Such a sad yet happy book. It was interesting to read about places I have visited in real life. ( )

Un libro realmente conmovedor, muy bien narrado, y fiel a los hechos de la Afganistán de los últimos treinta años. Las vicisitudes de la familia protagonista en los diferentes contextos en que tiene que irse moviendo dan muestra del periodo tan duro y terrible pasado por la población, que al final es la auténtica damnificada en todo conflicto, primero con los rusos, más tarde con las facciones y posteriormente con los talibanes, sin dejar de lado a los norteamericanos, aunque estos últimos de un modo totalmente diferente a los precedentes. Está contada con mucho tacto y emotividad a la para que muestra la crudeza vivida sobre todo durante el primer periodo de terror fanático religioso impuesto por los talibanes. Hay que leerlo para saber un poco más acerca de esa país, Afganistán. Incita a seguir leyendo, sobre todo por las lecciones del abuelo. ( )

As an American, I find that our understanding of other countries is shaped by the media and conventional wisdom that distorts our view of world events. Only by reading does a clearer image, deeper understanding and the realization of human universal truths emerge. "A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story" by Qais Akbar Omar is one of the most powerful books I've read in years. Definitely my top book for 2013 and one that I will recommend to everyone. Omar's memoir of his family's passage through decades of civil war and unimaginable horrors was one of the most hopeful and life affirming books I have ever read. Yes, horrible tragedy occurs, but through it all the love and resilience of this family (or Afghan people) triumphs. I read this on my Nook but will buy the book and reread it so I can be reminded that behind the headlines live people that want all the same things we do...as this beautifully written book helps us understand. ( )

Een boek dat heel mooi 10 jaar oorlogsgeschiedenis vertelt vanuit het kindperspectief. Eén van de dingen die het boek voor mij extra boeiend maken is dat de auteur de subtiele cultuurverschillen tussen de verschillende bevolkingsgroepen beschrijft, alsook het gewone dagdagelijkse leven. Ook is hij zelf een Pashtun en voor mij is het het eerste boek dat ik vind geschreven door een Pashtun. ( )

Originally posted here

'I have long carried this load of griefs in the cage of my heart. Now I have given them to you. I hope you are strong enough to hold them.'

Wow, what a start to my reading year. A Fort of Nine Towers is the author's memoir of growing up in Afghanistan during a couple of decades of civil war and the Taliban. It chronicles the author's entire family as they are forced to flee their Grandfather's house (where the whole extended family lived together) and became refugees. It is a tale of survival and Qais speaks about the terrible things that he experienced that were so horrific, I just don't know how any human could have borne it. Honestly. I could never have imagined the things that happened to him, and his story is truly a testament to the power of the human spirit.

One of my favourite parts of this book was the beginning, when Qais talks about Afghanistan as a beautiful country with a strong community spirit and it was just lovely learning of a culture that I have never experienced or even knew that much about. I found the writing to be beautiful and the pacing was just perfect. I was so riveted by this book that I just was thinking of it constantly.

I was eleven years old when the 9/11 happened and I have perfect 'flashbulb' memories of getting home from school and seeing it on the news and being shocked. But to think of all the evil that was going on in Afghanistan and other countries that had been happening for years before, it just blows my mind. What civil war and the Taliban did to the people of Afghanistan just has be read to be believed, and to think its not over now even as I type. Depressing. But I think Qais tells his memoir with so much love, compassion and hope that when I reached the last page I felt hopeful also.

Some bits in this book will just stick with me forever, for example, there was a chapter where Qais was describing how one day he was stopped by a member of the Taliban in the street and was told to remove his clothes so that his armpit and pubic hair could be measured, or face being taken to prison. His armpit and pubic hair had to be under one inch. Of course Qais's hair was not under an inch and so he was forced into a car that was going to take him to the Taliban prison, where Qais knew he was going to be raped by that man. How he escaped that situation, its just incredible. There are numerous upsetting scenes that are even worse than that so TRIGGER WARNINGS of human rights abuses, rape and torture. It's very grim.

I think everybody should read this memoir as it is profoundly moving and gives an own voice perspective of Afghanistan and it's people, it is reminiscent of Persepolis which I also loved. I can't recommend highly enough. ( )