The New Beginning Analysis

The New Beginning

Readers of a story can interpret the plot in any way. But not every story can give the same interpretation to everyone. For example, a character may say something that one reader may interpret as funny. While, the other reader may interpret the sentence as offensive. Bruce Anders states some of his opinions about Randa Jarrar’s A Map of Home’s fourth, ninth, and fourteenth chapter. And although he states some good points, I do find that he is missing some important points.

I will start off by discussing Jarrar’s fourth chapter. Anders states some opinions on the chapter. First, Anders states the first sentence is jarring to him. Anders adds that “this sentence starts out much different that how the last chapter ends” Anders

also finds the sentence rather short but important to the story. Anders adds that he notices the sentence “the fight was the biggest they’d ever had” (Jarrar) When Nidali’s mother and father have had many fights before. Anders conveys, “The people within this family probably have a different view on their relationship with each other” (Anders). For example, he points out that Nidali has great resentment to her mother and wishes that her father would fight. Anders feels that “Nidali is assigned to be like her mother.” Anders also adds that her mother seems to enjoy living in pain. For example “she slammed her fist against her thigh” (Jarrar). Anders finds that most people take their anger out on an inanimate object. Overall, Anders finds that the relationship between Nidali and her mother and father is very fragile. And can foreshadow trouble in the foreseeable future.
Anders has a very mixed view of Nidali, But I have my own opinions. I believe Nidali’s actions are caused because of the troubled lifestyle she endures. She takes over the role of her mother in this chapter. “I was assigned the dirty pink bathroom, the watering of plants that droop all over the apartment ” (Jarrar). I find that Nidali’s father caves into his wife instead of talking like adults and fixing the problem. For example her father says “Let’s go. I’ll show you some pleasure in life” (Jarrar). I would like to also argue Anders opinion on how most people take their anger out on an inanimate object. I believe Nidali’s mother hit her thigh only because she punishes herself for the lifestyle she lives and not because she enjoys living in pain.”Never. Singing is not bad, but you can do better” (Jarrar). I find this quote from Nidali’s father quite interesting. Nidali’s father really wants her to strive to be the best. Most parents want their child to have a better job and lifestyle than how they have been raised. So this quote hits an emotional level that Nidali’s father really wants her to do her best and do not let the world stop her from achieving her dreams. I also find the quote “No, and you won’t want to be. You’ll see. You’re still little”(Jarrar), very interesting as if her father has a secret that he can't tell her until she is much older and more mature.
The upcoming chapter of Jarrar’s novel that I will be overviewing is the ninth chapter. Anders states some of his opinions. Anders presents the ninth chapter in a bold way by starting out by quoting,“I started my period in a village in the west called al-Rahhaliya-the Travelers-” (Jarrar 148), which he finds this quote is “Symbolism to a woman’s period from her transition from a girl into a woman”(Anders). He also finds that it's at the exact same time as the book goes from part one to part two. Anders also notices when Nidali states, “Baba had a box of whiskey and a sheaf of silk ties”(149) and how it shows the resourcefulness of Baba as he moves his family to their new home in Iraq. Anders also points out when Nidali says “She lit her cigarette and threw the match on the ground. I saw it in slow motion: the skinny, wooden, lit cylinder flying back up, as though guided by an invisible windy hand, and settling on the engine”(152). He then mentions “The culture of smoking around a vehicle and not being careful creates a problem.” (Anders) Although this story is full of people making mistakes, I find this mistake to be very foolish.
Anders views this chapter to be a new beginning for Nidali, but I view it as a really slow start.

For example, I find this quote, “In Northern Kuwait I keep waiting for the border to come. I didn't know that there wouldn't be a fence stretched for miles and miles” (147). very interesting as it sounds like the story moves very slowly and that Nidali notices how far it really is to her new home. I also find this quote very intriguing: “Mama And Baba had found a way to get papers” (147) This is very intriguing as it shows how messed up the immigration system is. Plus it shows that you need fake passports just to get into a country of refuge. Another Indication of this chapter’s slow start is when Nidali says, “Someone once told me that the straight line on a map isn't straight in reality. The closer you get to the straight line the more expansive it is” (147). This is very intriguing as it really sums up this book by calling it A Map of Home. The map represents the home, not the destination. Since Nidali moves so much, she can’t consider herself being home. So I interpret the map is her home because she has no permanent location called home. I agree with Anders when he says Baba is resourceful. Baba knowing he is fleeing the country, planned to bribe border patrol with whiskey and a sheaf of silk ties. Otherwise, there was no other reason why he would have brought those items along. I also notice that it seems like Baba has experience in this, as if he has bribed his way

