The Wasted Vigil - Nadeem Aslam

Fiction

Read it

This is my second book by Nadeem Aslam. I was prepared for another Pakistani in England story, but that is not what I got. What I found was even better than the first novel. 

Aslam takes us through a tragic story of a mixed family - a White Father, Afghani mother, and child - and how their lives have been linked to a Russian woman who came looking for her long lost brother. Afghanistan's history and war with Russia color the novel in the darkest of shades - you just know there are no happy endings here. And indeed you find out at the end that's true. 

The novel is fascinating, and very well done in terms of the author's understanding of Afghan culture and the reality of culture and how things are done in Afghanistan. He knows just how much hope and despair to balance to keep you moving on, desperate to prove yourself wrong that it's just that bad. But it is. 

I personally have not had much exposure to the effect that the Russians had on Afghanistan and vice versa, so that was interesting to learn about.  I most definitely look forward to reading more from Nadeem Aslam. 

It's not an easy read in terms of social niceties, but it is well worth it. Read it.

~Becky~

Afghan Rumor Bazar - Arbabzada

Non-Fiction
Verdict - OK

We've heard  a lot about the negative, violent aspects of Afghani culture, the war, and the taliban. The author of this book attempts to unravel the social quirks of Afghanis without resorting to any of the above. She strives to keep it as normal as any other society. Now mind you, not everything she says is flattering, but she largely avoids the mindless "Afghanistan is evil" idea Americans have been spoon fed. As the title suggests, the author insists that Afghanis like rumors.

It's not a difficult or long read, and if you're a culture junky like me, it's definitely worth the time.

Becky