A schmaltzy and saccharine observation on women’s lives in Afghanistan with a definite American flavour. There’s a pleasing warmth to the storytelling and the premise is interesting but it really does begin and end there. After enjoying ‘The Kite Runner’ quite a few years ago now, I really hoped that reading this would be equally rewarding but it’s far too kittenish for the serious subject matter it purports to tackle. ( )

This really didn't float my boat. It was a bit too "Slushy" in the romantic side for my tastes, you knew what was coming next. ( )

This really didn't float my boat. It was a bit too "Slushy" in the romantic side for my tastes, you knew what was coming next. ( )

I enjoyed the setting, Kabul, Afghanistan. It's in the news everyday, but it is another kind of truth that we get from a story.
The telling is a bit disjointed; dangling questions left too late, quirky sequencing. I wish the characters had been more fleshed out. Still, I soaked in the descriptions of place and was warmed by the affection between the characters. Through them, we get insight into the many injustices still in that part of the world as well as our strength together to stand strong against them. ( )

Even though it was set in the middle east and tried to incorporate the very real dangers women (and men) face the book felt like a 'soap opera' to me. The dialogue was outright corny at times and it did feel very 'westernised'and watered down so as not to be too graphic or controversial.

My favourite character was probably Halajan, although I did also like Yasmina. But I really didn't believe the 'metamorphosis' of some of the characters, particalarly one who had been set in the traditional ways for so long...

The character I couldn't stand was the blonde who was dating 'the prince/terrorist' (I've forgotten her name). She was just too sterotypical-privileged-bimbo and felt like an igloo in the middle of the Sahara. I also felt the death of one of the characters was made to feel almost inconsequential...

The ending was also unrealistic and too 'happy happy' with everything being wrapped up neatly.

I thought it would be a more realistic account of what life is like for women in the middle east but it was all too 'lifetime movie of the week' for me... ( )