The book starts with Massoumeh’s family moving from Qum, one of the holiest cities in Iran, to Tehran, the cosmopolitan city. Among the family members, who do you think struggled the most with the move, and who flourished?

Massoumeh's innocent relationship with Saiid triggers a chain of events that alters the course of her life. Do you think her family's reaction was driven by love, fear, social pressure, or control? What was Parvaneh’s role in supporting this love affair?

Massoumeh's brothers play a significant role in shaping her life. Were they simply products of their society, or should they be held personally accountable for their actions? How did your feelings toward them evolve as the story progressed?

Ms. Parvin played a pivotal role in Massoumeh’s marriage. Do you think her intentions were to save Massoumeh, or did she have other ulterior motives? How did your view of her develop throughout the book?

When Massoumeh is forced into marriage with Hamid, the relationship initially appears far different from what she expected. How did your perception of Hamid change throughout the novel?

Education is one of the few spaces where Massoumeh experiences personal growth and freedom, and it remains a powerful theme in the novel. Who do you think had the most positive influence in encouraging her education: her father, Hamid, or her own personal determination?

Hamid always promised Massoumeh that he would return to a normal life if the Shah’s regime fell, a promise he failed to keep. Would you describe that as a betrayal, or was it always to be expected? How do you feel about his ending?

Siamak promised his mother that he would never join a political group and would only be a supporter of the Mujahidin, yet he was still arrested by the Revolutionary Guards. Do you believe Massoumeh succeeded in protecting him from a fate similar to his father’s?

When Massoud is declared “missing in action,” Massoumeh does everything in her power to find him. Then, when the war ends and he comes back, she supports his education, but the person he becomes is very different from the kind child she raised. What do you think of his transformation?

When Massoumeh's children oppose the possibility of a future with Saiid, are they protecting their mother, protecting their image of her, or acting selfishly? Were you surprised by Shirin’s reaction?

Among her parents, brothers, Hamid, Saiid, children, and friends, which relationship had the greatest influence on who Massoumeh became? Why?

The original Persian title translates as My Share. What do you think Massoumeh believed was "her share" in life? By the end of the novel, do you think she accepted it, challenged it, or redefined it?