Moth Smoke

Describe Murad Badshah. What kind of character is he? Is he a reliable narrator? How does he fulfill or subvert the role played by his real-life namesake, Prince Murad Bakhsh?

Describe Mumtaz Kashmiri. What kind of a character is she? How does she assume different roles at different times? Why is her voice significant?

What is the impact of the substance use in the novel? How is drinking different from drug use in Daru’s culture? How does his growing dependence impact his decisions and other events?

To whom are Murad, Mumtaz, and Ozi speaking in their respective chapters? How do their testimonies reveal their motives for defending or vilifying Daru?

How do the nuclear tests inform the narrative? What impact do these tests have on the characters’ lives? What do they symbolize?

How do social class and economic privilege factor into the narrative? Discuss class from the differing perspectives of Daru and Ozi (and/or Murad).

What is the impact of using the trial to interrupt the chronological narrative? How is the trial characterized? Who is the trial’s primary audience?

The book’s title and the motif of moths explore the idea of self-destructive tendencies. Discuss the various self-destructive behaviors the minor as well as major characters display. How does the backdrop of escalating nuclear tension feed into this narrative?