MAJOR SPOILERS I really don’t know what else to say but this book was amazing! I’m Afghan and have read many books about Afghanistan, but this is the only one that has made me feel like I’m back there. I didn’t want the book to end because I loved it so much. I loved how the author made a little boy the narrator and I thought she did an excellent job writing as him. I read a lot of reviews that didn’t feel that way, but Afghanistan has a life expectancy of only 60, and kids grow up very quickly. I thought this book was a million times better than the Kite Runner, and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I thought the plot of this novel was really good; it follows Fawad, a ten or eleven year old Afghan boy from Paghman who lives with his mom and aunt. When his mother finds a job as a maid in an expat house, he starts to observe how the foreigners act around him and he starts to feel a connection with one of the English expats, Georgie. As we find out later Georgie is in love with an Afghan man from Jalalabad. I thought the plot was quite original and I was so happy the author didn’t show Afghan men as crazy women hating animals because I am so sick of reading books about how much Afghans hate women. The Arthur also doesn’t demonize Islam and even has Georgie convert to Islam at the end. I thought the plot was awesome, and her descriptions of Afghanistan were amazing, she was spot on! The way she described Kabul as I said made me feel like I was back there. I will admit there were some corny parts, for example when Fawad’s missing sister comes back but for the most part everything was well written and there were no jarring clichés or plot holes that took me out of the story. I really don’t know what else to say other than I really liked this book and I want to read it again. Loved it. Fawad is such a clever boy. Beautiful tale of the Afgan people cohabitating with Westerners. The reader gets to know what life is like through the eyes of a boy that has seen nothing but the war. Fawad finds beauty in an war-torn country and finds ways to enjoy life. He makes you want to rethink the amenities that you have and reconsider the outlook you have on your own life. Andrea Busfield really shows the reader the beautiful side of Afghanistan: The people! No matter how bad the war has been and no matter what the world thinks of Afghani people, Andrea Busfiled teaches you that humanity is still alive and not all Afghanis are terrorists. You will laugh with Fawad, you will cheer him on during his clever plots, you will be joyous with him and you will cry with him. This books brings you back full circle.
What do You think about Život Među Senkama (2009)?
This was a nice read, very well written and full of humour
—Jenna
A great story! Delightful, fast, easy read.
—gr3en
