<p>After finally finishing the novel, I really don't understand why Amal says "Omar! My brother...!" at the end. can anyone help, please?</p>
<p>I don't know, but as of page 3 hundred something I think this book needs to wrap itself up.</p>
<p>As of page 32 I think this book needs to end. Wait.... I might be a little behind in my reading...</p>
<p>In the end Mabrouka is saying something about bringing forth "the living from the dead" and baby Sharif crying gives Amal a "sudden fear". I may be wrong, but I'm thinking she's suddenly afraid of her brother's life, just as Layla was of Sharif Basha's, but I agree that it's ambiguous..</p>
<p>Please let's discuss the novel and the paper! I have no idea how to begin and I agree the novel drags on and on. Does anyone else feel Anna and Sharif's relationship is contrived? And what's the deal with Omar - is he going to be with Isabel or not? And also the mystery of the reappearing third tapestry. <em>is confused</em></p>
<p>Don't worry about the paper, just have a vague idea, the discussionsections are short and slightly boring. The cool part is the talk with the author, I highly recommend you go, many ppl didn't go coz they thought they were too good for it, but it's worth it.</p>
<p>Does the paper actually get graded, and if so, what does it count for? I still have a good 150 pages to go, and I think the book should have been over about 200 pages ago. Does anyone else get really confused between the 2 stories, the way it just jumps back and forth?</p>
<p>It's not graded at all, you just turn it in, and they put you in a 500 dollar contest.</p>
<p>I think the whole novel is a bit contrived. Truly amazing writers can work in the politics of a novel within the story, this lady completely separates it when she shifts in narration, which basically requires no talent, except to make the reader work. The theme is much too high-art for the writing style. Joseph Conrad pulled off a very similar anti-Imperialism theme way more effectively in Heart of Darkness, IMO.</p>
<p>That's not to say it's not pretty...it's flowery, for sure. And obviously has a message. But I feel like I've been clubbed over the head with it repeatedly.</p>
<p>Oh yes. I'm writing my paper on the different sorts of "Revolutions" that occur throughout the book.. and it really is a pain in the..... It's too long, for one.. but gets better towards the end. Or maybe that's a side effect of reading the last 150 pages at 2am in the morning. </p>
<p>In any case, the parallelism between Anna & Sharif and Isabel & Omar is a very weak one. IMO, A&S were a much stronger couple (hence the marriage), and Soueif never really delved into Isabel and Omar, much. </p>
<p>I have no idea why this book was picked as summer reading, but I enjoyed it -- when I had the time to read it. Too many different tales running around at the same time, not enough of a connection to integrate them into one cohesive plot.</p>
<p>So if the paper isn't graded at all do I actually have to finish the book or can I just bs something from the first 50 pages? I just don't have the time to read that book right now and being that I found out about summer reading umm a week ago doesn't help either.</p>
<p>yeah.. I'd say you'd be fine.</p>
<p>DO WE HAVE TO WRITE A PAPER?? personnally I didn't like the book at all, I can't finish it it's very boring and confusing</p>
<p>What a bad way to start the school year.</p>
<p>After four years of high school,it really is not THAT BAD to write down one page of decent thoughts.<br>
It's just a matter of getting started.</p>
<p>Another thought to consider is that Georgetown faculty (aka discussion leaders) are going to be reading these papers for discussion groups. My discussion leader is a dean at the college I think... Do you want to give the faculty a reason to wonder why the heck they let you in?</p>
<p>I agree, getting started is the worst part. I found the book pretty easy to read, but I cannot for the life of me begin the damn paper.</p>
<p>I have no idea of what to write. There are so many different themes and events that are addressed. Do you think it would be better to write something general on the book as a whole, or just focus on one aspect of character, plot, theme, etc.?</p>
<p>I'm trying to keep mine specific- one page is too short to cover anything big. Narrowed focus=better detail, I think.</p>
<p>yeah, getting started was the hardest part. is Isabel learning about Egypt for a term paper?</p>
<p>Millenial attitudes of Egyptians... something like that. She's an investigative reporter, I think.</p>
<p>Why is so much of the book from Amal's point of view, if Isabel is the one doing the project?</p>