2026 Reading Challenge
A Very Large Expanse of Sea

Questions About A Very Large Expanse of Sea

by Tahereh Mafi

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Answered Questions (15)

Apparently parts of this are based on Tahereh Mafi's own life. So, since she's married to Ransom Riggs, does that mean Riggs is Ocean?
Marzie http://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc...

“I'm going to get asked this question so much because she falls in love with this white boy, Ocean, and I'm ma…morehttp://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc...

“I'm going to get asked this question so much because she falls in love with this white boy, Ocean, and I'm married to a white man. The obvious answer is no: I met my husband [the writer Ransom Riggs] as an adult, and we were very different people than this character and her love interest. But Ocean's personality is inspired quite a bit by my husband's personality. And there are certain conversations that they have that I've absolutely had with my husband, things that they have to face together, like the complications of being in an interracial relationship.”(less)
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Adsum
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What kind of a Muslim is Shirin? Is she I-wear-a-hijab-and-I-call-myself-a-muslim-therefore-I-am-one, or is she a true follower of Islam?
Leena Shammasi She is a I-wear-a-hijab-and-I-call-myself-a-muslim-therefore-I-am-one.
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Can someone please address the meaning of the title? Maybe I'm being obtuse and it's obvious, but I just don't get it. Apart from the boyfriend being named "Ocean," I'm damned if I can find a single reference that would tie into this title. ?????
Rachel
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Did anyone else go into this not expecting any romance? I was disappointed by the amount of romance in this book- I wish other aspects of the book were given more space in the story. Did anyone else feel this way?
lyn I was expecting romance--maybe not as much as there was, but I did expect it. It was the main focus, but it didn't bother me really at all. I think th…moreI was expecting romance--maybe not as much as there was, but I did expect it. It was the main focus, but it didn't bother me really at all. I think that though major themes were the way she was treated and her struggles, a theme was also found in how her relationship with Ocean helped her. That him accepting her and her accepting him and learning to trust helped her get through some of the rough stuff, even though it wasn't there so much WHILE she was going through the rough stuff. Sorry if this makes no sense, my thoughts are confusing(less)
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Unanswered Questions (2)

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