Reviews

The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri N. Murari

suehepworth's review against another edition

4.0

Recommended by Lizzie.
Not as good as other Afghanistan books EG The Kite Runner. But it was gripping and gave a good insight as to the treatment of normal people under the Taliban before the Russians invaded. I found the cricket sections a little bit boring.

awoodhouse's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

misspalah's review

4.0

A friend of mine bought this book for me. She knew that i'm obsessed with this kind of genre thus anything with Taliban/Afghanistan/War Torn Countries will immediately captured my attention. She's not wrong anyway, i love these kind of books. This book is a bit light compared to other books ive been reading ; not that i didnt like it but i find it at some point certain scene just impossible. That's the beauty of Fiction, you dont have to surrende it all to reality. A little bit imagination and creativity helped in expanding the story line. I've been bollywood's fan since i was little but still i have no idea how the cricket was played. Maybe my mind just not meant to understand the beauty of this sport. Even after reading this book, i didnt get the whole game trick. Murari explained it well and concisely but man, i dont where my mind have stranded during those pages. This is overall a charming book but i'm still not sure whether it will belong in my favorites shelf or not. We'll see later.

readwithshivani's review against another edition

4.0

What a compelling and heartbreaking story. The kind of horrifying stuff that happens throughout made me want to keep reading (somehow making me feel that if i keep reading, things will absolutely end positively).

caoilinreads's review against another edition

3.0

Started out so well but became 'cheesy' and the overuse of "I love you" and unrealistic, shallow plot towards the end demoted its literary value. A good read, but not great. More of a quick-flick than a real piece of literature, though it was interesting to learn about the freakish (for lack of a better word) rules imposed by the Taliban.

alifromkc1907's review

5.0

Gut Instinct Rating: 5
Characters: 5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 5
Excitement Factor: 4
Story Line: 4
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.67

marianne101's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

onymousotter's review against another edition

3.0

The Sound of Music but with more burqas. A really good story that brought some levity to a very dark context

morepagesplease's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this one. I learned a lot about the Taliban, and it's influence on life in Afghanistan. I wish it had been a bit less sappy. For some reason, the ending seemed anti-climactic.

vennila's review against another edition

5.0

Timeri N. Murari, you are a devious man (and I mean this with utmost respect). Murari knew what he was doing by abandoning every chapter by teasing the turn of events that would follow. I was hooked to every plot twist, struggling to separate myself from this book, paired with failed attempts to bargain with my inner dialogue "One more chapter..." which turned to two more chapters, then three, until I finished this book cover to cover. The Taliban Cricket Club was a cinematic experience, and has merit to qualify as one of my favourite books. Funny enough, I inadvertently stumbled upon this book when I was on a quest to find a Murakami book at the library and for that, I am grateful for happy little accidents (and alphabetic orders).

I knew I was going to love this book when I was greeted with irony on the first page:

There is no place for any act of violence in the field of play.
- Preamble No. 6 in the Laws of Cricket

The brilliant contrast between sportsmanship and religious fundamentalism is continously explored and Murari does justice to historical accuracy at this intersection.

In light of current events, reading this book was met with melancholy as circumstances have hardly changed in the nearly 25 years from when this story takes place. The plight of Afghan civilians under Taliban rule is tragic and Murari is not shy to detail the violence and inhumane behaviour inflicted on men, women, and children. I caught myself audibly gasping and tearing up by the raw, and unfiltered text. The light at the end of the tunnel vis-à-vis the free ticket to Pakistan as Afghan Cricket champions, showers Rukhsana and her family with hope for a better future. The Taliban Cricket Club appeals to enthusiasts who seek a 'happily ever after' ending (me) though this whimsical conclusion is an unearned reality for many innocent Afghanis in present day.