I.

Part Two Chapters 16-26

1.
In this section we are introduced to nine-year-old Laila and her
family. What were Lailas parents like when they were young? How
have they changed? What is undermining their relationship? How
does their relationship affect Laila?
When Lailas parents were young they were much happier with not
only each other, but with life in general. Lailas father, Babi, tells Laila that
her mother used to be the liveliest, happiest person that he had ever met
(pg. 134). We also know that Lailas mother, Mammy, used to be a very
sociable and outgoing person. We know this because of the way she acted
towards Mariam at the tandoor when Mariam had first arrived in the
neighborhood.
Over the years, Lailas parents have changed considerably. This is due
to Lailas two older brothers leaving to join the jihad. When we meet Laila in
chapter 16, it is as if her parents are completely different people. Mammy,
Lailas mother, is always cooped up in her room due to her crippling
depression. It also seems that Mammy and Babi are always having
arguments. Over the years, Mammy has also seemed to take on a more
negative outlook on both her marriage and her husband.
We soon learn that Lailas parents relationship is deeply affecting
Laila. It makes Laila feel unloved by her mother. It also makes her life more
difficult. For example, at one point Mammys depression becomes so severe
that Laila must step up and become the head of the household. Laila takes
over cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking all the meals, and taking
care of her mother.
2.
Why does Laila feel such a strong attachment to her father?
Laila feels a deep attachment to Babi because he constantly shows
that he cares about Laila, while on the other hand, Mammy only seems to
care about Ahmad and Noor, Lailas two brothers. Laila does everything with
Babi. They eat dinner together, do homework together, and he even takes
her on field trips.
3.
Why does Lailas father believe in the importance of education for
women?
Lailas father used to be a school teacher. In his eyes, women and men
should have equal opportunities, and an education should be one of them.
He also thinks that after the war is over that Afghanistan is going to need
women just as much as they need men, if not more. He even says that a
society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated. (page 103)

4.
What is wrong with Lailas mother?
Lailas mother suffers from severe depression, due to the absence of
her two sons. Her sons were her everything, so now that they are gone she
cant do anything but lay around and reminisce in the past and wait for their
return. I also wonder if she could be suffering from Bipolar. In several
instances Laila tells how her mother has extreme highs and extreme lows.
For example on page 145 it says, Mammy could be as indomitable in her fits
of euphoria as in her attacks of rage. I know from personal experience that
individuals suffering from bipolar disorder experience a series of episodes
that go back and forth between periods of euphoria and extreme depression.
This leads me to believe that Mammy may be suffering from bipolar disorder,
but at the same time her period of euphoria was brought on by a positive
event. In the end it is hard to conclude as to whether Mammy is suffering
from bipolar, but we definitely know that she suffers from severe depression
at the very least.
5.
Lailas friend, Tariq, lost one leg to a land mine explosion when he
was five. How does Tariq deal with his disability? What does his
behavior suggest about his character?
Even though Tariq lost his leg at a young age, he never lets that get in
the way of his daily life. He continues living like a normal two-legged person,
even though it requires so much more effort. This suggests that Tariq is a
fighter. Not a fighter that kills people and goes around looking for trouble,
rather the kind of person that never gives up. He is a strong, determined
boy that wont let obstacles stand in his way.
6.
Laila enjoys spending time with Tariqs family. How does her family
differ from Tariqs and why?
Tariqs family is very different than Lailas. Tariqs parents are much
older and happier than her own. Laila also like how they all ate meals
together as a family while making harmless jokes at each others expense. I
think Laila likes spending so much time with Tariqs family because his family
is example of the life and family she so desperately wishes she had.
7.
How is Lailas family affected by the deaths of their two sons? How
do you understand Lailas reaction?
Lailas mother completely shuts down when she learns what happened
to her two sons. She goes into a much deeper and severe depression than
ever before. As a result, Laila has to take on her mothers responsibilities and
tries to take care of her mother. Laila tries to understand the depth and
severity of what has happened but has a hard time because she never even

really knew her brothers. To her they were like characters from a story book,
distant and fake. She never developed a bond with her brothers therefore
she couldnt have truly felt the full weight of the tremendous loss. As a
reader you can relate to Laila in this way. You didnt really get a chance to
develop an emotional connection with the two brothers. You only heard a few
small stories about them, therefore you were upset that they died, but you
were more upset for the people left behind rather than the loss of the
brothers themselves.
8.
What is the role of religion in the novel? Does it give consolation to
the people?
Religion plays an enormous role in this novel. I think it provides a relief
to the people. For example, it tells how the soldiers all stop fighting when the
muezzin calls for namaz. They pray, then roll up their rugs and resume
fighting. A lot of characters also pray when something bad is happening to
provide them with relief.
9.
Why were Lailas brothers fighting? What are the motives for the
rebels fighting against the communists?
Both of Lailas brothers were in the jihad. During this time, the jihad is
fighting against the Soviets. The jihad are considered rebels and also go by
the name of Mujahideen. Eventually the United States and Muslims from
Egypt, Pakistanm and other countries join the cause to help the jihad. The
jihad wants to demolish the Soviets because they want the communists out
of their country and want to take back their country.
10
Why does Lailas father take her to see the two Buddhas at
Bamiyan? Later these statues are destroyed by the Taliban. Why?
Babi takes Laila and Tariq to see the two Buddhas because he says he
want them to see their countrys heritage. He also says that some things can
be taught from books or from oral teachings, but some things, such as this,
have to be seen and felt.
I think that the Taliban would later destroy these monuments because
they were a symbol of a once thriving Buddhist center before Afghanistan
was taken over by Islamic Arabs in the 9th century. Buddhism contradicts
their Islmaic beliefs and therefore they dont want a symbol to exist in their
land of a once thriving Buddhist center.
11.
Why does Lailas father stay with his wife? How are the mothers
and fathers dreams different and why?
Babi wants to leave war-stricken city of Kabul and start a new life for
himself and his family. He wants to run off to America and open an Afghani

