12. Near the end of the novel, Youssef learns new information about his family history on his mother’s side. He realizes (page 282) that through the bloodlines of his mother’s and father’s families, he holds within him all of the richness and contradictions of the Moroccan people. In what ways does Youssef’s character and his story represent the larger challenges and struggles facing his country? Is Youssef’s story merely an allegory of an entire people, or does it also provide insights into a specific individual’s circumstances?
Reading group guide prepared by ReadingGroupGuides.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laila Lalami was born and raised in Morocco. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Nation, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2006. Her debut collection, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, was published in 2005. She lives in Los Angeles. Her Web site is lailalalami.com.