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52nd out of 131 books
—
119 voters
For the Love of a Son
by
Jean Sasson (Goodreads Author)
From the time she was a little girl, Maryam rebelled against the terrible second-class existence that was her destiny as an Afghan woman.
Maryam had witnessed the miserable fate of her grandmother and three aunts, and wished that she had been born a boy. As a feisty teenager in Kabul, she was outraged when the Russians invaded her country. After she made a public show of de...more
Maryam had witnessed the miserable fate of her grandmother and three aunts, and wished that she had been born a boy. As a feisty teenager in Kabul, she was outraged when the Russians invaded her country. After she made a public show of de...more
Paperback, 286 pages
Published
April 29th 2010
by Doubleday
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I can't give this book a star rating since I didn't finish it.
I'm not a big fan of these kinds of books where we get a women telling us her live story, only for us to read all about how terrible it was to live in THAT country, in THAT culture. To me it feels more like it's commercial, bashing your traditions, ur origins and your people, only to sell a story, I have no respect for these women.
Now, if it was presented as fiction, that's a different matter.
In almost every page there is a mention of...more
I'm not a big fan of these kinds of books where we get a women telling us her live story, only for us to read all about how terrible it was to live in THAT country, in THAT culture. To me it feels more like it's commercial, bashing your traditions, ur origins and your people, only to sell a story, I have no respect for these women.
Now, if it was presented as fiction, that's a different matter.
In almost every page there is a mention of...more
Oct 01, 2010
Maryam Khail totakhail
added it
This is a true story, is my story. Everyone who has read the book gave an excellent review, they all loved the story.
13 likes · like · see review
I really liked this book, although there are some things I must say. First, I'm not sure it really is a true story, not because of the story itself, but because of the fact that the comments under the pictures make me a bit suspicious. For example, there is a photograph of Big Duran making a first call to his mother, and I find it very unlikely for someone to take photo in that situation. Second, the names are changed in order to protect people's identities and then the pictures are put inside??...more
4 likes · like · see review
I really enjoyed this book and did not consider it heavy or boring in any way. The historical facts about Afghanistan and Maryam's family are necessary and add to the depth of the book. I think most American women my age and younger take our freedom so much for granted. It is difficult for us to believe how women can be so mistreated in other cultures.
I highly recommend this book and hope that some day I will be able to meet Ms. Khail or hear her speak.
Here is a video interview I discovered on y...more
I highly recommend this book and hope that some day I will be able to meet Ms. Khail or hear her speak.
Here is a video interview I discovered on y...more
This was on the shelf for ages before I finally got to it. At first I thought, why did I buy this book? I've read enough of "how bad the Taliban were". But this one was a bit different, the heroine was not in Afghanistan when the Taliban were in power so there were no details on that. I liked the narrative of pre-Taliban governments, as it's something I hadn't read about before.
Reading about her abusive husband, I kept thinking "you need to get away", or seeing her family's reaction "get away, e...more
Reading about her abusive husband, I kept thinking "you need to get away", or seeing her family's reaction "get away, e...more
I love the way it's written. the narration is just excellent, I hardly put down the book, I finished it immediately after started reading it. the story often made me laugh, cry and think. I feel devastated on how a nation of beautiful places like Afghanistan treat their women godlessly. never in Islam that Allah and the prophet teach to ridicule, terrorize women/wives. Whats shocking is there's a phrase in the book saying in Quran, "Man can do whatever he likes and man can beat their wives coz i...more
I have read a lot of Jean Sasson's books. I have found her to be a wonderful author, and great at telling people's story's. However I just didn't enjoy this book.
This book spans generations and tells Maryam's story, her Mothers story, her Grandmother's story, and other history of Afganistan. However the story of Maryam and her son doesn't really start until half way (or more) through the book, and I found it to seem as though it dragged on a bit.
Maryam's story is one that should be told. The di...more
This book spans generations and tells Maryam's story, her Mothers story, her Grandmother's story, and other history of Afganistan. However the story of Maryam and her son doesn't really start until half way (or more) through the book, and I found it to seem as though it dragged on a bit.
Maryam's story is one that should be told. The di...more
true story of a woman born in Afghanistan and her journey to try and overcome her fate.
story sad. Most pain that her son was not good.
Deserve to be read .
4 star ..
story sad. Most pain that her son was not good.
Deserve to be read .
4 star ..
I loved this book, it shows the reality of afghan women, maybe is not a true story, I don't know, but is what many muslim women live.
I highly recommend it.
I really like Jean Sasson's books, I have read almost all of them and I recommend each one of them.
I highly recommend it.
I really like Jean Sasson's books, I have read almost all of them and I recommend each one of them.
