Compare and contrast Khaled Abd al Hady’s life in England to his life in Libya. How is he divided between these geographical and cultural contexts throughout his adult life? What does the novel suggest about the nature of the immigrant experience?

Closely analyze Mustafa al Touny, Rana Lamesse, and/or Hosam Zowa. How are these figures characterized? What is their role and wider significance in the text?

Explore the novel’s depiction of writing and communication. What various forms of writing and communication appear in the novel? How do they illustrate some of the novel’s key themes and ideas?