The bookseller of Kabul

I am rather annoyed with Sultan. His only redeeming quality that I see is that he is trying to get books for education. However, it seems he is even doing that for profit.

I could not believe that he decided to get a second wife, nobody in his family supported him, and he still did it anyway. To me, it seems like he views his religion the way he wants to. For instance, when it says to give alms in the Koran, he thinks it means to take care of yourself first, close relatives second, on down the list until the poor is last, and the unknown poor should fend for themselves. Maybe it is my own Christian upbringing that causes me to think that can't possibly be what the Koran asserts. But, because he is the man, he makes whatever decisions he wants and he must be right.

I was also disgusted by the women contributing to their own social status. I was sickened that the mother ordered her own daughter killed, especially since there seemed to be no evidence. To me, the items that "proved" her guilt could have been planted. And the poor girl who was beaten and thrown in her room just for talking to a boy. There was a woman who commented that because she was willing to do that, she was willing to do other things. Do they really not see the difference between talking and "other things," which implied to me sexual activity of some sort.

I am glad I read this book, although I did not really like it.

I have also thought of Sultan's merciless attitude towards the carpenter. I was surprised when the carpenter admitted to stealing thousands and selling them. I was sure he was being wrongly maligned. Yes, his family is starving, but he was given several chances to confess and face lesser consequences.

Overall, there were so many places of hopes dashed. The lines of communication are closed worse than they are in this society. I just kept thinking, if only they would actually talk to each other, how much would be avoided.

I also did not like Bibi Gul. It is sad that Leila did not have the energy to bring herself up out of the muck to work towards her teaching certificate, or even to say that she would rather marry a man that would elevate her social status instead of bring it down. Poor Karim also gave up too easily. The men we were introduced to had worse mood swings than women are stereotyped for!

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts. Mostly, I did not like these people. But, I also wonder what can be done to help those living in Afghanistan. It seems Afghanistan is forgotten now.

I have the American edition, and I wonder what was said in the parts that were removed. I see how the man called "Sultan" could contrive some of his arguments, but I do not see where he says his wife's aunt was accused of perverse sexual acts. I also think sometimes people believe that they are so "right" that they do not see truth. This could be occuring on both sides of the legal battle.

For instance, Sultan could be blind to how the treatment of women in his home and other homes is truly mistreatment. He feels he treats his women well compared to others in his country, so therefore it is not bad.

As for Seierstad, she could have been blind to how some of the revelations she gave in the book could be harmful. When you live in such a completely different society, it can be hard to see what is a big deal in one culture is not in another.

I am glad I read and discussed the book with a book group, though. I would have never picked it up otherwise.