restaurant. Lailas mother, on the other hand, wants to stay in Kabul and see
the end of the war to honor her dead sons. She says the only comfort she
gets is walking on the same ground that soaked up her sons blood. Despite
Babis big dream, Lailas father would never leave Mammy because he is a
faithful man that loves Mammy despite her issues.
12.
On their outing Lailas father relaxes, re-reading Hemingways Old
Man and the Sea.
Why does the novel resonate with the father?
I think this novel resonates with Babi in the way that it is similar to the
world in which he is living in. This may be far-fetched, but as I was reading
the plot of Hemingways Old Man and the Sea, I thought it sounded like a
metaphor for what was going on in Afghanistan. I thought that Santiago was
a metaphor for the different governments trying to take over Afghanistan
and the big prized fish symbolizes Afghanistan itself. Every time a new
government system tries to take over Afghanistan, war, or the shark, tears
the fish to pieces and there is nothing left of this prize fish for the new
government to control. On Santiagos way to sail to safety, he ends up
having his fish destroyed by the shark, just as the new governments try to
take over control, war ends up destroying Afghanistan.
On the other hand, it could be a metaphor where Santiago symbolizes
Babi himself. In this metaphor, Babis prize fish would be Laila. Before he
can sail Laila to safety the sharks, or war, end up tearing her to pieces and
leave nothing left of her. This metaphor could be a fear of Babis and that is
how the story resonates with him.
13.
In what ways is Laila like her mother, and in what ways is she like
her father?
Laila gets all of her looks from her mother, such as her blond curly hair,
thick eyelashes, turquoise eyes, dimpled cheeks, and high cheekbones.
However, Laila is smart, educated, and places a high importance on
education like her father. I also think that her and her father both dont like
being alone. When Tariq is gone, Laila cant stand it. In the same way, Babi
would never leave Mammy. Lastly, I think Laila is a strong individual similar
to what her mother used to be. This is shown when she takes over all of
Mammys responsibilities.
14.
How does the relationship of Laila and Tariq change?
As Laila and Tariq grow older their relationship changes and becomes
more complicated. Mammy tells Laila that she should stop seeing Tariq in
order to preserve Lailas reputation. Mammy also says that things were
different when Tariq and Laila were young, but now they were getting older
and soon rumors would start. Laila on the other hand doesnt want to stop

seeing Tariq. She loves Tariq and Tariq loves her. Laila sees their romantic
relationship as a harmless thing when the world around them is plagued with
such awful things such as war, killing, looting, and so on.
15.
What is the impact of the Soviet withdrawal on the citizens of
Kabul?
When the Soviets left Afghanistan, the Mujahideen took over control in
Afghanistan. Because of this, people celebrated and had parties, like the one
Lailas family had. They believed life in Kabul would prosper and become
great again, however the Soviet withdrawal did not solve anything. Instead of
a war between the Soviets and the rebels, a new war broke out between
different sectors and warlords. A quote from page 172 explains this
perfectly, The Mujahideen, armed to the teeth but now lacking a common
enemy, had found the enemy in each other. Kabuls day of reckoning had
come at last. Now Kabul was directly involved in the war with bombs,
rockets, and gunfire constantly going off in their beloved city.
16.
What finally convinces Lailas mother to leave Kabul?
The combination of Gitis death and the bullet that zipped nearly three
inches from Lailas head finally convinces Mammy to leave Kabul. It made
Mammy realize that she had already lost her two sons due to war, and that if
she didnt leave Kabul soon she might also lose her daughter to war.
17.
How do Lailas feelings about leaving Kabul contrast with her
parents feelings?
Laila is excited to leave Kabul. All she can think about is meeting up
with Tariq in Pakistan. On the other hand, Mammy is still a little hesitant and
upset about leaving, but she knows it is best for her family. At first Babi is
happy to finally be able to leave the war-plagued city, but eventually he has
second thoughts. He says that he never actually imagined that this day
would come. He starts thinking about how this was the city where all of his
lifes milestones had been met, such as going to school, becoming a father,
and getting his first job. Suddenly, leaving Kabul becomes bittersweet for
Babi.