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swathiblogs's review
4.0
"Drop by drop a river forms"
Rating 4.25/5
I have read very little to nothing about Afghanistan or the literature from there.This book brought into light the political crisis in Afghanistan and the refugee situation there. It was heartbreaking to read about the experiences.
After the death of her husband Dastagir, the author found her calling in helping those affected in her homeland of Afghanistan.Working all her life as a realtor and living the American dream , after immigrating to the US following the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan ,Suraya gets a reality check due to the untimely demise of her Something that comes back to her often is what Dastagir once said to her-“How much is ever enough?”. On her road to recovery from the trauma, she comes across a TV report on the situation in her homeland and impulsively decides to go and help people. This leads to the foundation of “HTAC-Help the Afghan Children”. She raises fund and travels to Peshawar where she meets an old acquaintance who takes her to an Afghan refugee camp in the border area of Pakistan-Afghanistan. Here she comes across an old friend who was probably in a widow camp. She decides to travel to the Afghanistan camp in-spite of the threat posed. Once the journey starts there is no stopping and we are taken through her years of effort to provide relief to affected areas.
Taking us back in time to a prosperous Kabul with her vivid descriptions, Suraya is heartbroken to see the current state of her beautiful hometown and various cities. The book primarily focuses from 1993- to early 2000s but we are taken across various occupations from Soviet Union to Mujahideen to Northern Alliance and Taliban. Along the line she starts an underground school for girls , thereby the relevance of title as education to girls was banned under Taliban. I was surprised to read about the good side of Taliban during their regime.
This one was an extremely interesting read, throwing into light the picture of real Afghanistan, the rural area, the people, their language, their hospitality, their unfortunate situation. Education, probably taken for granted by most of us for we are privileged enough to receive it is what they are struggling for. The thirst for knowledge irrespective of the situation, people’s effort to overcome is all commendable. I found it a little exaggerated to how she stood up to people with guns, as I’m unsure about the militant’s reaction that is mentioned. But in the face of challenge if she has managed to sustain hats off to her!
Rating 4.25/5
I have read very little to nothing about Afghanistan or the literature from there.This book brought into light the political crisis in Afghanistan and the refugee situation there. It was heartbreaking to read about the experiences.
After the death of her husband Dastagir, the author found her calling in helping those affected in her homeland of Afghanistan.Working all her life as a realtor and living the American dream , after immigrating to the US following the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan ,Suraya gets a reality check due to the untimely demise of her Something that comes back to her often is what Dastagir once said to her-“How much is ever enough?”. On her road to recovery from the trauma, she comes across a TV report on the situation in her homeland and impulsively decides to go and help people. This leads to the foundation of “HTAC-Help the Afghan Children”. She raises fund and travels to Peshawar where she meets an old acquaintance who takes her to an Afghan refugee camp in the border area of Pakistan-Afghanistan. Here she comes across an old friend who was probably in a widow camp. She decides to travel to the Afghanistan camp in-spite of the threat posed. Once the journey starts there is no stopping and we are taken through her years of effort to provide relief to affected areas.
Taking us back in time to a prosperous Kabul with her vivid descriptions, Suraya is heartbroken to see the current state of her beautiful hometown and various cities. The book primarily focuses from 1993- to early 2000s but we are taken across various occupations from Soviet Union to Mujahideen to Northern Alliance and Taliban. Along the line she starts an underground school for girls , thereby the relevance of title as education to girls was banned under Taliban. I was surprised to read about the good side of Taliban during their regime.
This one was an extremely interesting read, throwing into light the picture of real Afghanistan, the rural area, the people, their language, their hospitality, their unfortunate situation. Education, probably taken for granted by most of us for we are privileged enough to receive it is what they are struggling for. The thirst for knowledge irrespective of the situation, people’s effort to overcome is all commendable. I found it a little exaggerated to how she stood up to people with guns, as I’m unsure about the militant’s reaction that is mentioned. But in the face of challenge if she has managed to sustain hats off to her!
thea_rem's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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