Sister of My Heart

“It is only the story […] that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence.” Consider the relevance of the epigraph by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe to the novel as a whole.

Anju and Sudha are raised in a household presided over by three “mothers.” Consider the portrayal of matriarchy and patriarchy in the novel.

Discuss the significance of the colors red and blue in the novel. What does each color represent as a whole? How do the two colors work together to add nuance to those respective representations?

The two books of Divakaruni’s novel take their names from two stories told by Sudha: “The Princess in the Palace of Serpents” and “The Queen of Swords.” What is the relevance of these stories to the novel as a whole? How do these stories tie into the theme of The Power of Storytelling?

Discuss Divakaruni’s treatment of Anju’s experience as a migrant in the United States. How does her life compare to Sudha’s? How does migration alter her relationship with her home and family?

Sudha is fascinated by clothes and hopes to attain financial independence by designing and creating clothes and fabrics. What is the significance of clothing and sewing in Divakaruni’s novel?

Discuss the depiction of food, cooking, and eating in Sister of My Heart. How does the imagery and appearance of food help shape the novel’s definition of love and family?

Compare and contrast the characters of Anju and Sudha in Divakaruni’s Sister of My Heart. What function do these central, very different characters play within the narrative as a whole?