by Åsne Seierstad
Shortly after 9/11, Åsne Seierstad, a Norwegian journalist, spent four months living with the family of a bookseller in Kabul. Her goal was to reveal the Afghan perspective on politics and culture from the microcosm of one family. Considering this book has been translated in 41 languages and become Norway’s best-selling non-fiction book of all time – you’d have to agree she has succeeded.
Simply but beautiful written, Seierstad has managed deliver complex Afghan political history in palatable bite-sized chunks interwoven with the intimate details of the bookseller’s extended family life; which includes his mother, siblings, two wives and children.
It probably speaks for itself that the bookseller subsequently sued the author and various members of his family were forced to emigrate as a result of the personal details revealed in the book.
Seierstad paints an unsympathetic portrait of a patriarchal society where men are tyrants, virgin wives are bought and owned by their husbands and women are punished, sometimes by death, for falling in love – and this is post-Taliban. The tedious, restricted lives of these women forced don the burqa in public for their own safety, is a revelation.
A fascinating must-read especially for anyone interested in writing what is now termed ‘creative non-fiction’. This book is written as a literary novel – which makes it incredibly involving – and yet you understand it is the truth.
I’m not surprised that the bookseller known as ‘Sultan’ in the book has taken legal action, Seierstad exposes him as greedy, selfish and self-serving. On the evidence she presents, it would be hard not believe her truth is the truth.
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Yes Corruption is the enemy of every nation and naturally Afghanistan also suffers from the menace. But the problem is with the modern Democratic system. You have to spend money to be elected and naturally a person would like to have returns on investment. We are working for the promotion of Afghanistan and highlighting the positive aspects of the society. http://www.afghanistan.harleytourism.com