Why does the author introduce Archie and Samad's experience in the war the way she does? What does their time in Germany have to do with the overall plot of the novel? Why is Archie's killing of Dr. Sick important to Samad? How do you think Samad would have acted toward Archie if he had known the truth about Dr. Sick's death? What does Archie's actions with Dr. Sick say about Archie? What does his decision to save Dr. Sick's life at the end of the novel say about Archie?

Why does the author go into such depth to discuss Clara's family? What does Hortense's birth have to do with the overall impact of the novel? Does the introduction of Hortense's birth and the circumstances surrounding it have anything to do with Archie and his relationship to Dr. Sick? Does one foreshadow the other...