Book of the month at the Fat Basted Chicken Club (long story, but it's all in the pronunciation).
This is the second offering from Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner. The story centres around two women living in Afghanistan from the 60's until the present day. Although a generation apart they both end up married to a man with strict ideas about the role of women in society, which is basically that they are his property. The story is played out against the continual wars that ravage the country; the Russian invasion, Mujahideen rivalries, the Taliban and ending with the arrival of the UN/NATO/Coalition forces. It deals with the harsh life they both suffer, and yet there are points of beauty and hope which crop up from time to time. It ends on an optimistic note for the future, which may or may not come to pass.
It's not my usual read, I normally prefer sci-fi/fantasy, but that's the beauty of the book club, it widens your horizons. It was an enjoyable read and I may read more of Hosseini's work, but can't guarantee it. This is well worth a read though.
As well as reading the book, we also set a challenge each month, and this month it's a scrapbook/journal page inspired by the book. This is my offering, a contrast of colour and drabness, despair and hope. The image of a bird that's free to fly, seen through the mesh of a burqa; flowers enveloping the barbed wire. The poem is Kabul, by the 17th century poet Saib-e-Tabrizi, and is the origin of the book's title:
This is the second offering from Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner. The story centres around two women living in Afghanistan from the 60's until the present day. Although a generation apart they both end up married to a man with strict ideas about the role of women in society, which is basically that they are his property. The story is played out against the continual wars that ravage the country; the Russian invasion, Mujahideen rivalries, the Taliban and ending with the arrival of the UN/NATO/Coalition forces. It deals with the harsh life they both suffer, and yet there are points of beauty and hope which crop up from time to time. It ends on an optimistic note for the future, which may or may not come to pass.
It's not my usual read, I normally prefer sci-fi/fantasy, but that's the beauty of the book club, it widens your horizons. It was an enjoyable read and I may read more of Hosseini's work, but can't guarantee it. This is well worth a read though.
As well as reading the book, we also set a challenge each month, and this month it's a scrapbook/journal page inspired by the book. This is my offering, a contrast of colour and drabness, despair and hope. The image of a bird that's free to fly, seen through the mesh of a burqa; flowers enveloping the barbed wire. The poem is Kabul, by the 17th century poet Saib-e-Tabrizi, and is the origin of the book's title:One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs
And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls
And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls
Love your interpreation in the LO Nigel!
ReplyDeleteLove the name of your book group too !
Carole
hi Nigel ...glad you sort of enjoyed my choice of book...yoou must try the Kite Runner (I liked it)...love your page toooooo (though it sort of ruined the surprise for monday night now!)....
ReplyDelete"that Woman"
I think that the page is really good and I really like the choice of colours. It all came together really well.
ReplyDeleteThe book also sounds like a good read.