The writer of this book entered Kabul, Afghanistan, after the Taliban left and asked a bookseller to accept her as a guest in his house so she could write about the family life and life in general in the post-Taliban era. She was readily welcomed by the family but what she saw shocked her and also filled her with warmth toward these people. The writer relates of a life filled with sorrows and hardships for men and women alike during the Taliban era as told to her by her hosts. Yet, after the Taliban has gone, their brain washing of the people with fundamentalism has left its marks and this especially shows in their treatment of their women. The writer also tells of the bookseller Khan's efforts to preserve the culture and history of Afghanistan by storing important books and documents in a house in Pakistan. Yet, the bookseller, though better educated than most, is like any other archaic man when it comes to the treatment of his womenfolk. Khan rules over a large clan of two wives, a bunch of children, mother, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. This is a household where being men make men absolute rulers over women and age gives them status over each other. The marriages of women are arranged totally in regard to the financial concerns of the family and the women have no say-so in anything that has to do with their lives. The younger ones work like slaves and are exploited under the command of the head of the house. Younger men's lives are not very easy either because they too must abide by the elders' choices.

understanding other cultures.

the feminist input of the writer even though she has tried very hard to stay objective.

disgusted over primitive thinking and fundamentalism in any religion. I understand about poverty and being in a war-torn country, but the way these women are treated is sickening.

is a Norwegian journalist named Asne Seierstad. Though only 31 years old, she is a veteran war reporter and a masterful observer with keen insight.

This book really shocked me because the writer talks of things about Afghanistan --from inside a family-- that we would never think can happen. I'm sure reading this book will enhance any other reader's view of the world and of Afghanistan's plight.

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Created Jan 03, 2004 at 8:22pm • Submit your own review...