The Bookseller of Kabul

I have to admit I wasn't thrilled when I learned that The Bookseller of Kabul was our January book club selection.  The description didn't thrill me and I had a challenging time finding the book:  not available on Kindle, not at Half-Price books and not at my local Borders.  I ended up ordering from Amazon.

Once the book arrived, I began reading.  I was surprised to find that I couldn't stop.  The story was so intriguing.  I especially enjoyed reading the stories of the women in the family.  The author created such vivid imagery I was truly able to imagine being trapped inside a burka.  The bureaucracy involved in one woman's attempt to become a teacher reminded me of the idiocy of the Illinois State Board of Education.  I could truly empathize with her frustration.

However, the most intriguing part of the story to me was that the author became a part of the family and was accepted by them as she researched this story.  Although she never mentions this, I imagine to go from a totally free woman in Norway, to one that is hidden within a burka in Afghanistan, must have been an isolating and frustrating experience.