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“This was an amazing story!”
Sarah B wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A book I shall never forget. I cried reading the reports of the war. Everyone should read this book. What an insight the author has of the Iraq war without any biased reports. She tells you as it is..”
Ruth D wrote this review Sunday, June 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a book I like and hate, hence the 3 star rating. One of my favourite is actually "with their back against the world" where Asne wrote about the Serbians history. I like this book because she had written in simple prose and reported what happened in the 2nd Iraq war in a fast paced, action movie kind of writing style. The part I really, really hate was the lack of research and tact about how she handled sensitive topics, maybe she is a language and philosophy major and not a anthropology / history / literature major, her ignorance about local cultures shows through her writing. When she wrote about a culture I do not know, I would have foolhardy believed in whatever she had to say, but having the in-depth understanding of the Arab and Middle Eastern, Islamic culture well, Asne had failed miserably in this department, and here's why:
Jovenus wrote this review Thursday, October 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1. page 104, Asne was reprimanded by her interpreter for pointing at Saddam Hussein's photo, and she wonders if : "whether it is him or Aliya (the interpreter) who has introduced the rule not to point at the president?" In the oriental culture, when you revered someone, a Thai King, or a Sultan, or the Chinese Emperor, pointing is considered rude, not so much as it is sanctioned by a decree from a dictator.
2. Page 193, "an increasing number of Iraqis talk about taking up arms should the Americans capture the town. The propaganda (take notice of this word!) is doing its work: it is the duty of every citizen to fight for their fatherland..... knowing what Pascal told me about Abbas (who is anti-Saddam), I find it difficult to picture him fighting for Saddam."
I think it's not a propaganda, rather patriotism, who prompted some Iraqis who are against Saddam to take up arms and fought for their country against occupation. and even Abbas is against Saddam, which honourable citizen of the country would like to see your own homeland taken over by a foreign power??? I really would like to see if there is a day at a country where Asne originates is attacked by a foreign power, and although she may disagree and hate the policy of her government, will she ever say she is willing to surrender her country or homeland to a foreign occupation willingly ??...
3. Page 225, "According to Iraqi TV, two brothers (mujahideens to Iraq) sold their hairdressing salon in Oran in Morocco to pay for ticket to Iraq - When an Arab is in danger we must help." Oran is in Algeria, NOT Morocco. If that is the approximate geographical location Asne is referring to. If anyone care to search google map, perhaps Asne would have quoted Oran city in Sweden, Oran in Ireland, Oran in France, Oran in the USA, that would have been geographically but not contextually accurate.
4. Page 227, "The time has come to introduce jihad to the world, we will defeat Zionists and Christians, the leader cries." I think Asne has to be careful when she wrote those words, as far as I know the Middle Eastern Muslim Arab and Christian Arab had always live peacefully side by side, generally an Arab would express distaste to Zionist, but I am not sure if they express similar sentiment to Christians; This would give the Christians who read this book think that all Muslims are against them.
5. Page 298 Asne walked into a home of Iraqi and saw "On the walls are pictures of the missing husband and sons; beside them two pictures of the Shia muslims' holy men, Hussein and Ali. One picture catches my attention. The Virigin Mary and Jesus.
- Ask why they have that picture, I say to Aliya
Aliya asks.
- They say because it is beautiful.
- But it's Jesus and Mary. That's a Christian picture. (Asne's retorted)
- I won't translate that, Aliya says without looking at me.
What does Asne thinks? that hanging a picture of Virgin Mary and Jesus is the sole right of Christians only? Does she not know that in the Quran Jesus and Virgin Mary is honoured??, and that the birth of Jesus was mentioned in the Quran as well?? I was utterly shocked with Asne's ignorance.
"Observe, report, write" Asne emphasized in page 114. Well, apparently she did more than observe, report and write, she had allowed her own prejudice to colour her reporting, and that is not what a good journalist should do. I have read Christina Lamb's and while she may have so much to be biased against the Taliban, her writings were neutral, it is up to the reader to decide what they want to believe. So to this note, I am not surprised why Asne had been accused of defamation by the head of the family she stayed with while she wrote her bestselling book titled "The Bookseller of Kabul." for distorted reporting. Thoughtless reporting without cultural context research and studies about experience in war, may offer an interesting read; but to those who understand the country of where she is reporting, I am not impressed. Needless to say, I will not be reading any of her future writings. This is the fourth and the last book of Asne I will read.”
“An extremely absorbing - on the edge of your seat kind of book. Leaves you breathless.”
shantanudutta wrote this review Saturday, May 17 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“"Something of a modern-day Scheherezade, Norwegian journalist Seierstad continued reporting by satellite to TV audiences in Europe during the 101 days preceding and then during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. For readers interested in the gathering of news in war zones, her book provides extensive insight into off-camera footwork and dealing with bureaucratic and political obstacles that prevent access to the hearts and minds of everyday citizens, her primary interest as a reporter. When the missiles and bombs begin to rain down on Baghdad, the risk of death itself becomes a primary obstacle. For readers interested in Saddam Hussein's Iraq and the collapse of his government, Seierstad's book reveals what is often forgotten, given subsequent events, that Iraq had been in the grip of terror and decline for 30 years thanks to a ruthless dictator, whose military adventures in Iran and Kuwait cost countless lives and produced economic sanctions that had their severest impact on a shrinking middle class and the poorest citizens. The country had been run into the ground economically, socially, and spiritually long before the American invasion. That Iraq clings to life at all is a testament to the human will to survive. Seierstad gives a mixed picture of "trigger happy" young men on one hand and other soldiers who reflect an ambivalence about the U.S. government's intentions in Iraq. Likewise, there is a wide range of opinion among Iraqis, from those who welcome the invasion to those who see themselves as trading a hated dictator for an army of occupation that cannot maintain security or provide water and electricity, while dreading the prospect of civil war. Meanwhile, bearded foreigners have gathered at Saddam Hussein's request, to begin a campaign of suicide bombings. This is a compelling, illuminating, and disturbing book, written with considerable skill, and a worthy follow-up to the author's "Bookseller of Kabul." ”
Mizoleila wrote this review Saturday, March 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Excellent book about the ' normal' Iraqi people.. the ones suffering the most and trying to cope. the ones behind the news. Touching ad moving”
Saskia wrote this review Monday, December 3 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed this book, but while I was reading it I dreamed I was in Iraq and was afraid to come out of my house. In Seierstad's interaction with families in Baghdad, I saw people with hopes, fears, dreams and sorrows, just like mine.”
bnj wrote this review Wednesday, July 11 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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