Rahima is a girl in Kabul whose father is addicted to opium, and whose family is desperate for money. Her aunt suggests she live as a bacha posh, a girl who is dressed as a boy, so she can go out, work and have freedom. In a second thread, her ancestor Shekiba lives a century earlier, and her life takes her from a village to the royal palace, where she works as a guard. The two stories alternate, and show how women in Afghanistan have found ways to survive.
A good choice for readers who like novels about women's lives in Afghanistan and the traditions that shape them. It suits fans of Khaled Hosseini who want a female-led story.
Inward-looking and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2014
- Language
- EN
