Book Club Discussion Questions
For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Bedouin of Saudi Arabia and our BookBrowse Review of Finding Nouf.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Introduction
When sixteen-year-old Nouf ash-Shrawi goes missing in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia, her wealthy family suspects that she's run away to the desert to escape
her imminent marriage. Her brother Othman calls on his good friend Nayir to help
find her. However, after ten futile days of searching, it is not Nayir but some
anonymous desert travelers who find her body. Unable to let go of his failure to
help Othman, Nayir determines that he must at least try to find out what really
happened to Nouffor despite the official coroner's report and the family's
desire for privacy, foul play seems likely and the many unanswered questions
refuse to leave him in peace. The search will force religiously conservative
Nayir to face his dearth of knowledge of women and unfulfilled desire for a wife
as he joins forces with Katya, a forward-thinking forensic lab technician who
challenges his opinions, and attempts to discover the secrets of rich, coddled
Nouf.
Discussion Points
- Nayir feels obligated to find Nouf as a favor to his friend Othman, and
to the Shrawi family, which has been very good to him. What deeper meaning
does the search for Nouf have for Nayir? Discuss the relevance of the title,
Finding Nouf.
- Finding Nouf tells a moving and mysterious story, but also
gives readers a peek into the world of conservative Muslims in Saudi Arabia.
How do Muslim customs hinder Nayir and Katya in their investigation? How do
these customs help the investigators?
- Nayir's identity is almost entirely contingent on his modesty and
righteousness. Do you think he overdoes it? If so, what might Nayir be
compensating for? How do other Muslims in the novel, both men and women,
seem to feel about his religious conservatism? What do their perspectives
tell you about modern Saudi Arabia?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Mariner Books.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.