The Art of Hearing Heartbeats

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel presents two contrasting worldviews: the Western perspective focused on achievement and logic and the Eastern perspective centered on acceptance and intuition. Which worldview did you find more compelling as you read, and did your preference shift throughout the story?

2. Sendker uses the fairy tale “The Tale of the Prince, the Princess, and the Crocodile” as a frame for understanding Tin and Mi Mi’s story. How did this fairy tale enhance your reading experience of the novel? Does it remind you of other stories where lovers are separated by circumstance, such as Gabriel García Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera?

3. What aspects of Tin’s character did you find most compelling—his extraordinary hearing abilities, his resilience in the face of abandonment, or his unwavering love for Mi Mi? How did your perception of him evolve as his story unfolded through U Ba’s narration?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, characters must choose between fear and love as guiding forces in their lives. Reflect on a time when you had to make a similar choice. What factors influenced your decision?

2. Tin and Mi Mi form a perfect complementary relationship—he becomes her legs, and she becomes his eyes. Have you ever experienced a relationship where your strengths and weaknesses complemented another person’s in meaningful ways?

3. Julia initially views Kalaw as desolate but gradually comes to appreciate its beauty. Describe a place that dramatically changed in your perception over time. What caused this shift?

4. U Ba chose to remain in his village and care for his mother rather than pursue education abroad. Have you ever faced a choice between personal ambition and family responsibility? How did you navigate this decision?

5. The novel suggests that Western society often prioritizes visual perception over other senses. When have you experienced profound understanding through senses other than sight? How did this change your perspective?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel is set primarily in mid-20th century Burma during British colonialism and later military rule. How does this historical and political backdrop influence the characters’ choices and worldviews?

2. Sendker portrays differences between Eastern and Western approaches to love, family, and commitment. What cultural assumptions about relationships does the novel challenge, and how might these challenges apply to contemporary society?

3. The theme of authoritarianism runs throughout the book, with powerful individuals making arbitrary decisions that impact others’ lives. How does this reflect broader societal power dynamics, both in the novel’s setting and in our world today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel employs shifting narrative perspectives, alternating between Julia’s first-person account and U Ba’s third-person storytelling. How does this narrative technique affect your understanding of the characters and events?

2. Tin’s extraordinary ability to hear heartbeats serves as both a plot device and a metaphor. What do you think this ability represents within the larger themes of the novel?

3. How does Sendker use physical disabilities—Tin’s blindness and Mi Mi’s club feet—to explore deeper themes about perception, connection, and human value?

4. The story unfolds non-chronologically, with U Ba gradually revealing Tin’s past to Julia. How does this structure affect the emotional impact of the narrative? What would be lost if the story were told chronologically?

5. Sendker incorporates elements of romance, fantasy, and religious philosophy into what is classified as “general fiction.” How do these genre-blending elements contribute to the novel’s impact?

6. Consider the symbolic importance of sound and hearing throughout the novel. How do these sensory elements contribute to the themes of awareness, connection, and perception?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine Julia’s letter to her mother about her discoveries in Burma and write a paragraph that you imagine might appear in the letter might contain. What emotions and revelations would she share?

2. The novel describes Tin’s ability to hear sounds that others cannot perceive. Take a moment and listen to the environment around you, then make a list of sounds that you might not normally have noticed. What unnoticed sounds in your daily environment might hold significance if you could truly hear them?

3. U Ba celebrates Tin and Mi Mi’s love monthly with the entire community. Design a ritual or celebration that would honor a significant relationship in your life. What elements would you include and why?

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