In The Bookseller of Kabul, Asne Seierstad describes life as she experiences it in Afghanistan, living with the family of bookseller Sultan Khan. The family is typically large, but atypically educated: most of them can read. As a Western woman she is uniquely able to observe both male and female groups.
Women in Afghanistan
Throughout the novel, Seierstad describes the male dominated lives of women in Afghanistan. She says about the first wife of Sultan Khan, "Sharifa lives like a divorced woman, but without the freedom granted divorced women. Sultan is still her master... She lives in Pakistan because it suits Sultan... Divorce is not an alternative. If a woman demands divorce, she loses virtually all her rights and privileges. The husband is awarded the children and can even refuse the wife access to them. She is a disgrace to her family, often ostracized and all property falls to the husband."
Border Crossing
Seierstad travels with Sultan to Pakistan on business and observes, "Following pressure from the international community, Pakistan has closed its borders to prevent terrorists and the Taliban from hiding away in the country. A fruitless gesture. After all, terrorists and soldiers do not turn up at the borders, passport in hand. They use the same paths as Sultan when he travels on business. Many thousands enter Pakistan daily in this way."
Sultan expresses his dismay that he must travel illegally into Pakistan.
Highest Infant Mortality Rate
Throughout the novel Seierstad describes the miserable living conditions and widespread poverty in Afghanistan. Her style is journalistic. She is candid and clear, but does not express judgment or opinion about events or family members.
Seierstad states, "The country has the world's highest infant mortality rate. children die of measles, mumps, and colds, but first and foremost they die of diarrhea. Many parents mistakenly think they must not give the children anything when they suffer from diarrhea; it will all come out anyway."
Terrorist Osama bin Laden
Sultan's nephew, Tajmir, works as an English language translator. While traveling with a journalist he discovers soldier who have never seen a likeness of Osama bin Laden, or bin Laden himself, '"Terrorist,' they say and point and hoot with laughter. There are no papers or magazines in Khost and they have never before seen a picture of Osama bin Laden, the man who is responsible for Tajmir and Bob's presence in Khost."
Due to her ability to observe both male and female groups, Seierstad has a very different experience in Afghanistan than Tony Wheeler, author of Bad Lands.
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad, was published by First Back Bay (English translation, paperback edition), October 2004, ISBN 0-316-73450-0.
Christine Decourlande - Christine Decourlande has worked in the information technology industry since 1996. She holds a degree in Computer Information Systems ...
