Reviews

The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra

eli_myre12's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jessenat's review against another edition

5.0

this was so heartbreaking and brutal like i literally flinched reading it… so well written and so painful knowing this is happening in real life

lamaankacheoussama's review

4.0

I hesitated a lot whether to give tjebook 4 stars, 3 stars or even 2. I started the book back in 2013, I did not like it that much and stopped reading it. I got back to it 3 years later and finished it. What irritated me about the book is that the writer never put a foot in Afghanistan, yet he desribes a culture and a way of thinking of many Afghan. This, in my opinion, reinforces the cultural prejudices and stereotypes. However, when I understood more who Yasmina Khadra is, and the circumstances that made him write, I started looking at the book in a different way. I liked the plot and the ending. I will definitely read something else for Yasmina

bhumi_19's review

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

megs_k's review

2.0

If you ever run into a Teenager that is looking to learn/read/study about Afghanistan, I feel this is a good introductory book. Its written tastefully addressing the current status of Kabul, while at the same time not being explicit. I would describe the book as being a children's version of A Thousand Splendid Suns, a book which I love dearly and also recommend.

noor987's review against another edition

4.0

Première livre à lire pour Yasmina khadra et je pense pas que ça soit le dernier
Un livre qui te donne une image sur ce monde avec tout ces règles et cette méchanceté pour les femmes , en début je le trouvais un peu ennuyant mais dans les dernières chapitres c’était devenu intéressant et bouleversant, comment tu pourrais frapper et enlever le voile des femmes juste parce que tu cherches une autre ou déjà comment tu as laissé ta femme mourir comme ça et toi tu la traite méchamment !!! Et vraiment la petite histoire d’amour entre zunaira et mohsen qui a mal fini …

liinakaisa's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

3.5

adifferentreadingview's review

3.0

Really great book, I read this in high school. It is definitely an interesting read. I feel like this is something everyone should read in order to understand a different culture.

vikingwolf's review

1.0

In Taliban ruled Kabul, this novel follows two families and a town jailer as they cope with their new lives.

These are not likeable characters. The best example of this is the jailer Atiq, who becomes obsessed with the beautiful prisoner who is due to be stoned to death, and tries to plan how to release her. Meanwhile he ignores his sad, dying wife. She comes up with the idea of taking the place of the doomed woman, to Atiq's delight and the plan is put into operation.

So this disgusting man watches at the stadium as his veiled wife is stoned to death in the place of the woman he now wants, who is also veiled and safely hidden in the seat reserved for Atiq's wife. The only part of this book I liked was when the saved woman vanishes before Atiq can take her home so he has lost both women in his life. HAR HAR serves you right you piece of filth!

Dreadful book, horrible characters.

kimcheel's review

4.0

I love books because they provide you with an ability to understand something, be it a religion, culture, whatever. This was brilliant. Just brilliant.