Read : Bookseller of Kabul

There are books that make you feel sad, books that light up your life and there are those that make you realize a lot of things.


Like how lucky I am to be a Filipina.


In Afghanistan, a country far far away, there lived a bookseller named Sultan Khan.

He struck a friendship with Norwegian writer and allowed her to stay in his family home to experience life with his Afghan family.

From that act of openness, Asne was able to write stories of tribulations, loneliness and struggles.

This is a story of one husband, two wives, five children, and many other relatives opening their lives and telling their stories. This is a story of man passionate about books and learning and the women who has found their voices to speak up and relay their innermost sentiments.

A twist for this book is that in reality, the author Asne Seierstad is being sued by the family for invasion of privacy, defamation and negligent journalistic practices.

According to the head of the family, they have been ostracized by their friends in the community since the publication of this book.

This novel is based on real life.  Whether the author abused her journalistic rights in writing this book remains an open question. 


Still, I urge every woman to read this.  To realize that in other parts of this world, even just within Asia, to paint your toes is considered rebellion, would make you thank the fates that made you a Filipina.