About this title: This profile of the pseudonymous Sultan Khan, proprietor of a Kabul bookstore whose passionately liberal ideas about literature and freedom to read are at odds with his traditional ones about the place of women, has been an international bestseller. It has also been the subject of controversy, as the actual bookseller in question--a man named Shah ...
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Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Acceptable. 2004-Paperback----Used-Acceptable-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: Good. 2004-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: Good. 2004-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Date Published: 2004-10-26
ISBN-13:9780316159418ISBN:0316159417
Description: Very Good. Binding is tight w/slight lean. Text is clean, bright and unmarked. No names, no marks, no stickers. No creases on covers or spine. 3 pgs dog eared. Careful packaging and fast shipping. read more
"I felt as though I'd learned a tremendous amount about Afganistan (kind of a Dickens version), and I'm very glad that I read it, but a more dismal picture of life is hard to imagine. This book was more about life in Afganistan in general (after THE KITE-RUNNER), although through the perspective of one family, especially its young men and women who yearn for new experiences although their education and daily lives are micromanaged by the patriarch. Talk about dysfunctional! The author was pretty bold to live with this family in the chaos, boredom, hopelessness, and frustration of daily life under the total control of one old man who obviously had neither heart nor soul. Just goes to show that there are totally self centered, greedy, loveless people in all societies. However, the depiction of tribal warring for power, plight of women, and unrelieved poverty as well as the (lack of!) justice system is overwhelming. IF this book is an accurate picture of life in Afganistan, what hope is there for the country or its people?"
By Bettie,
on the cusp of the orust riviera, Sweden
"A hard book to take and I did find some of the angles covered a tad bit implausible, from an investigative POV. Who in their right mind is going to tell this white western woman okayed by Sultan anything as disparate (and desperate) as their feelings about him. Yes, I am a little suspect of Seierstad's methods here but there is no doubt that the behaviours exposed are pretty true to life in Afghanistan at the moment."
"I am torn with this book. I would definitely say that there is not anthropological merit to it considering her special "bi-gendered" creature (her words) stature. She rides a line between how an outside women is able to act and what an Afghan women is limited to. It is depressing to see the oxymoron that is life in this world. In one instance Sultan Khan talks of empowering women but then treats them in the traditional fashion - he only has his past with which to guide his actions."
"I really enjoyed this view, though I did try to keep in mind as I read something the author wrote herself as part of the foreword:
I have written this book in literary form, but it is based on real events or what was told to me by people who took part in those events. When I describe thoughts and feelings, the point of departure is what people told me they thought or felt in any given situation...I am not, of course, an omniscient author. Internal dialogue and feelings are based entirely on what family members described to me.
That being said, I really feel like I learned just a little bit about what life in Afshanistan is like for some of its people. Obviously this is a very small vignette of a family that has a relatively comfortable situation compared to those around them. Many other familied live in terrible and devastating situations. This small part of one family's story has nevertheless opened my eyes and helped me to be grateful for my life, my education, my family, and many other things."
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