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Hello.β¨
The media, for some days now has been filled with news of how the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan following US withdrawal of their troops. You donβt know about it? Then youβve probably ignored the notifications popping on your phone, or you just decided not to ask your friend the narrative behind the tons of people clinging after an aircraft the day he posted it on his Whatsapp status or you just swiped and didnβt bother visiting those handles your friend reposted on Instagram to create awareness.
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With everything happening in Afghanistan, I realise that a particular book I had read helped in better understanding what is going on now and I want to do same for you with the book for review today. Itβs saddening how a book written years back is still relevant now.
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Written by Norwegian journalist, Asne Seistard, Bookseller of Kabul tells the story of a bookseller, Sultan Khan, his family and his courageous acts towards ensuring that books are not completely wiped off from Kabul, Afghanistan by the current government following the al-Qaida terrorists attack which happened in September, 2001.
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Through a narrative approach, the author gave a detailed insight into different marginalisation (especially that of women), violence, happening right in the family system, to the streets of the community, and the government.
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From Mansur who forbade his mother from working as a teacher, to Sultan, 50 years of age, the supposed βliterateβ, βfreethinker βof the opinion that everyone has the right to be heard getting married to a teenager and giving out his daughter to a suitor she knows nothing about to war been a central theme in maths books for school children.
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Of course, there is also the unwavering activity of the βreligious policeβ killing people and diligently going into Sultan Khanβs bookshop burning down any books portraying living things either in animal or humane form
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An insightful and enjoyable read, sometimes, I grappled with the fact that this is the reality of the lives of some people.
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Considering the circumstances surrounding the writing of this book, I however belive that there is the possibility possible that the true realities of somethingβs, event are not told.
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Regardless, Bookseller of Kabul is a book you should read to understand clash of ideologies, how injustices against women are perpetrated, the aftermath of war, the Talibans, Afghanistan, extremism, the play of power and more!
Cheers to more Readiscoveryβ¨ππ₯
What a timely post!
Thank.you for the insight, and pointing us the way to fully understand the situation.
π₯ to more readiscovery