The opening statement
The narrator commences the novel by depicting the sense of sight to readers when she describes Ghorami’s household as a holy place where sex is never discussed. The narrator says, "In the Ghorami household, sex was never mentioned. If the television was on and a kissing scene threatened the chaste and cardamom-scented home, it was swiftly terminated by a flick of the black box." Ghorami strictly followed religious teachings, believing that his children must be brought up according to religious teachings. Therefore, he never allowed any discussion about sex or other talk that seemed evil.
The image of Ma dropping Harriet’s book
Yasmin plans to take her parents to visit her future mother-in-law in Primrose Hill. Yasmin's mother and father did not know much about Harriet except to acknowledge her writing prowess. While in the kitchen, Ma reads sexually explicit content written by Harriet, and she drops the book. Yasmin says, "The image of Ma dropping Harriet's book into the kitchen bin made Yasmin clench her fists." The imagery shows Ma's reaction upon realizing that Harriet can talk about sex shamelessly, a topic prohibited by the Ghorami family.
The similarity between Harriet and Joe
When Yasmin and her parents arrive at Primrose Hill to see Joe's mother, Ma looks at Joe and notes many similarities with his mother. The narrator writes, "She looked at him carefully. Maybe Ma was right after all. There was a resemblance. His cheeks were softer, fuller, but sat high on his face like Harriet’s. His chin was different. His eyes were a paler shade but almond-shaped, like hers. His hair is a darker shade of blond. His nose was similar but less imperious. This imagery creates a visual image for readers to see the physical appearance of Joe and some of the traits he has taken from his mother.
