From a batch of books a co-worker gave me to register and release. I read another copy of this book back in 2007, and this is what I wrote about it then:

This book tells two stories. One is the story of a friendship between two women, forced by their circumstances into marriage with an older, mean-spirited man. Though at first they view each other as adversaries, they grow to be close friends, providing each other with support and comfort from the ravages of their abusive husband. This story is very human, and illustrates the power people have to endure hardships in their lives.

The other story is the story of Afghanistan, from the Soviet invasion, to the victory of the Mujaheddin, to the tribal warfare and the ultimate rise of the Taliban. We witness the horrors of the indicriminate killing during the tribal warfare, and the insanity of the Taliban's ultra-conservative interpretations of Islamic law. Here we have, perhaps, the clearest description of the chaos that has been Afghanistan's recent past.

The two stories, together make for a potent mixture, one that leaves plenty of food for thought.

Left on one of the tables outside the shop.

Released for the 2022 Tick Tock challenge.

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