A House in the Sky

Lindhout’s isolation deepens as she tries to cope with her separation from Nigel. She finds a small distraction in the daily life of a neighboring family, particularly a young girl named Maya, whose innocent interactions with her mother bring Lindhout some comfort.

She further fills the void of her isolated captivity with the limited reading materials provided by Donald Trump, which include an outdated Times of London student reader, a storybook about twin Muslim boys, and a college catalog meant for Malaysian students. These texts, once objects of mockery between her and Nigel, become her sole connection to a semblance of normal life.

Lindhout’s situation worsens, however, when Abdullah, one of the more menacing guards, begins to exhibit more threatening behavior, and eventually rapes her. Despite the severe emotional and physical trauma, Abdullah threatens Lindhout to keep silent about the attack, saying: “If you speak of this, I will kill you…And I felt sure he would” (209).

As Lindhout tries to cope with the aftermath of the assault, she begins to internalize the trauma, blaming herself for her situation and spiraling into a dark state where she contemplates suicide. To combat her despair, Lindhout forces herself to maintain a routine of walking around her room.