[NFBV-Potomac-Announce] A House in the Sky February Book Club

[John Halverson]

Hello,

Below are questions for A House in the Sky, the February book club selection.

Time: Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 PNM

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Discussion Questions
1. Above all else, Amanda identifies herself as a traveler, an identity born out of her childhood obsession with National Geographic. Why do you think
National Geographic had such a large impact on her? What led Amanda to make the leap from the legions of armchair travelers into someone whose life revolved
around her journeys?
2. On page 14, Amanda discusses sneaking into an amusement park after dark, with a childhood friend. She writes, "...we allowed ourselves to relax and feel
giddy, forgetting that it was dark and we were trespassing, forgetting everything that scared or haunted us..." How does this childhood memory reflect Amanda's
experience traveling to foreign countries and unknown places? Is part of the thrill of travel related to risk?
3. Amanda's first trip, to South America, initially disappoints her because Caracas doesn't "feel foreign". What does this demonstrate about the different
ways people travel? As she leaves Caracas and ventures into the kind of journey she'll come to crave, what changes for her?
4. During this trip to South America, Amanda confronts the experience of venturing off the beaten path, and defines the feeling of the frontier as "a knifepoint
between elation and terror" (p. 36). How will this balance come to define her travels?
5. The memory of cutting her friend Kelly's hair will become one of the things that sustains Amanda throughout her captivity. Why do you think this memory
sticks with her?
6. In Dhaka, Amanda experiences what she sees as the "beautiful" side of Islam, but also confronts the dangers inherent in being a solo female traveler
in that particular place. How does this dichotomy influence her experiences in captivity?
7. On page 67, Amanda quotes Paul Theroux's Dark Star Safari, "All news out of Africa is bad. It made me want to go there..." Both Nigel and Amanda understand
this sentiment, and it's partially what draws them to Somalia. What do you make of the idea that bad news would bring someone to a place?
8. Amanda's time in captivity is spent trying to negotiate the best way to stay alive-she vacillates between trying to understand and connect with her
captors, through things like converting to Islam, and resistance like trying to escape. Why do you think Amanda and Nigel have such different takes how
to best manage their captivity? What do you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method?
9. When Amanda overhears a report of their capture on the radio, she writes of the feeling as "crushing. It was confirmation that our troubles were both
real and deep" (p. 146). Why do you think this affects her so powerfully?
10. When Amanda is given an English-language Koran, it is the beginning of her "conversion" to Islam. How does Amanda's relationship with Islam change
throughout her time in captivity? As she reads the Koran and begins to understand it, and thus her captors, better, how does her awareness of her situation
change?
11. Amanda reflects throughout the book on the strangeness of the relationships with her captors-even though they were imprisoning her, she attempted to
feel compassion and understanding for them. Were you surprised that this was possible? Discuss Amanda's relationships with Jamal, Ali, Adam, and the rest.

12. Nigel and Amanda's relationship as fellow captives is at times extremely difficult. Discuss their different ways of coping. How did you feel when Nigel
told Amanda to "just take this one"? Did you blame Nigel?
13. Throughout the book, and in particular during her captivity, Amanda uses mantras to calm herself. What does she find so effective about repeating simple
words and phrases? Why do you think this kind of practice can be soothing?
14. On pages 220-221, Amanda writes about what being alone does to her mind, and refers to a kind of psychic energy that seemed insane before her captivity,
but became more believable. What did you make of her account in your reading? Have you ever experienced this kind of psychic energy?
15. Discuss Amanda's "house in the sky" (p. 292). How does this dream help her maintain hope, and survive?
16. Of writing notes to Nigel, Amanda says "...writing helped me to believe it. It staked some claim on the truth (p. 226)". How does this idea relate to
Amanda's decision to write a book about her experience? How does Amanda's relationship with writing evolve over her time in captivity (see also p. 364)?

17. How did reading A House in the Sky change your understanding of the role fundamentalist religion can play in a war-torn society? How did it change
your perception of Somalia? What surprised you most in your reading?

These questions were issued by the publisher.

Lit Lovers

John
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