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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “This is a very vivid portrait of life in a Kabul family - and the female lives especially. The author (a woman) says she has never been so angry before as when she was living with this family - and I can imagine it. Apart from everyday life in Afghan society after the war, it also tells a lot...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“An eye-opener!”
Sarah B wrote this review 2 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Definitely recommended reading. Afghanistan's problems are deeply cultural, and more than just the Taliban. ”
Ann G wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Interesting view of life in Afghanistan but felt it was too filtered by the author's own views.”
G R wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Very good book!”
Kelsey W wrote this review Thursday, November 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It is very interesting, though at times it can be sad, and as the author said frustrating. It gives some hope to women, but makes us in the west realize the long road ahead for equal rights. It really makes me aware of how amazing my life is, to be able to go where I want and do what I want without the fear that the Afghan women live with. The book gives many facets to the family life and individuals. The author seems very truthful and nonjudgmental.”
Shawna B wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Truly amazing book that led me into reading more about life under the Taliban and the opression of women”
Nina C wrote this review Monday, October 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad
Linda S wrote this review Thursday, October 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Ms. Seierstad is a Norwegian journalist who arrives in Kabul after spending six weeks with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in 2001. She buys several books from a bookshop owned by Sultan Khan, enjoys conversations about many topics and eventually tells him of her desire to write a book about his family. Khan likes the idea and invites her to come and live in his home.
Life for Sultan Khan has been hard, his bookshop has been ravaged by the Taliban and other regimes, books burned or otherwise destroyed. Yet he continues to hoard and collect more books for his shop. He is devout Muslim and the epitome of a Middle Eastern male. His word is law in his business and household.
Each one of the Khan family is introduced and their character comes alive through Ms. Seierstad’s voice.
We are given a chilling look at the lives of the women in the Khan household and indeed all of Afghanistan. In the chapter “Suicide and Song” she shares poetry of the women of Afghanistan, most dealing with unrequited love. She also sums up what it is to be a woman;
“Young women are above all objects to be bartered or sold”.
In “Billowing, Fluttering, Winding” she describes women as merely burkas moving through life unseen and with a very limited view of the world;
”Burka women are like horses with blinders: they can only look in one direction”.
To see to the side, one must totally rotate one’s head. In this way a husband will always know what his wife is looking at. You can also look down, which is how the women identify each other, by their shoes.
One of the most distressing chapters is “No Admission to Heaven” which lists the sixteen laws of the Taliban. A special decree was added to the sixteen, just for women. After reading it, I wanted to run out and shout to the world how thankful I am that I live in the United States. We are free to be and do so much that we take for granted.
This book moved me to consider if change will ever occur in this war torn land. I could write and write about this book, however, I end with the highest recommendation of this work of nonfiction that reads like a well crafted novel.
”“A fantastic look at the struggles of an middle class family in Afghanistan. Insightful and interesting look at the struggle for power within the family structure.”
Melissa L wrote this review Wednesday, October 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excellent”
susan c wrote this review Wednesday, September 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
