Kabul, by M. E. Hirsh (New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2002; first edition published by Atheneum in 1986)
Like Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, Kabul, by M. E. Hirsh, pushes readers into Afghanistan's recent history. As we follow the prominent Anwari family, we begin to understand the complexity and turmoil of Afghanistan's politics between the 1973 coup against King Mohammad Zahir Shah and the 1979 Soviet invasion. It's a novel about family, ties to homeland, and the pull of East and West. As each family member -- Omar, Catherine, Mangal, Roshana, Saira, Tor -- make decisions, not only is the family impacted, but Afghanistan as well. Kabul not only helps readers understand the sequence of historical events, it personalizes that history, creating empathy that lingers for people and place.
Leaning back, he covered his face with his hands. 'My God, haven't I taught my children anything? I don't understand what any of you are doing, playing games, but that's alright, as long as you're enjoying yourselves. When I was your age I didn't know the meaning of the word. Mangal sits in the President's Office talking about the people, Tor's majoring in theft and bribery, and you write books and have a doorman. Fine. Afghanistan may be falling apart, but why should that concern the Anwaris? We've all skimmed cream off the top. -- from Kabul, by M. E. Hirsh
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