This is the kind of book I really love as it brings the reader to a time and place you could never be and explores lives in a way that makes their choices real and understandable. The time is just after American troops enter Afghanistan, but our main characters are from Pakistan. It is an exploration of this war as well as war in general as the effects of war create loyalties and cause changes in loyalties. Who are terrorists? Why are they terrorists? In the midst of all of this are ordinary people trying to live and love in their ordinary lives in unbelievably extraordinary times. Aslam presents an Islamic nation but people who practice Islam in more and less traditional ways. In the end we wonder, who are the "good" guys. Some of his characters are "everyman" which to me forgives many of the coincidences and travail, but to pack all of this into one novel is praiseworthy. At the end, I was exhausted and teary. I will definitely read his other novels. This was a slow-moving book with not much of an active plot for the first half. However, I didn't realize until I finished it that I really felt like I knew the characters, liked who they were, and ended up rooting for them. Although the book was painfully slow sometimes and I felt like nothing was happening, it was creeping up on me that I was actually getting drawn into their lives. The story takes place in Afghanistan and so it was interesting for me to see how a culture that I know very little about lives as well as what life is like when your country is occupied by an outside army (the USA). I might recommend this book to a friend but my advice would have to be to stick with it. I almost gave up on this book, but persevered, and I am only slightly glad I did.
Do You like book Der Garten Des Blinden (2014)?
Yes, towards the end it becomes too long, but otherwise an important read to understand and realize.
—Shelly
I just can't finish it. Got halfway. Not a page turner. I gave it an honest go!
—Fluffball
Well written but very sad - those who read the Kite Runner may like this one.
—OllyZeum
