Journal Entry 1 by CrazyDutchwoman from Heemstede, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, February 21, 2009

second copy.

Latifa was born into an educated middle-class Afghan family in Kabul in 1980. She dreamed of one day becoming a journalist, she was interested in fashion, movies and friends. Her father was in the import/export business and her mother was a doctor. Then in September 1996, Taliban soldiers seized power in Kabul. From that moment, Latifa, just 16 years old, became a prisoner in her own home. Her school was closed. Her mother was banned from working. The simplest and most basic freedoms - walking down the street, looking out of a window - were no longer hers. Having never worn even a veil before, she now was forced to wear a chadri. Latifa struggled against an overwhelming sense of helplessness and despair. In a step of defiance, she set up a clandestine school in her home for a small number of young girls. To avoid arousing suspicion, the children were not allowed to attend every day, nor could they keep regular hours. Latifa knew that she was risking her life for something that could change little. But the teaching gave her a reason to get up in the morning. This is Latifa's poignant and highly personal account of life under the Taliban regime. With painful honesty and clarity, she describes the way she watched her world falling apart, in the name of a fanatical expression of faith that she could not comprehend. Her voice captures a lost innocence, but also echoes her determination to live in freedom and hope. Earlier in 2001, Latifa and her parents escaped Afghanistan with the help of a French-based Afghan resistance group.
 

Journal Entry 2 by CrazyDutchwoman from Heemstede, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, March 03, 2009

This book too me 3 days to read and this is such a thin little book. I did think it was interesting, the life of the people of Afghanistan, but it wasn't like, i want to know more, I cannot stop reading. To be honest this book was a bit of a bore. There are much better accounts like this one. I do think it was okay though. Glad that I was able to read. 7.5 out of 10
Finished on March 2 

Journal Entry 3 by CrazyDutchwoman at BookObssesed exchange, Exchange -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, March 05, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/5/2009 UTC) at BookObssesed exchange, Exchange -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This is going to my Spring Crazzziness Exchange partner. Sorry I could not add any goodies. I could only fill up to 2 kilos. Hope you'll enjoy this book of your wish list. 

Journal Entry 4 by nimrodiel from Evanston, Illinois USA on Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I got this as a part of the spring crazzziness exchange through Book Obsessed last week.

I originally put this on my wishlist during one of the nonfiction swaps over on the BO board.

I've been craving some nonfiction recently so this jumped to the front of the reading pile over the weekend.

I liked reading about what Latifa went through, but the book was a little disjointed to me whith it's jumping from Taliban run Afganistan to her youth in Soviet controlled Afganistan. I was also a little let down when it ended. I'm curious now as to what happened to Latifa after the 2001 US invasion. She mentions going back, but I want to know what happened. Did she get back to Kabul? How has life there changed? Is she still active in helping promote education and women's rights in a country where the oppressors had such a harsh rule?

Like Marlene, I have read much better accounts of this time period. But there was a bit of refreshment at seeing the invasion of the Taliban and their oppression through the eyes of such a young woman as opposed to a grown adult. 

Journal Entry 5 by nimrodiel at CTA Purple Line South Blvd Station in Evanston, Illinois USA on Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (3/25/2009 UTC) at CTA Purple Line South Blvd Station in Evanston, Illinois USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Book was left in the window of a blue free paper box facing the station entrance this morning.