2 likes · like · see review
I have read another book by this Author called, ' Mayada, Daughter of Iraq' which was excellent. unfortunately this book was not so good. The story dragged on in the beginning but the middle of the book was brilliant and then I had to finish it to find out the ending. I mainly read this sort of material to learn more about cultures in other countries. I certainly learnt a lot from this book. I like how the author does a mini history summary at the end of the book so the reader has a clearer unde...more
A very sad n true story.... Dis bk shows dat hw much da women in afghanistan had suffered n still sufferin... N it e1 shows da unimaginable luv of a mother 4 his lost child...
WHAT A BOOK!! I spent a whole hour crying for Maryam, though :( Jean is as always, AMAZING :)
loved it..very touchy
I love books by Jean Sasson. The first time I read on of her books I was in 11t Grade and it was probably my first non-fiction book. I have been a huge fan of hers ever since. I think her writing is simple but the stories in her books are heart wrenching. I remember I cried a lot when I read her book Mayada. She writes about women in the Muslim World. She writes about their oppression at the hands of those they love, oppression by their government and because of age old beliefs that are hard to...more
When you look at the title of the book, it tells you alot. A mother's sacrifice for the love of her son. It tells you the story of a woman Maryam her childhood, growing up and becoming a woman and eventually getting married. She was raped and abused by her own husband whom I think is a psychopath.
Despite all the sufferings and hardships she has to go through, she is so determined to achieve equality with men.
This is definitely a good read.
Despite all the sufferings and hardships she has to go through, she is so determined to achieve equality with men.
This is definitely a good read.
This story struck a chord n somehow it emphasizes on how vulnerable women are n can be. The atrocities she suffered solely due to her gender is pitiful but her son turnin agajnst her is heart wrenching. This story revealed a bitter truth behind veiled women and how despite being heavily masked they are so vulnerable cos of their gender...they can be raped,abused and tortured...truly a painful journey.
This is a very heart-wrenching book. Reading about the oppression and hardship faced by women in the middle east, it is very sad. Their stories make me feel so thankful for all the blessings I have and help me understand their plight so much more.
Thank you Maryam for sharing your story and thank you Jean for writing it. I read the comments you've posted and I pray that Big Duran will turn around for good.
Thank you Maryam for sharing your story and thank you Jean for writing it. I read the comments you've posted and I pray that Big Duran will turn around for good.
Колку само се нервирав додека ја читав книгата уффф... па како може Марјам да ја нема единствената поддршка што може човек да ја има, од семејството?Навистина мислев дека нема нешто што не знам за судбината на жената од Авганистан, но оваа книга тотално ме изненади!Би требало секоја жена да ја прочита.
It's a nice book as I like to read about the different cultures. It's a good story,sons are like that mothers are crazy about them whole life and they are taking it for granted lucky are the mothers who are blessed with loving sons.
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Great book. I feel the pain, i cry with maryam and for Maryams. I see my mom through this book, my sister, my best friend, myself. I see an afghan woman.
1 like · like · see review
Definitely, connects at an emotional level. But, my expectated a lot after reading Mayada. A classic Jean Sasson book. Worth reading it once.
Honestly the first 100 pages were very boring! In the middel of the book it al started to develop and the caracters were good portrated. The story is very Sad and at some point I was angry with the dessicions M made but I guess I would understand them if I was a mother myself and or was in here situation. The ending was good I never expected the story to end this way but I like how Sasson ended the story. The other thing I liked About this book: introducing us to different cultures! It wasnt the...more
Loved this book! You can't imagine the hardship of an Afghan woman's life until reading books like these. Unbelievable...
قصة إنسانية تستحق أن تقرأ ولو لمرة واحدة . فيها الكثير من التفاصيل الدقيقة الجميلة و الممتعة في الوقت نفسه
Another tale of female misery in the Afghan land... the change here is that the protagonist is a rebel
I found this quite and interesting read although some of the stories were pretty horrific in places. So sad to see women are still living in hell in so many places around the world.
A well written account of one woman's triumph over a lifetime of tragedy.
Amazing story...haunts you even after you've long finished it..!
Mar 30, 2013
Nadia
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
non-fiction,
different-world
She didn't even have a son till like, HALF of the book !
#Was read while traveling in Cambodia.
#Was read while traveling in Cambodia.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| About the book | 3 | 9 | May 25, 2012 09:25pm |
Jean Sasson was born in a small town in Alabama. An avid reader from an early age, she had read all the books in her school library by the time she was 15 years old. She also began her book collection at age 15. When given the chance to travel, Sasson accepted a position at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh, and lived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 12 years. She...more
More about Jean Sasson...
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Dec 21, 2012 10:45pm
Jan 01, 2013 10:39am