An intimate look at a Afghanistan family
With Afghanistan very much in the news these days after being ignored after kicking the Taliban out, here’s a nonfiction book that offers an insight into the lives of Afghani. It’s “The Bookseller of Kabul,” by Asne Seierstad and it’s available at the Carson library. The author spent time with an Afghan family shortly after the Taliban was ousted and a mild form on chaos took place.The story follows the life of Sultan Khan, a bookseller and merchant in Kabul. He has a large family and he rules with a book of iron, taking a second wife although the first was everything he could hope for, except for the bed. She’s not very smart, conceited and unwilling to do her part of the household; the first wife carries on.Many insights into Afghan morals and culture, again something we know too little about while sending more and more troops to that
country.Marriage and family obligations are the focus here, and politics are not really important — that is, national politics. Tribal politics are everything, in a culture where family, wealth and social position mean everything. And the burka, that all-enveloping robe women are forced to wear, is a constant thorn in many sides.The author lived with the Khan family for several months and she writes that she didn’t keep notes but wrote from memory. Obviously, she had a fine memory as she recalls the ins and arounds of the Khan family, chief that of the old tyrant but honest bookseller. Well, honest by Afghan standards.One might wonder after reading this book why we are fighting a war in Afghanistan; it is such a world away from life as we know it. And inevitably as we fight there we will be changing an old culture, not necessarily for the better.A short 288 pages, a must read for Americans wondering about
that distant land — distant in miles and in culture.—Sam Bauman
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
--static--liam_birthday_bottomleft.jpg | 8.97 KB |