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| Plot Summary of Staircase of a Thousand Steps |
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"
Blue Hen, May. 20002, 23.95, 288 pp.
ISBN: 039914725X
In 1966, eleven year old Jammana struggles with her ability to see the memories of the past, as seen through the eyes of others. Currently, she accompanies her mother Rafa on a visit to the latter's hometown of Ein Fadr where the same families can trace their roots to Abraham and Allah's strict rules.
Jammana's beloved grandfather Harif also has psychic powers though his talent enables him to see into the future, making him somewhat of an outcast among the villagers frightened by that power. His spouse Faridah is a midwife delicately walking between tradition and independence. As Jammana struggles with her skills, her grandparents tell her tales of long-buried secrets.
STAIRCASE OF A THOUSAND STEPS is a powerfully insightful look at life in a small ancient Jordanian village. This is not the usual westernized character study as Masha Hamilton's brilliant novel provides insight to a complex society especially the roles of women in what is typically described as simple and servant, but in this novel is much more. Fans of deep glimpses into small village life will fully relish this strong tale starring three generations of tremendously developed characters.
Harriet Klausner
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Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Staircase of a Thousand Steps |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Inside culture (main char)
- Arab
Internal struggle/realization?
Yes
Struggle over
- vague finding self/purpose in life (i.e. no plot to book)
- religious issues
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- Arabic
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Woman's story?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a kid
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can see into the future
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Arab
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- society
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 8 (a significant amount)
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Arabia
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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