Life of the Mind Book Program

After you Read

Return to the parts you highlighted and marked as you read, particularly any questions you noted, and see if you now understand these parts better in the context of having read the whole book. Then, use the following questions as a guide for considering the larger implications of the book:

• How does the book comment on various issues or themes that reflect and define our society? You might consider, in particular, the overarching issues of class and social strata, work/employment, poverty, and financial struggle. Consider also religion (Faten’s beliefs and Noura’s wearing of the hijab), gender (Faten’s view of women’s role and later work as a prostitute); relationships (Aziz and Zohra; Aziz’s friend Lahcen; Halima’s relationship with her mother and her abusive relationship with her husband); education (Murad’s college education and interest in writing, Faten’s and Noura’s schooling, Noura’s parents’ views of education). Note key passages in the text that illustrate the themes you see.
• The theme of survival figures prominently in Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits. Faten notes that “The main thing to survive this life here was not to think too much.” When her young son saves her life, Halima reflects, “Why had he saved her? Why had he saved any of them? There wasn’t any point to living when all you could do was survive.” And Murad notes the manner of a young American tourist: “He saw the ease with which she carried herself, the nonchalance in her demeanor, free from the burden of survival, and he envied her.” What do you think Lalami is trying to say about survival and about the hope for a better life?
• A review of Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits that appeared in the Rocky Mountain News states, “This well written ‘journal’ is a reminder that in spite of religious and cultural differences, we all have the same wants and needs under the skin—a timely topic in this age when the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina have taken center stage. Do you agree that the stories of the four Moroccans are universal, showing us that we all have the same needs and problems? What other current events are brought to mind after reading Lalami’s novel?
• What image of “illegals” do we get from our media and culture? Does Lalami’s attempt to put a face to a group of illegal immigrants make you more or less sympathetic to the plight of illegal immigrants? Why?
• In an interview, the author—Laila Lalami—notes, “I’ve been told that my book is political, which sort of surprised me, as this wasn’t my goal at all when I wrote it. I was mostly interested in the characters. But I suppose we live in an age when class is so rarely addressed seriously that when it is, it becomes a political statement.” What statement do you think Lalami is making about class? Can we find ways to discuss class issues without politicizing these issues?
• In your opinion, does the book end with “hope” (as suggested by the title)? What is the significance of Murad’s desire to write his own stories?
• What issues/ideas raised by the book would you like to discuss or debate further with peers during the group discussions at Welcome Week?