Zoya's Story: An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Nonfiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 1
This book, though serious and VERY WELL WRITTEN is a lighter reading for those that are interested in this subject.
"Zoya" as the woman calls her self to protect her identity, starts telling her story at the age of 5. We learn about her parents who were intellectuals resisting the current occupiers (Russians) of Afghanistan. Her tale is simple and very expressive. Eventually (no spoilers :D ) she ends up in a RAWA school for girls in Pakistan where she is groomed to take an active role in the organization. This part of her telling takes about 60% of the book. In her teens and early adulthood she does dangerous tasks for the women rights movement and witnesses great horrors.
She describes her nerve-racking 'adventures' with limited detail and keeps the writing on a very simple level, that is suitable for younger audience. (She gives the feeling of a third person re-telling). I found the book very informative, when it came to Taliban, the Afghan culture and history. I especially liked her grandmother who despite being raised to be obedient and dutiful, could see the flaws of her cultural limitations and refused to impose them on her adoptive granddaughter. However I also felt that the book was not up to my age lv. It is possible that it might be because I read a great deal of this genre, and had books that were more passionate and/or challenging.
But over all it is a worthy reading, a testimony to an era that is not yet history and could be coming back if we (the USA & UN) are not willing to provide help. I would recommend "Zoya" as a good introductory book for people not yet very familiar with this genre, as well as young (teen) readers, or even as a good women's studies book.
"Zoya" as the woman calls her self to protect her identity, starts telling her story at the age of 5. We learn about her parents who were intellectuals resisting the current occupiers (Russians) of Afghanistan. Her tale is simple and very expressive. Eventually (no spoilers :D ) she ends up in a RAWA school for girls in Pakistan where she is groomed to take an active role in the organization. This part of her telling takes about 60% of the book. In her teens and early adulthood she does dangerous tasks for the women rights movement and witnesses great horrors.
She describes her nerve-racking 'adventures' with limited detail and keeps the writing on a very simple level, that is suitable for younger audience. (She gives the feeling of a third person re-telling). I found the book very informative, when it came to Taliban, the Afghan culture and history. I especially liked her grandmother who despite being raised to be obedient and dutiful, could see the flaws of her cultural limitations and refused to impose them on her adoptive granddaughter. However I also felt that the book was not up to my age lv. It is possible that it might be because I read a great deal of this genre, and had books that were more passionate and/or challenging.
But over all it is a worthy reading, a testimony to an era that is not yet history and could be coming back if we (the USA & UN) are not willing to provide help. I would recommend "Zoya" as a good introductory book for people not yet very familiar with this genre, as well as young (teen) readers, or even as a good women's studies book.
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