The reader’s first impression of Amar at the wedding is that he’s a stranger in every sense. He’s disconnected from his family and the other guests, many of whom he hasn’t seen for years. However, there are other moments where he seems happy, maybe even at home. How sharply do these sentiments contrast, and how do they demonstrate Amar’s ongoing internal conflict with belonging?

Amar reflects that “home is home when Hadia is in it” (59). What does Amar mean by this statement, and what evidence supports it?

Parent-child relationships from generation to generation are a persistent theme throughout the novel. How do Layla and Rafiq’s relationships with their parents compare and contrast with their children’s relationships with each of them? What is similar; what is different?