Burnt Shadows

Kim’s post-9/11 paranoia causes her to be suspicious of Abdullah. How does Shamsie relate paranoia and nationalism throughout the novel? Cite at least one example from each of the four parts of the novel.

Many characters in Burnt Shadows have complicated relationships to sexuality: Hiroko is sexually liberated by her marriage to Sajjad, while Ilse finds little sexual satisfaction in her marriage to James, and Raza craves sexual intercourse as a substitute for intimacy. Overall, how does Shamsie characterize generational attitudes towards sexuality and the relationship between sex and intimacy?

Is Sajjad’s death caused by political or personal forces? Support your argument with both evidence from the text and historical research.