March’s Discussion for The Weight of Our Sky
[ID: A purple book with an illustration of a girl and a boy riding a motorcycle in front of a column of smoke on a white shelf in front of a stack of purple disability reads. A clear enamel bookmark with purple flowers preserved in it leans against the book. Peach roses line either side. A pair of vintage gold and white opera glasses sits on top of the stack.]
“It means where we plant our feet is where we must hold up the sky. We live and die by the rules of the land we live in. But this country belongs to all of us! We make our own sky, and we can hold it up—together.”
It’s time to discuss the #ChronicallyIconicBookClub’s March read, THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY by Hanna Alkaf.
Our discussion via group chat will take place starting today at the convenience of our members. Let me know on Instagram if you’d like to join! I will also post 10 official discussion questions that you can answer at your leisure if you’d prefer. Please note the comments may contain spoilers.
@libraryofdreaming’s thoughts:
This was the second time I read this book and I thought it was just as good as the first time around. Honestly though, I had forgotten how dark it was. This book pulls no punches when it comes to the portrayal of racial, sectarian violence. I was reading with my heart in my throat the whole time. Melati’s OCD was portrayed in a really interesting way. I learned so much about Malaysian history and OCD. This is still a five star read for me and I’m excited to hear what you all think!
Discussion Questions:
What was your reaction to this book? How many stars did you rate it?
What did you think of the author’s note at the beginning of the book?
THE WEIGHT OF OUR SKY provides a different perspective on OCD than most Western depictions. Did you find it easy or challenging to understand? Did it help or hinder your understanding of OCD?
What was your favorite part of the book?
What was your least favorite part?
Were there any twists or plot developments that surprised you?
Who was your fave character?
What did you think of Melati’s development over the course of the novel?
The title is derived from the proverb “Where you plant your feet is where you hold up the sky,” how do you think this relates to Melati’s journey?
Were you satisfied with the ending?
Reminder: this book fulfills the following prompts for the #ChronicallyIconicReadingChallenge: “mental health”, “written by a BIPOC”, “invisible disability”, & “set or written before the 21st century”.