could this.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E866847-E3C5-702E-8D546DA79B2EBBFE&r=11
2024-03-28T14:10:38-05:00Ava feels risks are necessary to affect change. Do you agree?RE: Is there a question you would like ...Yes, did she base this on anyone she knew? I recently hear the author of The Waters speak and she shared that one of the characters was based on a friend of her mothers. If the author did what characteristics did she want us to know about this person?
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2024-03-28T14:08:39-05:00Is there a question you would like to ask the author about the story?RE: What kind of reader would you ...Anyone who enjoys historical fiction and loves to learn about other cultures. I simply loved this book.
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2024-03-28T14:07:10-05:00What kind of reader would you recommend this book to?RE: Who was your favorite character?...Patrik, though I loved Amineh but sometimes I found her irritating.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0E9ABCCE-9CD7-81F4-D9E4BFE8A199BC5B&r=14
2024-03-28T14:06:21-05:00Who was your favorite character?RE: Did you highlight or bookmark any ...No, I don't like to mark up books but I did note the author's Postscript comments about writing a book to create a different impression of Iran.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EA13B6E-D240-0AA9-7CBC1171ED5C603F&r=15
2024-03-28T14:04:55-05:00Did you highlight or bookmark any passages from the book?RE: Is the novel's portrayal of ...The author notes in her Postscript that during the Bush (43) administration, she could find no literature that painted a positive view of this country [Iran] or its culture, writing "A single story cements our perception of the others." So, I think the book's portrayal of the Islamic religion as one similar to any religion wanting people to follow a moral, peaceful path (Christianity, Buddhism, etc.) had an intent to show similarities rather than differences. The references to poets such as Rumi who was a great mystic as well also shows that this region of the world has great depth in its thinking. And as noted earlier, the author had an intent to create another view or way of thinking.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EBC2C35-960E-A9D8-324788CEF4CF700F&r=16
2024-03-28T13:52:02-05:00Is the novel's portrayal of Islam different from or similar to how you feel it is portrayed in Western culture?RE: What do you think the future has in ...I think their futures are tied to how satisfied were you with the ending. I was satisfied with the ending and I think the women were satisfied with their lives at the end. Each character gained so much throughout the story. They were definitely changed internally. Their cultural reality could not change as much as much as their internal reality did change. Each woman achieved what they set out to achieve - but not necessarily in the way they originally wanted. The women also gained each other as friends which was more than loan partners. In my mind I thought about sequels and more books that could come from this story but decided that it was not a perfect ending but a satisfying ending. Adding more to the story would change or disrupt what had been achieved. I am satisfied thinking that the women will continue to be friends, support each other and enjoy what they have. The women know they share a bond of protection that will keep them from harm in the future. I thought about a continuation of the relationship between Kareem and Geeta but the cultural reality would be difficult. Again, I am satisfied with them caring & protecting each other and being friends. I would conclude that their future is as good as they want it to be. They a learned how to control their own lives.
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2024-03-28T13:50:12-05:00What do you think the future has in store for Geeta and the book's other characters?RE: How does Amineh's guilt over ...Amineh bore a burden of guilt she didn't need to, but the guilt came at an age where she was very young and impressionable. Plus, she loved her parents greatly, so their deaths were devastating. I think this guilt also affected her ability to connect to people effectively. In fairness to Amineh, there was no one she could talk to about her feelings; certainly her grandmother was not going to help ease this girl's broken heart. Amineh suffered in silence and her lack of confidence came from this I believe.
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2024-03-28T13:40:37-05:00How does Amineh's guilt over her parents' death shape her actions?RE: Overall, what do you think of Half a...I loved it! I was so impressed that a woman who was not Iranian wrote it because Amineh's voice was so real, so immersed in her culture. I immediately thought of Memoirs of a Geisha where a man created a marvelous female character. This is a book I intend to share with friends, keep and re-read. I loved Amineh!
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EE16737-AF42-AB3F-CA5FF99584949BA5&r=19
2024-03-28T13:36:50-05:00Overall, what do you think of Half a Cup of Sand and Sky? (no spoilers)RE: Were you familiar with Iran's ...Yes, I remember that time vividly having lived through it and watching the whole thing over television. It was a scary time.
https://www.bookbrowse.com/booktalk/messages.cfm?threadid=0EC0D364-9BFF-0804-0696989680BA2C95&r=20
2024-03-28T13:34:15-05:00Were you familiar with Iran's political history before reading this book?