tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post4573965555024965540..comments2023-09-13T05:19:36.302-07:00Comments on Helen's Book Blog: Review: I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced (Ali)Helen's Book Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01404788769349792460noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-72275387021185805392010-08-04T13:50:02.971-07:002010-08-04T13:50:02.971-07:00Brenda--I've read (and loved) Kite Runner, but...Brenda--I've read (and loved) Kite Runner, but haven't yet gotten to Thousand Splendid Suns though I have heard it was also really good. I agree Kite Runner gave a good insight into Afghani culture.<br /><br />Married at 13 is just so difficult to comprehend! I am reading Half the Sky, which is all about these issues and is really interesting!Helen's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01404788769349792460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-55277094504845635592010-08-04T11:31:40.433-07:002010-08-04T11:31:40.433-07:00I thought the Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid ...I thought the Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns addressed what the culture was like. <br /><br />I think it is hard for us sometimes to understand what goes on in the world b/c the crazy things that go on in our culture are usually sub-groups not the mainstream.<br /><br />When I was a student teacher (many moons ago) one of the girls in my class did not return. She was a thirteen year old Puerto Rican girl and her parents married her off. She never returned to schoolMrs. Fryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017425815067633696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-89859632956443601612010-08-02T06:38:01.341-07:002010-08-02T06:38:01.341-07:00Amanda--Wow! Why was your sister in Yemen? I think...Amanda--Wow! Why was your sister in Yemen? I think it is really important to consider the class level of people in any culture when we think about why they do what they do. Nujood's family was uneducated, extremely poor, and lived in a village of 5 houses. Her dad even said that marrying her to an older man would mean she was taken care of and they would have one less mouth to feed. The husband did promise not to touch her until a year after her period started, but broke that promise on the first night.<br /><br />I also like your point about not forgetting our own culture (domestic violence, pedophiles, etc). We cannot judge a culture based on the few sensational stories that we hear. People in the cities were outraged when her story came out.Helen's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01404788769349792460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-82714588314775851122010-08-02T06:29:48.288-07:002010-08-02T06:29:48.288-07:00My sister used to live in Yemen so I asked her abo...My sister used to live in Yemen so I asked her about this case when I heard about it. I was thinking that there may be something to explain why the parents did what they did, that the husband lied in saying he wouldn't touch that little girl until she was of age, extreme poverty, anything that could explain what in our culture looks awful. My sister said that in Yemen, selling your daughters that young is considered extremely wrong and shameful and that the family went against their culture to do that, probably getting censured by people around them when the knowledge came out. I thought that was an interesting way to look at it. I mean, instead of judging the whole culture as many people do when they hear of this, thinking selling off little kids is normal, this was just a case of a family going against the rules, just like people who abuse their kids here.<br /><br />PS - I'm not saying that YOU are judging their culture. I just reread this comment and realized that's how that may have sounded. I only meant that many people, when they heard of this case, didn't do what you did and ask WHY. They just blindly judged.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-29568520839309589762010-08-01T11:23:26.462-07:002010-08-01T11:23:26.462-07:00Aths--It is definitely difficult not to put our ow...Aths--It is definitely difficult not to put our own cultural ideas onto others; it's something I am working on. It makes me want to go to these countries (and within my own) and solve everyone's problems, but I can't.<br /><br />Booksnob--I do think it would be a good read aloud. It isn't too long either and would definitely get discussion going on many topicsHelen's Book Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01404788769349792460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-61514730177083834392010-08-01T09:22:33.541-07:002010-08-01T09:22:33.541-07:00I might have to buy this one and read it out loud ...I might have to buy this one and read it out loud to my 9th grade Humanities classes. Past classes loved the book PRINCESS as we spent a whole year reading all three of her books aloud. I think this book would generate really great discussions. Do you agree?Laura Kozy Lanikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660048273181347880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268744587166874784.post-25606303281418946592010-08-01T08:16:10.429-07:002010-08-01T08:16:10.429-07:00You are right that we shouldn't be too quick t...You are right that we shouldn't be too quick to judge people/culture that do things differently. That's the first trap we fall into. Even before reading about something, we have already decided who's innocent and guilty.<br /><br />What Nujood went through is harsh, but the saddest part is it still happens, not just in Yemen, but in several other places around the world.<br /><br />Great review, as always!Athirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.com