My Forbidden Face: Growing Up Under the Taliban: A Young Woman's Story
22 journalers for this copy...
These are the stories that need to be heard. Stories of average people experiencing extraordinary circumstances. Latifa and her friends were normal teens--they liked music, books, and movies, and they had dreams of college, careers, and families of their own. The atrocities committed by the Taliban are made even more frightening by Latifa's account in this book. The rapes, torture, and complete illogical handing down of decrees that make no sense are almost beyond my ability to comprehend.
I was very moved by this, and I want to share. I hope to be able to send it out on a bookray.
4 unabridged cassettes; approximately 6 hours
From the cover:
From 1997 to 2001, sixteen-year-old Latifa was a prisoner in her own home as the Taliban wreaked havoc on the lives of Afghan girls and women. Latifa's life was turned upside down the moment the Taliban took Kabul. The oppressive regime banned women from working, from schools, from public life, even from leaving their homes without a male relative. Female faces were outlawed as the burka, or head-to-toe veil, became mandatory.
Latifa had planned to pursue journalism, in a quest for the truth about the ever-shifting power structure in her country. From the Russians to the warring factions, Latifa's existence had been marred by violence and upheaval. But when the Taliban took over, her world was reduced to the few rooms of her apartment. Like a contemporary Anne Frank, Latifa was forced to observe, absorb, and make sense of what was happening to women, to her country, from the confines of her four walls.
In May 2001, Latifa and her parents escaped through dangerous Taliban territory to Pakistan, then Paris. After several weeks, their flight was discovered, and the government issued a fatwa against them.
Written during her exile, this book is an extraordinarily powerful account of a teenager's life under terrible circumstances and a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit.
- LaurieS (New Hampshire, USA)
- gnissorckoob (Florida, USA)
- amoebastar (Michigan, USA)
- sqdancer (Alberta, Canada)
- Hellie (South Shields, England)
- jesmondgirl (U.K.)
- mirp (Dublin, Ireland)
- QueenSissi (Portugal)
Thanks to all who participated!
I am amazed that this young girl managed to continue on and bravely defy all of the new rules by creating hope for the younger children in a world turned upside down. Thanks for sharing. I'm sending off to gnissorcknoob tomorrow.
I think Latifa's most salient point was the importance of world opinion. Those of us who live in comfort and freedom should not turn our backs on the human rights of others and forget about them. I have several friends/acquaintances who have had experiences similar to hers; after hearing their stories, the least I can do is to support Amnesty International.
Latifa (and presumably other Afghanis) wanted a peaceful resolution to the Taliban's totalitarianism. Maybe this would have been possible if world politics had been different. We'll never know.
On the personal side, the justaposition of horror with everyday matters that are "human nature" was interesting. Would you risk your life for a glimpse of Leonardo Dicaprio? Here, I was reminded of Anne Frank's diary. At least Latifa's future is much brighter than Anne experienced.
Link to a review by Anuradha Roy, who apparently was underwhelmed by the book.
[Hmm. I thought the above-mentioned review was by one of my heroes, Arundhati Roy. But the reviewer is a different person. Moral: Be careful what you assume on the internet.]
Mailed to next listener, amoebastar, on 7/19/05.
Released 18 yrs ago (7/30/2005 UTC) at Controlled releases in Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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Mailed off to sqdancer on 6.30.05.
You know, after listening to a tape of this book, I realized that I actually already read this book just after it came out. I really found it interesting to listen to it retold on tape, however, and got a lot out of it. It was easy to get focused on the story and only the story.
Enjoy, sqdancer!
I will be starting this on Monday during my commute. Will make an interesting change from talk radio.
I have PM'ed Hellie twice with no reponse. I have just posted an ISO.
just started new job so r and r for next couple of nights is decided!
I'll try not to take too long.....
more when read/errr/listened to!
I have read several books about Afganistan, women and the Taliban so it will be interting to HEAR more about it.
H x
Released 18 yrs ago (10/13/2005 UTC) at Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom
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to be passed to next person in ring - I loved this - it was beautifully read, felt honest, and was very touching. Also very educational in the sense that I learned a lot about the culture under which these women are so restricted...
Thanks for sharing.
