deanna_etc's review against another edition
4.0
Christina Lamb conveys her love for Afganistan in this memoir. There were so many threads in this book I wanted to follow further... like the clandestine sewing classes!
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look at Afghanistan both pre- and post-9/11. This book contained enough history and cultural information that you can understand why things haven't changed there in hundreds of years, no matter how much progress is made. The discussion of the role of the King (I didn't know there ever was one) and of Hamid Karzai both before and after the World Trade Center were also very educational. I was a little disappointed, though, in how much of the book was NOT about the sewing circles of Herat or other groups of women, given the title of the book.
lizlogan's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful book about the women of Afghanistan and everyday life in Afghanistan.
msgtdameron's review against another edition
4.0
Every time I read one of these works on Afghanistan I learn more about the root causes of the current war and I see the many missteps the U.S. Government has made in Central Asia over the past 40 years. The record is pretty abysmal for this country in our relationships with the people and governments from Pakistan to Turkey and Iran to Khazackstan and the Russian border. Once more this work shows that with out the faintest understanding of local relationships and local power bases the U.S. just goes blundering in using excessive force and leaves Hugh mess. The bull in the china shop metaphor is NOT even close to the way we act. Once more in this work we see Pakistan Intelligence working for their own ends. Ends that have nothing to do with U.S. Goals and or their own governments goals for the region. ISI is it's own state and acts as a rouge partner even into 2021. The GOP continues to negotiate with more illiterate spokesman for the Talib. We should be holding clan/SWar Lord meetings and working towards an elected President/King to deal with foreign relations. That would leave the clans to manage and govern their own areas. But, we keep trying to bring Democracy to Afghanistan, but some people are just not nor will they ever be ready for one person one vote. They can be taught about rights and women education but Democracy is a no go. One see's this again and again in all the works on Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and the rest of the Central Asian Plateue. Another read showing how ignorant the U.S. is and why as we continue relabeling our efforts but keep the same overall plan: We, the U.S., FAIL.
nferre's review against another edition
2.0
Let me preface this by saying that I read this in 2011 and I didn't read it cover to cover. The book was published in 2002 and would have been way better had I read it then. It's not a "readable" book, as it's packed with historic notes, dates, supplemental anecdotes and other bits that bog it down. In the first 150 pages or so, there is no mention whatsoever of any sewing circles, it was mostly background information on how the author got to be in Herat and her experience with the Mujaheddin to that point.
Most of the material has, since 2002, been hashed and rehashed. Many of the main characters have been killed in the war and have become relevant to the history, but not to what is happening now.
I felt that the book lacked thoughtful insight, personalization and was too broad. It touched on the horrors that the Afghan's have endured, but didn't follow up on them. She didn't make it personal imho.
Most of the material has, since 2002, been hashed and rehashed. Many of the main characters have been killed in the war and have become relevant to the history, but not to what is happening now.
I felt that the book lacked thoughtful insight, personalization and was too broad. It touched on the horrors that the Afghan's have endured, but didn't follow up on them. She didn't make it personal imho.
addlebrained_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Christina Lamb is a journalist from England who has traveled to Afghanistan several times in her career. These visits to this country have ranged from before and after 9/11 and the terrorist attack on the United States.
This book is checkered throughout with letters from a young lady, Marri, in Afghanistan who explains of her love of dancing and red lipstick. However, Marri's letters are also full of fear, anger and hurt because of the men who force her to hide beneath the burqa.
In this book, Christina provides pieces of Afghanistan's history; the beauty the country used to possess. She speaks of interviews with members of the Taliban. She discusses wars and how children are brought up, not to play and love, but to fight, hate and win. Christina explores and writes about every side and she does so unbiasedly; as a good journalist should.
This is the book The Hubble chose for me for July. Yes, I've been reading it for 2 months. This is not a page turner by any means. In fact, when I finished the book I simply sat there holding it for a good 5 minutes before taking it back to The Hubble in the other room. When I walked out and handed him the book he asked me "how do you feel." The only answer I could give was "drained."
This book made me feel many emotions. I felt anger toward the men who beat Marri's mother because she removed her burqa to look at a swatch of fabric. I felt sad for the families who found their loved ones hanging from tree branches. I felt scared for the women who would have secret lessons so as to continue educating the young girls in the country.
