The Map of Love

Why do you think the book might be titled The Map of Love? In what way might a map be a good metaphor for some of the book’s concerns?

Both the personal and the political events in The Map of Love are often the consequences of actions taken in the distant past. Research recent political developments in Egypt. How can you connect the real political events described in the novel to the present day?

The characters of The Map of Love are both clearly characterized and stereotypical: for instance, the adventurous Anna meeting the mysterious Sharif. Why do you think Soueif might play on familiar types in drawing her characters—especially the characters from the more distant past?

Amal gets caught up in the story of Anna and Sharif but admits that she’s imagining their lives through her own lens. Soueif also often draws our attention to the fact that everyone involved in the story is a fictional character. What does The Map of Love have to say about the relationship between storytelling and daily life?

Almost the whole novel is filtered through Amal’s consciousness—with the exception of the letters and diaries, which are usually framed by Amal’s commentary. Why do you think Soueif might have chosen Amal as the overarching voice for the novel? What does Amal’s perspective uniquely have to offer? Why might the narrative break from Amal’s voice in the few places it does?

The book’s parts are punctuated by chapters titled “A Beginning,” “An End of a Beginning,” “A Beginning of an End,” and “An End.” Why do you think Soueif might have chosen these section headings, and how do they relate to the book’s broader themes? How might they connect to the book’s inconclusive conclusion?

The Map of Love is full of astonishing—even ridiculous—coincidences. What role do these coincidences play in the book’s philosophy? What do they have to say about how the author and the characters view the world?

Amal quotes the old feminist adage, “the personal is political.” In what ways is the personal indeed political in the world of The Map of Love—and vice-versa?