December's Book

The Swallow of Kabul, written by Yasmina Khadra.

As written on the back of the book:

Kabul under the Taliban, a devastated city ruled by executioners and crows, where laughing in public brings down the wrath of the religious police. This is the world in which Yasmina Khadra - the pseudonym of a former officer in the Algerian army - sets his cauterizing novel of fanaticism and tenderness.

With an implacable eye, Khadra follows two couples: Mohsen and Zunaira are dispirited survivors of Afghanistan's educated middle class; Atiq is a brutish jailer bound by a debt of gratitude to his dying wife, Musarrat. One day the horrified Mohsen finds himself taking part in the stoning of a condemned prostitute, an action that will impel all four characters toward new destinies. As spare as carved bone and filled with images that explode like bombs, The Swallows of Kabul is a work of haunting power.

"Beautifully written...Puts a human face on the suffering inflicted by the Taliban.... The Swallows of Kabul will stay with you long after you've finished it."--San Francisco Chronicle

This book is rather short, one hundred and ninety five pages, which is a good size for December because I am sure everyone finds themselves very busy.

I picked it up at Chapters today, $16.00, less with a Chapters Card.

Happy reading!!