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Chester Lane Reading Group
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month, 7-8pm. Next meeting is on Wednesday 6th August 2008. Please note: due to building work the library entrance has moved to the side of the building.
Come along to our next meeting, or join in the discussion on line.
Watch out for on line chat, news, reviews and videos!
This Month's Book:
"The Bookseller Of Kabul" By Asne Seierstad.
What's it about?
For more than 20 years Sultan Khan defied the authorities to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned, and watched illiterate solidiers burn piles of his books in the street.
In spring 2002 award-winning journalist Asne Seierstad spent 4 months living with the bookseller and his family. As Seierstad steps back from the page and lets the Khans tell their stories, we learn of proposals and marriages, hope and fear, crime and punishment. The result is a unique portrait of a family and a country.
Reviews and information from the Richard & Judy Bookclub:
About the Book
Two weeks after September 11th, award-winning journalist Asne Seierstad went to Afghanistan to report on the conflict there. In the following spring she returned to live with an Afghan family for several months. For more than 20 years Sultan Khan defied the authorities - be they Communist or Taliban - in order to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned by the Communists, and watched illiterate Taliban soldiers burn piles of his books in the street. He even resorted to hiding most of his stock in attics all over Kabul. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and hatred of censorship, he is also a committed Muslim with strict views on family life. As an outsider, Seierstad is able to move between the private world of the women - including Khan's two wives - and the more public lives of the men. And so we learn of proposals and marriages, suppression and abuse of power, crime and punishment. The result is a moving portrait of a family and a clear-eyed assessment of a country struggling to free itself from history.Average Rating
from 2 reviews 09.04.2008 Eye Opening- revealing book
A really revealing book that opened my eyes to many unknown ways. It was very educational in a subtle way and the whole overview made me realise how lucky I am to have what I do. I came away hoping that things would improve for the characters in the book and all their fellow countrymen.
Amanda Davison
13.10.2007 I loved this!
I loved this book. It has inspired me to start reading again.
Alison Williams
______________________________________________________________________ A really revealing book that opened my eyes to many unknown ways. It was very educational in a subtle way and the whole overview made me realise how lucky I am to have what I do. I came away hoping that things would improve for the characters in the book and all their fellow countrymen.
Amanda Davison
13.10.2007 I loved this!
I loved this book. It has inspired me to start reading again.
Alison Williams
About the Author - Asne Seierstad
Åsne Seierstad (born February 10, 1970) is a Norwegian freelance journalist who has written a bestseller and her work has been translated into 38 languages. She studied Russian, Spanish, and the history of Philosophy at Oslo University. She worked as a correspondent in Russia between 1993 and 1996. She then worked as a correspondent in China in 1997. In 2001 she followed the Northern Alliance into Kabul after the fall of the Taliban government.
Click on the links to find out more Afganistan information.
Read more about Asne Seierstad.
See video clip of Asne Seierstad.
Add your comments about this book in our discussion forum.
We will be discussing "The Bookseller Of Kabul" between 7-8pm on Wednesday 6th August 2008. Come along and join us. Everyone Welcome!
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Future Book Choices For Chester Lane Reading Group
Other Books We've Discussed
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Keyword tags:
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
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| sistertwix | Beyond Black - Hilary Mantel | 0 | Mar 17 2008, 1:19 PM EDT by sistertwix | |
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Thread started: Mar 17 2008, 1:19 PM EDT
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What did everybody else think about this book? I admit I struggled with the beginning. I found it very difficult to read as it failed miserably to captivate me at all. That said, I have never really been concerned with the spiritual world or psychics who interpret it - but nonetheless, Hilary Mantel, failed to convince me. However, persevere I did . . . I found myself actually warming to Alison's character as her childhood years unfolded and the various burdens she endured became more clear. The demons/spirits that plagued her life, the evil tricks they played on her - then, of course, her mother - a prostitute who failed to protect her from the various men who frequented the house . . . I was therefore most pleased when she became friendly with Colette and thought she may have finally found a soul mate . . . but alas, this too, was short-lived as Colette, at times, I thought - proved almost as spiteful to Alison as everybody else!! I thought the book went full-circle - ending as it began but giving the reader a fictional insight into the modern day medium/psychic, which wasn't as dull as I initially thought!! Not one I would recommend - but not the worst read either . . . ? Thoughts anyone?
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| moominsquidge111 | Would you stay for Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant? | 0 | Feb 6 2008, 12:15 PM EST by moominsquidge111 | |
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Thread started: Feb 6 2008, 12:15 PM EST
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Having read the book, I don't think I would've stayed, there was so much tension between the family that just bubbled below the surface, i wouldn't have been comfortable eating!
I felt a great deal of sympathy for the characters, mostly Ezra who's story isn't told in as much detail as the rest of his family. I had expected Ezra to take more of the narrative having read Pearl's, Cody's and Jenny's story. Maybe he was left out as a reflection of his personality? What I learnt about him was really from his family's point of view. His love for his family never dimished even though they weren't as loving back to him. All he wanted was for them to be togther with him, and they only managed it after their mother died. This is quite often the way with everyone, that it takes a tradegy to bring families together. I thought the relationship between the two brothers was really well written and it was so sad when Cody set out to steal Ezra's girlfriend. I think that part stood out most in the book. Would Cody have gone after Ruth if she wasn't engaged to Ezra? What if Ezra had put up more of a fight? I don't think you get much of an idea of how Ezra felt, obviously he was upset but, you don't hear his opinion of it. I think the most telling part of the book was when Cody met up with a girl he knew from school, a girl who he liked but he thought that she prefered Ezra to him. When he met up with her years later she couldn't even remember Ezra. I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it to other people.It's well written and easy to read and get into, and whilst it isn's the most exciting of stories, it's a good study of how we treat the ones we love most. What do you think? |
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| BarryBoglin | Favourite | 6 | Jan 21 2008, 7:15 AM EST by sistertwix | |
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Thread started: Dec 11 2007, 3:02 PM EST
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What has been your favourite of all the reading group book choices and why?
Do you find this valuable?
Keyword tags:
chester lane
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Reading
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| sistertwix | 1984 - George Orwell | 0 | Jan 15 2008, 9:37 AM EST by sistertwix | |
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Thread started: Jan 15 2008, 9:37 AM EST
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What did everybody think of this choice? I missed out on the meeting that followed this selection and, not being one of the many who had already read it in school - wondered what everybody else thought? I had my misgivings at first as I really didn't believe it would be my type of novel - but I was pleasantly surprised . . . It was, in my opinion, very bleak and a chilling reflection of totalitarian society - and, although intended as an imaginary state of oppression, very relevant to perhaps todays society. At times, I did get a little frustrated with the way the narrative was written - found it difficult keeping track of the different characters - what did everybody else think?
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