I shall send this off to MIRP asap
Latifa describes beautifully the life and terror of a family I can connect with. I can imagine if tomorrow my country close down because of terror, how much we'd all be in pain.
Thanks for this chance!
- kizmiaz (Lisbon - Portugal)
- PedroGamaVieira (Ponta Delgada, ?)
- BOKWORMY
- Smurphie (Scotland - anywhere)
I enjoyed it, not just because of the Latifa’s tale, which is the tale of women suffering under the Taliban regime (an awful time and place to be a woman in) but also for the background on the life of a screwed up country like Afghanistan.
Here is a country that only makes the news once in a while, has been buried in trouble for more than 30 years (I can hardly believe there are buildings still standing) and just can’t shake it. It seems all the powerful countries in the world want in on it, but do little or nothing to help out. Isn’t that sad?
As for the Taliban…well, as the author says most of them were from Pakistan and their goals were pretty much political… but wait a minute isn’t Pakistan a friend of Uncle Sam? Aren’t they one of the good guys? Oops, I forgot there are no good guys, are there?
The women suffering under the Taliban was terrible, but it was just another chapter in the history of a country that several empires have been trampling ever since it was created.
I think this book should be read/heard before or after Khaled Houseini’s “The Kite Runner” to get the big picture on this country.
I'll give it another hearing before sending it on, so bear with me.
Released 17 yrs ago (5/30/2006 UTC) at
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Very touching story! Latifa is an admirable woman (",) Makes us realize that we shouldnt take life for granted!
On the way to Smurphie............GONE!
I couldn't believe what happened to this girl and her family and who thinks like this can happen in this supposed civilised world.
I really think more people should listen to this so will offer it up as a bookray again.
Going next to:-
j4neyo (UK)
Mamikaem (USA)
and then who knows...
Released 17 yrs ago (7/6/2006 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand/ in Person RABCK , bookring/ray in --By Post or by Hand ✋ , Scotland United Kingdom
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Continuing on it's Bookray
It was on my wish list for sometime, I'm quite anxious to listening to it, which I'll be doing during my summer holidays. After that I'll start a BookRay or maybe a RABCK
14th August- I’ve just finished listening this audiobook, in fact I’ve listen to it twice and found it so interesting (in fact one of the most interesting that I’ve read lately) that it was quite difficult to put down, even during the second time. In my opinion it was a very well written book. It leads the reader through her memories, her suffering and interrogations, mainly during Taliban occupation.
She gives special importance to the crimes committed against women who have no voice, no face, no help, no work/school, no will, while Taliban where showing off their authority.
My favourite quote, from this book:
“If a Taliban says that a woman is nothing and that he is everything then a fish can tell the sky not to rain. The whole world was born from the body of a woman……”
Looking for a new "reader"...
Mailing order:
The rules are quite simple. Register the audiobook when it arrives to you. Just before finishing it ask the next on the list for the address. And most of all enjoy it...
26Jan2007- This audiobook is on his way to celticstar.
Sorry for the late journal entry.
I will send on to Cross-patch as soon as I have an address.
Released 16 yrs ago (7/27/2007 UTC) at Bookbox in Book Box, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
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Going into the BabyFlyLadys Boomerang Bookbox (Audio) #1.
Released 16 yrs ago (12/1/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release - By Post in -- Somewhere in E Yorks, East Yorkshire United Kingdom
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sending out in smurphie's "it's a mystery bookbox".
Taken from smurphie's bookbox
A return visit
Released 14 yrs ago (9/2/2009 UTC) at
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This is very interesting and I hope you enjoy it, along with all your other surprises!
I found the politics and history of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Taliban fascinating. Latifa says that Pakistan IS the Taliban, and it is not interested in helping Afghanistan in any way. It is more interested in ethnic cleansing and "reclaiming" the land they think is rightfully theirs. The last line of the book was particularly poignant: "But who speaks for Afghanistan? I don't know anymore."
Thank you for sharing this with me, grubsneerg.
I will pass it on to my friend DitteL, very soon.
Released 13 yrs ago (9/8/2010 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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Released 10 yrs ago (7/23/2013 UTC) at OBCZ-Moen in Stege, Storstrøms Amt Denmark
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