"It's rare that Abba says much these days. I think it's gnawing at him, all those weeks in detainment."
I think that, after reading the end of the book, there have been several character changes, or switches. Aisha and Nadira, though they didn't completely switch places, became more like each other. Nadira became more confident and strong like Aisha, and Aisha, overwhelmed by how she can't easily fix her family's situation, lost confidence and became more sensitive and more of a follower like Nadira. Also, I think that Abba and their mom almost switched places, too. Their mom becomes more comfortable in her surroundings, while Abba seems to draw back into a more quiet character, like their mom was in the beginning. I am not necessarily happy about some of these changes, but I hope everything works out well for their family.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Chapter 16 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"Now all the stars are no more than rubber stickers on a ceiling; they've come unfastened and they're whirling around one another, not sure which will settle where."
This quote refers to how Aisha, who had been helping and guiding the family along, has fallen apart. The rubber star metaphor reminds me of those little glow-in-the-dark stars that you stick to your ceiling. The idea behind them seems neat, but they don't always work as well as you might think they do. (Last sentence not totally relevant to Aisha situation.) In Aisha's case, though, it seems like people think highly and expect a lot from her. Her wisdom and insight is taken for granted. And we can now see that she is not very reliable anymore to solve everyone's problems. She's not all she's cracked up to be. Therefor, Aisha is like those glow in the dark stars, in my mind.
Nadira, on the other hand, is like a flashlight in my opinion. Not as obvious as the little stars on the ceiling, but the guidance she gives is more reliable. Nadira stays strong, while Aisha breaks down easily.
Getting back to the actual quote, I think that this was a great metaphor for Aisha. Her change turns her into an almost completely different character from who she started out as. I hope that Nadira can help Aisha get her strength and confidence back, too.
This quote refers to how Aisha, who had been helping and guiding the family along, has fallen apart. The rubber star metaphor reminds me of those little glow-in-the-dark stars that you stick to your ceiling. The idea behind them seems neat, but they don't always work as well as you might think they do. (Last sentence not totally relevant to Aisha situation.) In Aisha's case, though, it seems like people think highly and expect a lot from her. Her wisdom and insight is taken for granted. And we can now see that she is not very reliable anymore to solve everyone's problems. She's not all she's cracked up to be. Therefor, Aisha is like those glow in the dark stars, in my mind.
Nadira, on the other hand, is like a flashlight in my opinion. Not as obvious as the little stars on the ceiling, but the guidance she gives is more reliable. Nadira stays strong, while Aisha breaks down easily.
Getting back to the actual quote, I think that this was a great metaphor for Aisha. Her change turns her into an almost completely different character from who she started out as. I hope that Nadira can help Aisha get her strength and confidence back, too.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Chapter 15 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"She does all this like she's been doing it for years."
The way Ma is described in this part of the chapter, comfortable and used to her routine, I wondered what it would be like for Ma to adjust to the New York City life again. She had made many friends during her time in Vermont, and got to know a lot of the locals. I think that maybe this may have reminded her of Bangladesh, where she and her family were friends and knew a lot of the local people in their area. When she moves back to New York City, though, which is much bigger and busier than Vermont, I'm curious to see how she will handle another move.
The way Ma is described in this part of the chapter, comfortable and used to her routine, I wondered what it would be like for Ma to adjust to the New York City life again. She had made many friends during her time in Vermont, and got to know a lot of the locals. I think that maybe this may have reminded her of Bangladesh, where she and her family were friends and knew a lot of the local people in their area. When she moves back to New York City, though, which is much bigger and busier than Vermont, I'm curious to see how she will handle another move.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Chapter 14 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"Then I run again, blindly, into the dark streets."
In the context of the book, this quote seems literal at first. But when I looked at it again, I thought that it seemed more like a metaphor. This seemed like a metaphor for Nadira having no idea what to do or where to go next. She knows that Aisha can't help her, and their mom is also too weak to help. So, in a sense, Nadira has taken off, with no idea where to go or how to get out of her family's problems.
In the context of the book, this quote seems literal at first. But when I looked at it again, I thought that it seemed more like a metaphor. This seemed like a metaphor for Nadira having no idea what to do or where to go next. She knows that Aisha can't help her, and their mom is also too weak to help. So, in a sense, Nadira has taken off, with no idea where to go or how to get out of her family's problems.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Chapter 12 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"'They say she never showed up for her appointment.'"
