Swallows of Kabul
5 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review:
Moshen and his wife, Zunaira, met at the university and once looked forward to a happy and prosperous life together. But Moshem's dream of becoming a diplomat, halted by the war with Russia, dies with the ascendancy of the Taliban. Zunaira, formerly a lawyer who worked for women's rights, can no longer even appear on the streets of Kabul without a veil over her face. It is only in their own home that they can be themselves. One day, unable to resist Moshen's pleas, Zunaira dons her burqa and goes to market with him. The outing turns into a nightmare. Atiq, a veteran of the Russian war, is now a part-time jailer who watches over those condemned to death. The darkness of the prison and the wretchedness of his job have seeped into his soul. His home offers little respite from his rage and misery; his wife Musarrat, is suffering from an illness no doctor can cure and even the most furvent prayers cannot alleviate. As Atiq begins to lose all faith in his own ability to survive the arbitary demands and extreme cruelties of the Taliban, he is drawn to Zanaira, now in prison awaiting public execution. In a final act of defiance, Musarrat conceives a plan that will allow her husband to live and hope again...Already a best seller in France, "The Swallows of Kabul" brilliantly exposes the differences between religiosity and dangerous religious extremism. Written in spare, exquisite prose, it is an unforgettable portrait of life under a fascist theocracy.
Moshen and his wife, Zunaira, met at the university and once looked forward to a happy and prosperous life together. But Moshem's dream of becoming a diplomat, halted by the war with Russia, dies with the ascendancy of the Taliban. Zunaira, formerly a lawyer who worked for women's rights, can no longer even appear on the streets of Kabul without a veil over her face. It is only in their own home that they can be themselves. One day, unable to resist Moshen's pleas, Zunaira dons her burqa and goes to market with him. The outing turns into a nightmare. Atiq, a veteran of the Russian war, is now a part-time jailer who watches over those condemned to death. The darkness of the prison and the wretchedness of his job have seeped into his soul. His home offers little respite from his rage and misery; his wife Musarrat, is suffering from an illness no doctor can cure and even the most furvent prayers cannot alleviate. As Atiq begins to lose all faith in his own ability to survive the arbitary demands and extreme cruelties of the Taliban, he is drawn to Zanaira, now in prison awaiting public execution. In a final act of defiance, Musarrat conceives a plan that will allow her husband to live and hope again...Already a best seller in France, "The Swallows of Kabul" brilliantly exposes the differences between religiosity and dangerous religious extremism. Written in spare, exquisite prose, it is an unforgettable portrait of life under a fascist theocracy.
A very thought provoking book.
Quick read.
Reserved for the Ultimate Challenge 2011 - January
Quick read.
Reserved for the Ultimate Challenge 2011 - January
Journal Entry 3 by 
Keeta1
at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Keeta1 at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Released 14 yrs ago (1/11/2011 UTC) at By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Welcome to bookcrossing and thank you for picking up this book.Please make a Journal Entry to let me know that it has found a good home with you.....then read and release for someone else to find!!
Sent to another bookcrosser as a wishlist surprise.
Sent to another bookcrosser as a wishlist surprise.
What a wonderful surprise to find this wishlist RABCK in my mailbox on this cold, winter day! Thank you very much, keeta1, for your kindness and generosity!
As keeta1 said, this was a very thought-provoking, quick read. Translated from the original French, the prose is very moving and lyrical. What a heart-breaking place Kabul must be; this is not the first time I have realized how lucky I am to have been born where and when I was. The book reminded me of Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities": both set in a country at war, both settings out of control because of the politics of the day, both with frenzied citizens thirsty for blood. I'll be thinking about this one for awhile.
Journal Entry 7 by grubsneerg at 2011 BookCrossing Convention in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, etc, Virginia USA on Friday, April 15, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (4/15/2011 UTC) at 2011 BookCrossing Convention in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, etc, Virginia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Adding to a book buffet at the 2011 BookCrossing Anniversary Convention!Congratulations--you caught a book!
Welcome to BookCrossing.com, where we are trying to make the whole world a library!
