This is an interesting read from an Afghan culture viewpoint. However, I felt that the story was a bit unrealistic. In a war-torn city like Kabul plagued by terrorist bombings, it seems unlikely that traditionalists such as those depicted in the story would give up these values to have fairytale romances based on western values. The author did live in the city for five years and, I suspect designed the story from incidents she experienced or heard about for this novel. For this reason I gave it 3 stars.
From Publishers Weekly
Rodriguez follows bestselling memoir Kabul Beauty School with a superb debut novel centering on a group of women who come together in a Kabul coffee shop run by Sunny, a free-spirited American. Sunny takes in the young widow, Yazmina, the casualty of her uncle's debt to Afghan thugs, who had taken the girl as payment but dumped her on the side of the road when they discovered she was pregnant. Halajan is a firecracker older widow who hides her cropped hairdo, jean skirts, and love letters under her burqa. Isabel, a hard-hitting BBC journalist on location to expose the story of the destruction of the poppy fields, uncovers a deeper truth: female workers addicted to the opium they handle who are then, some with their babies, jailed for "moral crimes." Candace, a well-heeled Bostonian, has followed her Afghan boyfriend to Kabul to fund-raise for his school, but soon suspects his real motives for the school and their relationship. A craftsman and a storyteller, Rodriguez captures place and people wholeheartedly, unveiling the faces of Afghanistan's women through a wealth of memorable characters who light up the page.
MY NOTES:
As someone with first hand experience form Iraq, I found of her stories repetetive of those I have experienced or witnessed my self (yes, even the Bolyvood romances). Her writing is alive with characters and their stories. It is nicely chronologically organized. (Not like the Bookseller of Kabul which was horror to read). Her writing is colorful and engaging. I highly recommend this book!
The only SMALL negative about the book is: The end does have a little 'cheesiness' feel to it, when all the stories tie up in 99% super happy endings that are possible (and quite rarely do happen) but are highly unlikely ALL to happen to such a small group in the same timeframe...
Rodriguez follows bestselling memoir Kabul Beauty School with a superb debut novel centering on a group of women who come together in a Kabul coffee shop run by Sunny, a free-spirited American. Sunny takes in the young widow, Yazmina, the casualty of her uncle's debt to Afghan thugs, who had taken the girl as payment but dumped her on the side of the road when they discovered she was pregnant. Halajan is a firecracker older widow who hides her cropped hairdo, jean skirts, and love letters under her burqa. Isabel, a hard-hitting BBC journalist on location to expose the story of the destruction of the poppy fields, uncovers a deeper truth: female workers addicted to the opium they handle who are then, some with their babies, jailed for "moral crimes." Candace, a well-heeled Bostonian, has followed her Afghan boyfriend to Kabul to fund-raise for his school, but soon suspects his real motives for the school and their relationship. A craftsman and a storyteller, Rodriguez captures place and people wholeheartedly, unveiling the faces of Afghanistan's women through a wealth of memorable characters who light up the page.
MY NOTES:
As someone with first hand experience form Iraq, I found of her stories repetetive of those I have experienced or witnessed my self (yes, even the Bolyvood romances). Her writing is alive with characters and their stories. It is nicely chronologically organized. (Not like the Bookseller of Kabul which was horror to read). Her writing is colorful and engaging. I highly recommend this book!
The only SMALL negative about the book is: The end does have a little 'cheesiness' feel to it, when all the stories tie up in 99% super happy endings that are possible (and quite rarely do happen) but are highly unlikely ALL to happen to such a small group in the same timeframe...
I made it through about one-third of the book. I just could not get into it. I was not drawn to the characters or the story itself. The book sat on my table for about a week, and I had no inclination to go back to it. So, it became an abandoned book.
Very much. I enjoyed it. It's hard to put down. Certainly helps you understand what's going on in Afghanistan
