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BookBrowse Reviews The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra

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The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra

The Swallows of Kabul

by Yasmina Khadra
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  • First Published:
  • Feb 1, 2004, 208 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Apr 2005, 208 pages
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'A superb meditation on the fate of the Afghan people.'
Novel

One reviewer compares this relatively short novel to Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. I agree to the extent that they are both relatively short books set in locations that are foreign to most of us, but other than that I don't see much similarity. Dai Sijie's book tells a strong story but has moments of lightness; whereas The Swallows of Kabul is variously described as 'poetic, intimate, and poignant' but there are no light moments. Having said all that The Swallows of Kabul is worth reading for its relevance to current affairs and for the glimmers of humanity that show themselves even in the most relentlessly harsh conditions.

This review first ran in the April 6, 2005 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.

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Beyond the Book:
  Afghanistan

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