Sisters Under the Rising Sun

The voice orchestra is a central symbol of spiritual resistance. Choose two to three passages describing its performances and close read them, analyzing how Heather Morris’s language choices support the orchestra’s symbolism.

Consider the leadership styles of Nesta James, Margaret Dryburgh, and Mrs. Hinch. How does the novel contrast their leadership with the military command structure of the Japanese army, and to what end?

Morris’s authorial method involves fictionalizing historical testimony. How does this approach, which blends historical record with fictional techniques like dialogue and internal monologue, shape the novel’s portrayal of trauma and the duty of bearing witness?

While Sisters Under the Rising Sun emphasizes the power of female solidarity, it also depicts moments where this unity is severely tested, such as the creation of a camp market. Analyze these moments of conflict and what they reveal about the complexities of community-building under extreme duress.

Trace the prisoners’ journey through the successive internment camps. How does the physical setting of each camp reflect and influence the women’s evolving psychological state and their strategies for survival?

The novel frequently draws attention to the contrast between Sumatra’s natural beauty and the harsh reality of the camps. How does this contrast serve the broader exploration of The Indiscriminate Brutality of War?

Discuss the significance of the recipes the women share both in the Camp Chronicle and in dialogue. How do these recipes intersect with other motifs, such as hunger and memory?

Much of the novel unfolds through dialogue, as conversations between characters establish plot points (for example, Norah’s leg infection). How does this support the work’s broader meaning, such as its emphasis on community and voice?