Chapters 1-15
Summary-
The book begins with a 15 year old girl named Mariam who lives right outside Herat, Afghanistan. She has always been referred to as harami or bastard child. She has been called that name ever since she was 5 and has always hated it. Mariam has always lived with her mother who she calls Nana. Mariam's biological father also known as Jalil runs a movie theater however does not live with Mariam and only sees her about once a week. The reason why she is known as harami or bastard child is because her mother used to be Jalil's servant rather than wife when she was born. At the time Jalil had many wives and to support Nana and Mariam he built them a house. Jalil constantly promises that he will fully claim Mariam as his own child. Nana always told Mariam that Jalil was a lier. Nana has always hated Jalil for refusing to marry her thus causing Nana and Mariam to live on their own. Mariam however always loved her father and did not feel like a "harami" when she was with him. Nana said Jalil kicked her out of his house. However there was a Jalil side of the story as well. Jalil claims that Nana gave birth in a hospital while he was away. We are unsure whos side of the story is true.
One day Mariam is meeting up with Jalil. Mariam asks to go the Jalils cinema to see Pinocchio however Nana says it is not a good idea. Later however when Nana and Mariam is home alone with Jalil is not there she tells Jalil that she wants to see Pinocchio and meet her brothers and sisters. On the day Mariam was supposed to go to the cinema, Jalil never comes to pick her up. She decides to walk to Jalils house. When she is there she is told that Jalil was away on business. She ends up staying the night in outside of Jalils house because she refuses to leave until she sees Jalil. Jalil ends up getting forced into the back of Jalils car by his chauffeur and driven home. As soon as Mariam is home she sees that Nana has hanged herself because she believed that she was abandoned by Mariam.
After Nana is burred Mariam goes into a state of deep depression. She is offered a room in Jalils house. She goes but never leaves that room. Many people try to tell Mariam that her mothers death was not her fault and that she had a troubled childhood. Mariam is still in depression. Jalil tells Mariam that she will be married to a man named Rasheed. Mariam believes that her getting married is the only way to get rid of her. Jalil does not seem to be excited about the idea however his wives agree that she must be married. Mariam is disgusted by this. The next day Mariam gets married to Rasheed and is told that she will move to Kabul. Before boarding the bus to Kabul Mariam tells her father Jalil that their relationship is over and never wants to see him again. Jalil feels guilty about this and tries to get Mariam's attention from outside the bus. Mariam decides to pay no attention and the bus leaves.
When Mariam is at Rasheed's house she is very depressed and homesick. Rasheed is angry at this and tells her she needs to start acting like a wife. Mariam goes out to shop and meets new people. However she eventually gets lost and goes into a deeper state of depression. She eventually finds her way home and Rasheed compliments on her deeds. However Mariam becomes terrified when Rasheed pulls out a burqa for her to wear saying that a womans face is their husbands business only.
For the first time Mariam goes out in public with the burqa on. She finds it very annoying as well a frustrating to wear. Being in a new city Mariam sees different culutre such as people wearing makeup, smoking ect. She feels different which depresses her. Mariam celebrates her first Ramadan with Rasheed. Rasheed is very angry and impatient with the way Mariam serves a cooks food. You also see that Rasheed is becoming overprotective of Mariam not letting her out of her room when Rasheed has visitors. Mariam feels that she no longer has any freedom.
One day Mariam finds out that she is pregnant. Rasheed is very excited and hope for it to be a boy. Mariam prays that the baby will be healthy and perfect. However Mariam ends up having a miscarriage as well as many more. After these miscarriages Rasheed becomes more forceful to Mariam constantly getting angry at her and giving her physical abuse. This shows that Rasheed wants a son badly. Mariam wishes she never left home.
Who should read this.
I think that anyone that is interested in life outside of their own country should read this section and book. I also think that anyone that read one of the authors other books The Kite Runner should read this. Also anyone that can relate to the main character such as someone with family issues or living without their parents. Finally anyone that overall likes a good story with many shocking moments should read this.
Why should the read this.
I think these people would like this book because it really shows you what people in other countries have to live through every day. It also shows you how some people for example Nana lived in a bad childhood full of war and how it can affect you in the future. This also shows how abusive some people are to their wives when they do not get what they want. I think that anyone that relates them self with the story will see how much worse it can be. I also believe this section was good because of all the shocking moments such as when Nana hangs herself or when Mariam is married and abused.
Did I like this?
