Earth and Ashes:
Only eighty pages long, a novella of extraordinary intensity: the journey of an old man and his grandson to see the old man's son (and the boy's father) after a Russian attack decimates their Afghan village and nearly everyone is killed. The first half of the book describes their wait at a checkpoint for a ride to take them on the last leg of their journey; the second half is about the old man's ride to and arrival at his destination. I tend not to read contemporary stuff for a number of reasons but this is remarkable for its timeliness and its timelessness.
Patience Stone: This work does nothing to change my opinion: he is a gifted observer and writer. The story is very simple: a woman cares for her comatose husband. It takes place in Afghanistan and, indeed, almost all of the book takes place in a single room. Although the war is always present, it’s never the focus—but its effect on people is ever-present and indelible. The story is the woman’s story, from her betrothal to the present moment, though told in retrospect. I think perhaps the best way I can urge you to read this is by quoting from a “review” by a woman on goodreads: “Very boring alternating with extremely depressing and painful, with the most HORRIFYING and DISGUSTING ending you could even possibly imagine. There's just no upside to reading this, just zero.” I hope you’re tempted now. An easy, if ultimately sad and yes, depressing, book. But very well worth your time. ( )