It amazes me to see pictures of women walking through the streets of Afghanistan with heels, skirts, books and their hair done in modern styles. I can hardly envision the landscape when the country is described to have been a paradise with trees, gardens, birds and exquisite beauty. Afghanistan once was a tourist destination!
But 23 years of fighting has definitely marred our memories and perceptions of this once great land. But if I feel that way, how can I imagine it would feel to be a child brought up in that environment. Can it ever change??
When I read this book, I kept thinking this is why we are there. I couldn't help but be touched by Marri's distress or the tales of men being forced into the Taliban by being threatened. On the other hand, Christina Lamb described, in such amazing detail, the hatred some people in Afghanistan feel for Americans that I found myself wondering why the Hell should we help them?? They just want to kill our people!
I don't know if this country will ever have peace. I keep thinking about the movie "Lady in the Water." There's a part in the movie where they talk about the author of a book. This book will be written and it will be found by a young boy. This boy will take this book and read it. This boy will change the world because of this one book. I keep thinking we need that one book and that one boy. But even if the book and the boy were to meet, that boy wouldn't be able to read that book. Education in that country is gone.
When The Hubble was in Afghanistan last year, he got to talking with his interpreter during a recon mission. The Hubble asked his interpreter "Will Afghanistan ever have peace?" To this, the interpreter replied "Without education there will be no peace."
This book was difficult and emotional to read but I'm glad I did. I've been having trouble understanding why The Hubble is SO passionate about these people and why he wants to get back as quickly as possible. After reading this book...I get it. I absolutely get it....
This book is checkered throughout with letters from a young lady, Marri, in Afghanistan who explains of her love of dancing and red lipstick. However, Marri's letters are also full of fear, anger and hurt because of the men who force her to hide beneath the burqa.
In this book, Christina provides pieces of Afghanistan's history; the beauty the country used to possess. She speaks of interviews with members of the Taliban. She discusses wars and how children are brought up, not to play and love, but to fight, hate and win. Christina explores and writes about every side and she does so unbiasedly; as a good journalist should.
This is the book The Hubble chose for me for July. Yes, I've been reading it for 2 months. This is not a page turner by any means. In fact, when I finished the book I simply sat there holding it for a good 5 minutes before taking it back to The Hubble in the other room. When I walked out and handed him the book he asked me "how do you feel." The only answer I could give was "drained."
This book made me feel many emotions. I felt anger toward the men who beat Marri's mother because she removed her burqa to look at a swatch of fabric. I felt sad for the families who found their loved ones hanging from tree branches. I felt scared for the women who would have secret lessons so as to continue educating the young girls in the country.
It amazes me to see pictures of women walking through the streets of Afghanistan with heels, skirts, books and their hair done in modern styles. I can hardly envision the landscape when the country is described to have been a paradise with trees, gardens, birds and exquisite beauty. Afghanistan once was a tourist destination!
But 23 years of fighting has definitely marred our memories and perceptions of this once great land. But if I feel that way, how can I imagine it would feel to be a child brought up in that environment. Can it ever change??
When I read this book, I kept thinking this is why we are there. I couldn't help but be touched by Marri's distress or the tales of men being forced into the Taliban by being threatened. On the other hand, Christina Lamb described, in such amazing detail, the hatred some people in Afghanistan feel for Americans that I found myself wondering why the Hell should we help them?? They just want to kill our people!
I don't know if this country will ever have peace. I keep thinking about the movie "Lady in the Water." There's a part in the movie where they talk about the author of a book. This book will be written and it will be found by a young boy. This boy will take this book and read it. This boy will change the world because of this one book. I keep thinking we need that one book and that one boy. But even if the book and the boy were to meet, that boy wouldn't be able to read that book. Education in that country is gone.
When The Hubble was in Afghanistan last year, he got to talking with his interpreter during a recon mission. The Hubble asked his interpreter "Will Afghanistan ever have peace?" To this, the interpreter replied "Without education there will be no peace."
This book was difficult and emotional to read but I'm glad I did. I've been having trouble understanding why The Hubble is SO passionate about these people and why he wants to get back as quickly as possible. After reading this book...I get it. I absolutely get it....
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