I thought this was a very shocking section in the book. I overall enjoyed this book because of the suspense of what Mariam would do next and what Nana would do. The part where Nana hanged herself shocked me the most because I never expected that to happen. I thought Nana would be a big part of the plot. I also read The Kite Runner which I really enjoyed. I like the way the author writes. This section also shows you what Mariam must do everyday being married to Rasheed. It makes you feel bad for her and become more thankful for the life I live. Overall I thought this was a good section of the book.
One day Mariam is meeting up with Jalil. Mariam asks to go the Jalils cinema to see Pinocchio however Nana says it is not a good idea. Later however when Nana and Mariam is home alone with Jalil is not there she tells Jalil that she wants to see Pinocchio and meet her brothers and sisters. On the day Mariam was supposed to go to the cinema, Jalil never comes to pick her up. She decides to walk to Jalils house. When she is there she is told that Jalil was away on business. She ends up staying the night in outside of Jalils house because she refuses to leave until she sees Jalil. Jalil ends up getting forced into the back of Jalils car by his chauffeur and driven home. As soon as Mariam is home she sees that Nana has hanged herself because she believed that she was abandoned by Mariam.
After Nana is burred Mariam goes into a state of deep depression. She is offered a room in Jalils house. She goes but never leaves that room. Many people try to tell Mariam that her mothers death was not her fault and that she had a troubled childhood. Mariam is still in depression. Jalil tells Mariam that she will be married to a man named Rasheed. Mariam believes that her getting married is the only way to get rid of her. Jalil does not seem to be excited about the idea however his wives agree that she must be married. Mariam is disgusted by this. The next day Mariam gets married to Rasheed and is told that she will move to Kabul. Before boarding the bus to Kabul Mariam tells her father Jalil that their relationship is over and never wants to see him again. Jalil feels guilty about this and tries to get Mariam's attention from outside the bus. Mariam decides to pay no attention and the bus leaves.
When Mariam is at Rasheed's house she is very depressed and homesick. Rasheed is angry at this and tells her she needs to start acting like a wife. Mariam goes out to shop and meets new people. However she eventually gets lost and goes into a deeper state of depression. She eventually finds her way home and Rasheed compliments on her deeds. However Mariam becomes terrified when Rasheed pulls out a burqa for her to wear saying that a womans face is their husbands business only.
For the first time Mariam goes out in public with the burqa on. She finds it very annoying as well a frustrating to wear. Being in a new city Mariam sees different culutre such as people wearing makeup, smoking ect. She feels different which depresses her. Mariam celebrates her first Ramadan with Rasheed. Rasheed is very angry and impatient with the way Mariam serves a cooks food. You also see that Rasheed is becoming overprotective of Mariam not letting her out of her room when Rasheed has visitors. Mariam feels that she no longer has any freedom.
One day Mariam finds out that she is pregnant. Rasheed is very excited and hope for it to be a boy. Mariam prays that the baby will be healthy and perfect. However Mariam ends up having a miscarriage as well as many more. After these miscarriages Rasheed becomes more forceful to Mariam constantly getting angry at her and giving her physical abuse. This shows that Rasheed wants a son badly. Mariam wishes she never left home.
Who should read this.
I think that anyone that is interested in life outside of their own country should read this section and book. I also think that anyone that read one of the authors other books The Kite Runner should read this. Also anyone that can relate to the main character such as someone with family issues or living without their parents. Finally anyone that overall likes a good story with many shocking moments should read this.
Why should the read this.
I think these people would like this book because it really shows you what people in other countries have to live through every day. It also shows you how some people for example Nana lived in a bad childhood full of war and how it can affect you in the future. This also shows how abusive some people are to their wives when they do not get what they want. I think that anyone that relates them self with the story will see how much worse it can be. I also believe this section was good because of all the shocking moments such as when Nana hangs herself or when Mariam is married and abused.
Did I like this?
I thought this was a very shocking section in the book. I overall enjoyed this book because of the suspense of what Mariam would do next and what Nana would do. The part where Nana hanged herself shocked me the most because I never expected that to happen. I thought Nana would be a big part of the plot. I also read The Kite Runner which I really enjoyed. I like the way the author writes. This section also shows you what Mariam must do everyday being married to Rasheed. It makes you feel bad for her and become more thankful for the life I live. Overall I thought this was a good section of the book.
good job. i used this instead of reading this book for school. thanks for naenaeing me out of a bad situation
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