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The Swallows of Kabul

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002

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Book Brief

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Yasmina Khadra

The Swallows of Kabul

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2002
Book Details
Pages

195

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Kabul, Afghanistan • 1990s

Theme
Publication Year

2002

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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Super Short Summary

The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra explores the lives of Atiq Shaukat, a jailer in Taliban-occupied Kabul, and Mohsen Ramat, a former intellectual, as they grapple with the oppression and brutality surrounding them. Amidst personal turmoil and moral dilemmas, Atiq encounters Zunaira, Mohsen's wife, leading to profound changes in their lives and a tragic resolution under the tyrannical rule of the Taliban. The work depicts incarceration, abuse, suicide, mental illness, misogyny, executions, racism, and domestic violence.

Dark

Melancholic

Unnerving

Mysterious

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra is lauded for its poignant narrative and evocative portrayal of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Critics praise its deeply emotional characters and stark, poetic prose. However, some mention its bleakness and graphic nature as potential drawbacks. Overall, it is recognized as a powerful, thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Swallows of Kabul?

Fans of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini or The Kite Runner will be drawn to The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra. This reader appreciates profound narratives exploring human resilience against the backdrop of Taliban-era Afghanistan, and seeks emotionally intense stories with complex moral landscapes.

Character List

Atiq Shaukat

Atiq is a jailer at a women’s prison in Kabul, grappling with a dissatisfaction in his role and caught between the privileges of his ethnic background and his longing for change.

Musarrat is Atiq’s wife, who saved his life during the Soviet invasion and struggles with feelings of inadequacy stemming from her illness and the nature of her marriage.

Mohsen is a former diplomat and political science graduate, challenged by the oppressive Taliban regime and his evolving relationship with his wife, Zunaira.

Zunaira is a former magistrate who once advocated for women's rights and resists the Taliban’s oppressive rule, prioritizing her self-respect and autonomy.

Qassim is a commander at the prison where Atiq works, known for his ambition and alignment with the Taliban, capitalizing on his power within the oppressive system.

Book Details
Pages

195

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Kabul, Afghanistan • 1990s

Theme
Publication Year

2002

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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