I actually wish I hadn't read this book. In general I really like to read about other cultures, how other people live and what they believe, so this novel that takes place in Kabul, Afganistan was right up my alley. The writing is good and I was really drawn into the first half. But then the story turned dark, and the violence and depravity grew to such dimensions that I could barely stand to keep reading. Unfortunately I did, and now I can't sleep from the horror of it.
Save yourself the agony and pass this one by.

This was an intriguing story, much unlike other novels. I actually read this book for a school assignment, and even so I loved it and couldn't put it done. I think that says a lot.

Overview:

Set in Kabul under the rule of the Taliban, this extraordinary novel takes readers into the lives of two couples: Mohsen, who comes from a family of wealthy shopkeepers whom the Taliban has destroyed; Zunaira, his wife, exceedingly beautiful, who was once a brilliant teacher and is now no longer allowed to leave her home without an escort or covering her face. Intersecting their world is Atiq, a prison keeper, a man who has sincerely adopted the Taliban ideology and struggles to keep his faith, and his wife, Musarrat, who once rescued Atiq and is now dying of sickness and despair.

Desperate, exhausted Mohsen wanders through Kabul when he is surrounded by a crowd about to stone an adulterous woman. Numbed by the hysterical atmosphere and drawn into their rage, he too throws stones at the face of the condemned woman buried up to her waist. With this gesture the lives of all four protagonists move toward their destinies.

The Swallows of Kabul is a dazzling novel written with compassion and exquisite detail by one of the most lucid writers about the mentality of Islamic fundamentalists and the complexities of the Muslim world. Yasmina Khadra brings readers into the hot, dusty streets of Kabul and offers them an unflinching but compassionate insight into a society that violence and hypocrisy have brought to the edge of despair.

My Comments:

The overview above is a pretty clear indication of what you can expect in this book. I’m not sure what else to add except that this book provides insight into how the fragile human psyche copes when hope is replaced by despair. The world in this story is alien to you and me, and it’s difficult to imagine living that way. A very enjoyable story for those in the mood for something a little more serious and intense.

sans plus, c’est le deuxième livre de cet auteur que je termine. pareil comme pour « l’amour d’elena » j’ai juste appréciée la fin. en soit ils sont courts donc ils se lisent vite, c’est fluide ect donc c’est bien mais là c’était pas fouu donc déçue.

heureusement que j’apprécie quand même la plume de l’auteur sinon ça aurait été difficile et je me serais ennuyée.

encore pour l’amour d’elena c’est juste moi qui pensait que l’histoire se concentrait vraiment autour d’elle et au final on l’a retrouvait qu’au début et à la fin ( qui était quand même incroyable ) et le milieu m’a ducoup saoulé, mais là l’histoire même si elle est intéressante dans son ensemble, j’ai réellement appréciée que la fin :/

Books are best when they tell a compelling story and are well written too. This book is unforgettable. It is like peering through a window into the world of war-torn and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, observing the horrors and heartbreak that are daily life there, and feeling completely hopeless. I was wishing so hard for a happy ending, but it was not to be.

So, so sad.

Not a very long book, and it moves quickly, but I can't say it was an easy read. It was a shocking and depressing book. I didn't know much about Afghanistan during this time period, and cannot begin to imagine what it was like for progressive women at the time to be catapulted back into a subservient role in the community and their own homes. Everything about this book was horrifying. However, the book was well written and I am glad I read it.

I found this story a little odd and sort of hard to get into but overall it was good.