Compare and contrast the characters of Ramatoulaye and her friend Aissatou. In what ways are these women similar? In what ways are they different?

Consider the novel’s epistolary structure—it is written in the form of a very long letter. Examples of other epistolary novels include Bram Stoker’s Dracula and C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. In what ways does Ba’s novel mirror these classic works, and in what ways does it stand apart?

Ramatoulaye undergoes many changes over the course of the novel. Chart her social, physical, and emotional changes from her late adolescence to the novel’s conclusion. In what ways has she grown as a character?