I kind of already guessed that this was going to happen. Aisha had been losing confidence in her ability to get into college, along with losing her confidence in pretty much everything else. I can sympathize with Aisha if she actually was feeling sick, but if it was just nervous sick, which I think was the case, I would find that puzzling. Before her breakdowns, Aisha had so much confidence in her abilities, but now, she's totally lost confidence. In a way, I think, the two sisters are switching places, and becoming more like the other's personality. I hope Nadira doesn't get too snobby, though.
I kind of already guessed that this was going to happen. Aisha had been losing confidence in her ability to get into college, along with losing her confidence in pretty much everything else. I can sympathize with Aisha if she actually was feeling sick, but if it was just nervous sick, which I think was the case, I would find that puzzling. Before her breakdowns, Aisha had so much confidence in her abilities, but now, she's totally lost confidence. In a way, I think, the two sisters are switching places, and becoming more like the other's personality. I hope Nadira doesn't get too snobby, though.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Chapter 11 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"After that, something shifts between Aisha and me. It's like she's opened the door and wriggled over to let me into her private little world."
This part made me happy that Aisha and Nadira started to actually talk to each other. Nadira explained how she felt like she was in the shadow of Aisha, and it seemed like Aisha was about to get mean and defensive for a moment, but instead she backed down and gave Nadira advice about what she should be doing. I'm glad that the two sisters have started to talk to each other, even if there is still some tension between them.
This part made me happy that Aisha and Nadira started to actually talk to each other. Nadira explained how she felt like she was in the shadow of Aisha, and it seemed like Aisha was about to get mean and defensive for a moment, but instead she backed down and gave Nadira advice about what she should be doing. I'm glad that the two sisters have started to talk to each other, even if there is still some tension between them.
Chapter 10 - "Ask Me No Questions"
"Aisha shoves her plate aside and starts to cry. 'It's all my fault. I should have been able to convince them to let Uncle out.'
...
Aisha is sobbing harder now. 'No, you're wrong. I should have convinced them. If only I'd said the right thing. If only I said more - '
No matter what we tell Aisha, she won't listen. She sobs harder and harder,her head banging against the cushioned booth."
I think that this breakdown of Aisha could be taken several ways. From one perspective, I think it seems as if the author changed her mind about Aisha's character aspects, making her less self-confident with all the recent losses of confidence and determinations she's had. But this idea could be countered with another thought, where Aisha is just acting more sensitive because of the situation with her and Nadira's parents being taken away.
Or, you could say that this is Aisha's big breakdown, making an about-face from being slightly more conceited to a more sensitive and helping character. It seems hard to tell if this is her big breakdown right now, but it will probably be easy to tell soon if it is or not. I atually wouldn't be surprised if Aisha didn't have one big loss of confidence but a slow decrease, if you look at the few small losses of determination to her spirit, which were mostly caused by Nadira. In my opinion, it kind of looks like Aisha is turning more into Nadira, and Nadira is turning more into Aisha. I just hope that this isn't actually the situation.
...
Aisha is sobbing harder now. 'No, you're wrong. I should have convinced them. If only I'd said the right thing. If only I said more - '
No matter what we tell Aisha, she won't listen. She sobs harder and harder,her head banging against the cushioned booth."
I think that this breakdown of Aisha could be taken several ways. From one perspective, I think it seems as if the author changed her mind about Aisha's character aspects, making her less self-confident with all the recent losses of confidence and determinations she's had. But this idea could be countered with another thought, where Aisha is just acting more sensitive because of the situation with her and Nadira's parents being taken away.
Or, you could say that this is Aisha's big breakdown, making an about-face from being slightly more conceited to a more sensitive and helping character. It seems hard to tell if this is her big breakdown right now, but it will probably be easy to tell soon if it is or not. I atually wouldn't be surprised if Aisha didn't have one big loss of confidence but a slow decrease, if you look at the few small losses of determination to her spirit, which were mostly caused by Nadira. In my opinion, it kind of looks like Aisha is turning more into Nadira, and Nadira is turning more into Aisha. I just hope that this isn't actually the situation.
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