If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so we know this book has found a new home. You don't need to join BookCrossing and you can remain completely anonymous. However, we encourage you to join so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun and free, and your personal information will never be shared or sold. If you decide to join, consider listing grubsneerg (or any other journaller of this book) as the member who referred you.
Take your time reading the book, and after you finish, please make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours, and you can keep it if you choose, though we would love for you to share it. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let others know where you left it.
Whatever you decide to do, please leave the label intact, so the book has a chance to keep in touch with us. Thanks and enjoy!
I picked this book up at the 10th anniversary BCinDC convention. I believe it was on the BookCrossers only table. Quick reads are nice sometimes. I'm looking forward to reading this; I was wondering about the journey this book took from New Zealand to the U.S. and now I see Grubsneerg donated. Thanks so much.
What a sad tale! I agree with the previous journallers: a memorable and thought-provoking tale, with lovely, lyrical descriptions of their harsh lives. I suspected part of the ending, but not the final conclusion.
Not much more to add - thanks to the previous folks for sharing this book. I'll be taking it to a BC meet on Saturday.
Not much more to add - thanks to the previous folks for sharing this book. I'll be taking it to a BC meet on Saturday.
Journal Entry 10 by 
maryzee
at Birdie's Cafe Coffee House - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA on Saturday, November 5, 2011
maryzee at Birdie's Cafe Coffee House - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA on Saturday, November 5, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (11/5/2011 UTC) at Birdie's Cafe Coffee House - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This is being taken to the BC meet today. It might be picked up by a BC member, or a newbie (we're holding a BC intro session today, come join us!), or if it's left over after the meet, it'll be on the bookshelf in the back room.
Welcome to BookCrossing!
To the finder of this book:
Hello and congratulations! You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing -- maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it's free!) Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find like you did. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels - You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!
To the finder of this book:
Hello and congratulations! You have not only found yourself a good book, but a whole community of booklovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. I hope you'll stick around a bit and get to know BookCrossing -- maybe even make a journal entry on this book. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it's free!) Feel free to read and keep this book, or to pass it on to a friend or even set it out "in the wild" for someone else to find like you did. If you do choose to join and journal, then you can watch the book as it travels - You'll be alerted by email each time someone makes another journal entry. It's all confidential (you're known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Happy reading!
I picked this one up at Birdie's when our local BookCrossing group gathered there last month, and I'm reading it now. Thanks, MaryZee!
In vivid, lyrical prose, the author tells the thought-provoking and poignant story of four people living in Afghanistan under the horrors of Taliban rule. Excellent book you will not soon forget.
Journal Entry 13 by authorauthor at Birdie's Cafe Coffee House - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (7/21/2012 UTC) at Birdie's Cafe Coffee House - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
By coincidence, this one is going back to where I found it! It will be on the Book Buffet table at the BC_DC meetup at Birdie's Cafe this Saturday.
********************************
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Making a journal entry here lets me know the book has been found and is safe in your hands. The book is yours now! Read it, give it to a friend, pass it on, or keep it forever--it's your choice.
If you pass it on to someone or leave it "in the wild" for someone else to find, please make another journal entry or release notes here to explain that it's traveling to find another home.
You can remain anonymous on the website or join BookCrossing. Joining is free, safe, and spam-free and you'll get an e-mail every time a new person finds this book and logs in on the site to say so. You'll be able to watch it move around and find out where it's been and what other readers thought of it.
I hope you enjoy the book. Happy reading!
********************************
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Making a journal entry here lets me know the book has been found and is safe in your hands. The book is yours now! Read it, give it to a friend, pass it on, or keep it forever--it's your choice.
If you pass it on to someone or leave it "in the wild" for someone else to find, please make another journal entry or release notes here to explain that it's traveling to find another home.
You can remain anonymous on the website or join BookCrossing. Joining is free, safe, and spam-free and you'll get an e-mail every time a new person finds this book and logs in on the site to say so. You'll be able to watch it move around and find out where it's been and what other readers thought of it.
I hope you enjoy the book. Happy reading!
Going through some books today I found this gem. I was happy to see it is bookcrossing. Sorry I had not signed it in until today. I plan to begin reading this today. Looking forward to this book. Makes me think of Maryzee who was a wonderful reading friend!
