Middle East book discussions *multiple spoilers possible*

[Meg]

Has anyone seen/read the news today? New law in Afghanistan: Husbands have the right to sex with their wives at least every three days. The only time she can say no is if she is sick.

KABUL (April 15) -- A group of some 1,000 Afghans swarmed a demonstration of 300 women protesting against a new conservative marriage law on Wednesday. The women were pelted with small stones as police struggled to keep the two groups apart.
The law, passed last month, says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse — a clause that critics say legalizes marital rape. It also regulates when and for what reasons a wife may leave her home alone.


For those of us who have read books from Afghanistan, does this law give new meaning to you?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

What I found interesting is that there are women in Afghanistan publicly protesting against the law. One story I read said it was mostly younger women who were protesting, but also some families and older people. It takes courage for women in that type of society to stand up in public and prostest. Hopefully their actions will lead to change. Hopefully their voices will be heard.

[Maria]

I heard about this last week - ugh can't imagine living this way . Also last night on the news there was story about a young couple that was trying to elope in the Southern Afghan provinces to escape an arranged marriage. They were caught and shot to death by Taliban. Heart-breaking and barbaric.
Something else too on Frontline World last night - story about Madrassas in Pakistan recruiting young suicide bombers. They interviewed a Taliban man who spoke of sacrificial lambs that they used who were under 10 years old.
So sad.
I'm sorry to be writing this actually.
Maria

[Tera, First Chick]

It's all very sad and scary and depressing and I think the efforts we are making there will be inadequate. I think much more is required and truthly don't know that we will do it or care enough to do it, especially without the support of other countries.
I worry about what will happen to those women and children and the country as a whole if we fail or allow them to slip back into Taliban rule.

[Meg]

I agree with what you all are saying. I don't think I would know as much though had I not read all these books. Or, even understand what is going on. This is so sad. I think about the characters in the books and how this would/does relate to the lives that these authors are sharing and the risk that they take in just writing these novels.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

I've just been notified that I am receiving this book, My Friend the Fanatic, through First Reads. Here is what Goodreads says about this book:
My Friend the Fanatic is a portrait of the world’s most populous Muslim country, Indonesia, a land once synonymous with tolerance that finds itself in the midst of a profound shift toward radical Islam. This portrait is painted through the travels of a pair of unlikely protagonists. Sadanand Dhume, the author, is a foreign correspondent, an Indian atheist with a fondness for literary fiction and an interest in economic development. His companion, Herry Nurdi, is a young Islamist who hero worships Osama bin Laden.

Sounds very interesting.

[Meg]

Oh I wanted that book so much! Let me know if it is as good as it sounds.

[Lois]

I would add the books of Nadeem Aslam to this list. I have read Wasted Vigil, set in current-day Afghanistan, and Maps for Lost Lovers, about a community of middle-easterners, mainly Pakistani, in England. Both are beautifully written, and the characters stayed in my mind for days after I finished each book.

[Meg]

I will have to add them to my list. I haven't heard of either one.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Meg, I just received my copy of My Friend the Fanatic in the mail today, and am planning on starting it tonight. I'll let you know if it is any good.

[Meg]

Great. I just started the Kabul Beauty School and so far I am really enjoying it, learning a lot more about the Afghani culture. Never knew that the bride gets totally hairless before the wedding (with the exception of the hair on her head)

[Dolly]

I just finished The Kite Runner, now I want to see the movie version to see if it is as good.
Meg, let me know what you think when you're done with Kabul Beauty School :)

[Meg]

I will definitely let you know. Are you going to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by the same author?

[Renee]

I like A thousand Suns much better then Kite. I liked them both but something about Suns just caught me

[Meg]

I agree with you Renee. While I loved them both, Suns spoke more to me. I think the role of women and their relationship was just so powerful.

I am now reading Kabul Beauty School and learning a lot more. A fast read and I am really enjoying this one too.

[KrisT]

Yes I remember reading that Meg. I was surprised by that but I think they had that in a movie recently also (about being hairless).
I liked both Kite and Suns but the women in Suns plus the positiveness of the book made me love it more.

[Kat (A Journey In Reading)]

Just out of curiosity.... did you all hear that women were elected to the Kuwaiti parliament??? It was on CNN this morning.

[Adrianna]

I just found this discussion group even though the last thread is quite a few weeks ago. I wanted to know if anyone has read any books about Ahmed Shah Massound - the former militant leader of Afghanistan. If so, would love to get some recommendations.

Another book that I found interesting to give background to the middle east and the turmoil that is present in that area of the world was a biography on Margaret Bell - Margaret Bell, Queen of the Desert. We all know of Lawrence of Arabia but it was Margaret Bell that provided Lawrence with the knowledge of all the different tribes and who were allies and who were enemies. It was a tedious read at times due to all of the information presented in the book. But at the end you come to truly understand how we have such a hotbed of voilence in that area.

[Meg]

I will have to add that to my TBR. What has Massound written, author sounds real familiar

[Adrianna]

Here is an interesting article on Massoud from Time magazine.

http://www.time.com/time/asia/2006/he...

He was assassinated by al-Qaeda assassins on September 9, 2001, two days before 9/11. I would like to find out more about this man and his role in history.

[[deleted user]]

Lipstick Jihad by Azadeh Moaveni is definitely worth my recommendation.

It's a non-fiction story about an Iranian-American journalist who returns to live in her homeland while writing for Time. It gives a completely different perspective than most books about the Middle East as she deals with life under the regime.

[Adrianna]

That sounds very interesting. Thanks for the recommendation; I have added that to my reading list.