I am not sure how many people were able to read this book this month, so I just put the questions in one spot for discussion. I will put up the next choices tomorrow, going to pick a more "beach read" since it is summertime!
1. In your opinion, what does the back-and-forth between Julia’s and U Ba’s narratives add to the telling of the love story between Tin Win and Mi Mi? How do these stories interrelate?
2. Tin Win is born to parents who abandon him as a child but Mi Mi is born into a close-knit family. Mi Mi’s mother, especially, adores her daughter. Do you see this developmental difference reflected in the adult each one becomes, or in the way the two relate to one another?
3. After he loses his sight, Tin Win spends several years in a monastery under the tutelage of the abbot, U May. In your opinion, what does U May model for Tin Win? How does Tin Win grow in these years?
4. Tin Win’s wealthy uncle, U Saw, finances Tin Win’s eye operation and subsequent education abroad. But to U Saw’s discredit, his motives are self-interested, and for his own convenience, he obstructs all communication between Tin Win and Mi Mi. Is U Saw portrayed as a villain --- or is he even villainous?
5. A portion of the novel is in the form of letters. Does this change the mood or the flow of the novel? The way you see the characters?
6. Tin Win and Mi Mi develop an intense, literally symbiotic relationship: he walks for her; she acts as his eyes. They become inseparable, but then they are separated for decades. Given what you know about each character, how do you think they are able to withstand the time apart?
7. Discuss the role of memory in the novel, both individual and collective.
8. Burma (now known as Myanmar) was occupied by the British from the nineteenth century until 1948. How important is this colonial history to the major events of the novel?
9. Prophecy and superstition play a significant role in Burmese culture. Do you think this belief system inspires a fundamental feeling of security or of anxiety in the main characters of the novel, and why?
10. The novel contrasts Western and Eastern values: individualism and personal achievement versus kinship and transcendence. Where and how are these differences brought to light?
I enjoyed reading it and have been looking forward to hearing everyone's comments. I'll get to these this weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I should say that I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't put it down toward the end. Am I correct that we find out that U Ba is Julia's half-brother!? Woah.
ReplyDeleteFor Julia, it was hard to love someone (father) enough to let them go. That was a good lesson for me. How crazy that her father was living a life he knew he was not meant to live. I can't help but think of my own life... am I living true? It's not like I'm going to run away from home, but what do I want to be doing that I am not?
1. The back and forth creates a storytelling frame that allows the author to tell Tin Win's story to Julia and thus, to us.
2. Tin Win seems to let MiMi replace his mother in some ways. And he literally becomes her legs as she becomes his eyes.
3. U May is definitely a father figure who shapes Tin Win into the assured man he becomes.
Once Tin Win could hear U May's heart, he couldn't reconcile the faint beat with the strength in the voice.
4. U Saw a villain? I don't know. Perhaps just an unfortunately limited human.
6. I guess it was true that they had each other in their hearts. They were together even though they were physically separate. Their faithfulness, perseverance, and trust was inspirational for me.
In all, I'd give this a 4 to of 5. I love stories full of romance, heartbreak, and inspiration.
I am still on the waiting list to get the book:( Sadly, I did not get a chance to read the book and hopefully I will be able to read the next book.. So sorry, I do not like missing out on a discussion:)
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