52 pages • 1 hour read
Diana Abu-JaberThe Language of Baklava
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
By the end of the memoir, do you think that Diana ends up feeling more Jordanian than American? Or is she still equally divided between the two cultures?
Diana’s father uses food to maintain his connections with his country and family. In what ways can food link a person to their culture?
The memoir contains a great deal of humor despite the serious and sometimes sad events it depicts. How does Diana Abu-Jaber achieve this comedic touch?
The memoir contains many recipes. Do you think it works as a cookbook, or are the recipes there merely for illustration? What do they add to the book?
Diana Abu-Jaber has previously written novels, like Arabian Jazz, that feature similar themes to The Language of Baklava, including the Arab American experience. What differences do you think exist between the way a memoir and a fictional representation engage with these themes?
To what extent is Diana’s father, Bud, a sympathetic character? What overall impression of him does Diana’s portrayal create?
To what extent is the memoir a critique of American and Jordanian societies?
How does the memoir treat the issue of women’s place in society? To what extent does the book comment on the role of women?
What does the memoir tell us about the concept of home? According to Diana and Bud, where and what constitutes “home”?
To what extent is family a force for good in the memoir?
