Outside Reading, Week 7, Post A

Vocab
boisterous (317) - noisily jolly or rowdy; clamorous; unrestrained

cantankerous (335) - disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish

Figurative Language
"She thought, Volumes, and another shudder passed through her, a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful." (306)

In this passage, Laila reflects on her conversation with Tariq and what her life could have been. When she thinks about how much Tariq wrote to her, she shudders and Hosseini compares this to "a current of something sad and forlorn, but also something eager and recklessly hopeful". By this, he means that Laila is sad that she missed her opportunity to be with Tariq, but she is also optimistic because there is still hope for them.

"He sat up straight, and, for a few brief moments, he appeared merely thoughtful, like a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny taking his time to ponder his next move." (307)

After Rasheed finds out that Laila has been talking to Tariq, he becomes so upset that he freezes. Hosseini uses a simile to compare this action to that of "a ship captain informed of imminent mutiny." Hosseini probably chose this image because it both helps the reader visualize Rasheed and helps portray him as wicked and oppressive husband that the reader has come to know him as.

"And, in the end, when the words dried up, the tears did not, and all Laila could do was surrender and sob like a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." (319-320)

After Mariam decides that she will behind and take the punishment for killing Rasheed, she and Laila cry and reminisce about their times together. In the end, Laila feels like she can't do anything and Hosseini compares her to "a child overwhelmed by an adult's unassailable logic." This helps reinforce the mother-daughter relationship that Mariam and Laila form, seeing as they both grew up without one.

Quote
"The drought has ended. It snowed at last this past winter, knee-deep, and now it has been raining for days. The Kabul River is flowing once again. Its spring floods have washed away Titanic City." (361)

I felt that this quote embodies the general feeling of the ending of the book. Despite the loss of Mariam, all is well with the world. Afghanistan is returning back to the way it was, Laila and Tariq are together, and the overall quality of life has substantially improved for both Laila and all Afghanis.

Theme
Now that the book is over, I would have to say that the overall theme is that even through tough times, remain optimistic and never lose hope. Laila and Mariam suffered through some terrible events and abuse under the Taliban and Rasheed and lost many of their loved one. However, at the end of the book, justice has prevailed and all is right with the world.