into a country before. I find it odd that Baba knows the exact items that border patrol may or may not like. Moving on to another subject, I agree with Anders when he says, “The culture of smoking around a vehicle and not being careful and creates a problem.” (Anders) because yes, that creates a huge problem, which can lead into a loss of life. Who knows if Aunt Naila was really worried about throwing that cigarette near the car or if she was just negligent to her surroundings.
Last but not least in my summary in Jarrar’s novel is the fourteenth chapter. Anders states some of his opinions. Anders presents the fourteenth chapter in a bold way by starting out by quoting, “That fall you move with your family to America, you are diagnosed with TB” (Jarrar 232), which he then says, “This sentence is important for two reasons, The first reason is that Nidali talks in second person, the second reason is that Nidali has TB.” Immediately after the first sentence, Anders also notices when Nidali states, “As usual, your mama is jealous of you and wants to be the one dying instead” (232). Bruce interprets this quote as “Nidali misinterprets how adults feel. Nidali makes it seem like Mama wants to die because she is miserable.” Anders also notices that Nidali states, “But lockers can’t make a girl happy forever” (234), about which he then states, “When people get more stuff, they initially seem happy, but it's surprising how quickly it loses its luster.” Anders points out when Nidali says, “In less than one year, you will regret not having negotiated more on the dating bit” (237). He then mentions, “ People quickly become accustomed to a new and better way of doing things, and almost immediately they want things even better.” Anders views this chapter to be a growing up time for Nidali, but I view it as Nidali’s rebellious time. For example, I find this quote: “So, one morning, after listening to Nirvana half a dozen times, you pack a bag, kiss your brother’s forehead, and sneak out of the house” (235). This attitude that Nidali has to run away from home definitely proves my point of being a rebellious teenager. This phase she goes through is caused only by her wanting to have more freedom. I also find this quote very intriguing: “As you turn away, the man tells you if you come home with him he’ll buy you a new dress and you can have a place to stay for free” (235). This really shows that Nidali isn't completely safe in America, despite what she believes. Another sign of Nidali’s rebellious side is when Nidali says, “Your bike flies down-hill, and in your jeans’ back pocket is your father’s stolen credit card and around your neck every single gold pendant you’ve ever owned hanging from a sturdy gold chain” (235). This clearly shows Nidali’s irresponsibility and lack of care. Nidali is willing to risk stealing Baba’s credit card and carry around her gold pendants freely as if nobody could touch her. I do find that Anders is missing an important point in the story. For example, Anders states, “Nidali misinterprets how adults feel.” I find this point is false as I believe Nidali does understand how adults feel, but she lacks the ability to express it. As a teen, I can understand the rebellious nature of Nidali. She can only express her attitude in a way that she thinks is right, whether it's the right way or not. The only way she believes she can get the attention of her parents is to just run away. Her actions show clearly the very irresponsible way.
I have chosen to research about the Iraq invasion in 1990 because this country is the reason why Nidali fled.

“At about 2 a.m. local time, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, Iraq’s tiny, oil-rich neighbor. Kuwait’s defense forces were rapidly overwhelmed, and those that were not destroyed retreated to Saudi Arabia”(“Iraq Invades Kuwait”). Nidali’s family had to flee to Egypt and then later on to Texas. “During the next six weeks, the allied force engaged in an intensive air war against Iraq’s military and civil infrastructure and encountered little effective resistance from the Iraqi air force or air defenses”(“Iraq Invades Kuwait”). Because of this invasion of Kuwait, it changed Nidali’s family as they all had to flee across to egypt where they later came to the United States. The invasion of Kuwait occurred between August second and August fourth, which is around the time when Nidali turned thirteen.“By annexing Kuwait, Iraq gained control of 20 percent of the world’s oil reserves and, for the first time, a substantial coastline on the Persian Gulf” (“Iraq Invades Kuwait”). Iraq’s push into Kuwait led into the “Persian Gulf War”, also called “Gulf War”. Iraq had a goal to claim oil reserves from Kuwait so that the debts Iraq owed Kuwait would be cancelled out. “On November 29 the UN Security Council authorized the use of force against Iraq if it did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991”(“Persian Gulf War”). Kuwait soon became annexed under Saddam Hussein’s rule and was

made as a province. The relation between Nidali, and the author, Randa Jarrar is very similar as both of them fled Kuwait. This may be because Jarrar wanted to describe her life in a book without it being like an autobiography.
Overall, I feel that Jarrar tries to portray her live as best as she can in this novel without it sounding like a biography. Especially since Nidali and Jarrar both fled Kuwait. Bruce Anders and I do not share the same observations whatsoever. Bruce views Nidali as more of a child at heart as I view her as a woman trying to find her way in life. Also, I found through some research that Iraq was very cruel in their takeover of Kuwait. I feel that just because they owed a debt to Kuwait doesn't mean they just invade them and call it peace. I especially resent the fact that Iraqi soldiers set fire to the oil wells of Kuwait. Overall, I can clearly tell that Nidali lived a very interesting and unusual live, and her experiences shows the reader to embrace life.