Book Review: 'The Bookseller of Kabul' by Åsne Seierstad

✰✰✰ Sultan Khan has done well for himself as a bookseller in Afghanistan. He’s faced some tough times under Taliban rule and even spent time in prison. However, now he’s done well enough that he can take on a second wife and family. In the meantime, the life of the rest of the Khan family revolves around the whims of Sultan. Those decisions are in turn based on what’s best for the book selling business. Not even Sultan’s mother is exempt. Author Åsne Seierstad spent time living with and observing the family for months to provide a firsthand account of life behind the scenes in Afghanistan.

The Bottom Line: This book is a challenging read due to the difficult topic of women’s issues. While it is a story of a bookseller, it is also a story about a family and how the women are treated by the patriarch. At times this is a heartwrenching read. Suggested reading for those in college and those interested in women’s rights. This book serves as a good reminder of how far we have come, but also as a reminder of how much more needs to be done.

Book Club Notes: This book brought up very strong feelings in our group. On a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest, the ratings for this book ranged between 2 - 4, with an average of 3.25. This was a difficult topic to read about. One of our members described it as a “brutal” read. There was concern for the treatment of some of the characters in this distant culture. While we understand that Afghanistan is very different culturally and some of the behavior is based on culture, the actions of “Sultan” were upsetting to some. Members would have liked some more information included on the history of the Taliban, as well as maps of the region, and some photos for reference. Also, it seemed to us that the story of the family ended rather abruptly. We did supplement our discussion with articles about current events; however, there is very little information about the family. Recommended for groups looking to tackle tough topics.

Details: The Bookseller of Kabul by Åsne Seierstad   Paperback published by Back Bay Books in 2004. 288 p. ISBN: 978-0316159418