Introduction

The Bookseller of Kabul, written by Åsne Seierstad, takes place in the heart of Afghanistan. Seierstad moved in with a wealthy book merchant and his family and wrote about the experience in a unique way. Instead of writing about the family in the form of a narrative, she dedicates a chapter or two to each member of the family and acts as an omniscient, third-party observer. Seierstad never uses the word "I," but tells a piece of each member's life as though it was a story, and embeds a deeper message as well. In each chapter, the struggles and oppression women face are subtly highlighted. It seems that Seierstad didn't write The Bookseller to give a voice to all Afghans, but to the women of the country who don't have one of their own.

Johanna: I am nineteen years old and have lived my whole life in the Midwest of the United States and have little experience with other cultures. I hoped this book would give me greater insight into Afghan culture, which is so different from the one I have known. In my junior year of high school my AP Language class read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, which takes place mainly in Afghanistan and also tells the story of a family facing struggles. After reading that and being briefly introduced to the culture, I chose this book because I had a small knowledge of the lifestyle and wanted to expand it.

Mike: Mike is a white American who as interested in learning about the culture in Afghanistan. He knows ahead of time that his country is at war in Afghanistan, and he has heard snippets about the culture there, but he is craving more details when choosing to read this book. Mike feels that it will be interesting to learn about the culture in Afghanistan with this book being a valuable source of information.

Andrew: My name is Andrew Paffel and I am 19 year old middle class Caucasian male. I have had very little previous experience with the Afghani people. The only knowledge I have about Afghani people comes from the media and bias discussions about 9/11. My bias have affected how I have read the book but are slowly being broken down as I progress through the chapters. 

Justin: Justin is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Having grown up an area that contains a higher level of racial diversity, I have had more exposure to other cultures than the rest of the group. Besides living in an urban area, I live in Katharine Thomas hall with many international students and have also been overseas twice. I chose to read The Bookseller of Kabul to broaden my knowledge of Afghan culture and possibly compare the book's values with what I have experienced in his life. I have gone to school with people from Afghanistan, and I know that the media has created a negative stereotype for people from the Middle East. I am always interested in learning about other cultural perspectives, and so I will read this book with more cultural experience and understanding.

Bookseller of Kabul: December 12, 2010

While reading the Bookseller of Kabul, we learned a lot about Afghan society.  Åsne Seierstad goes in depth about their culture, religion, political system, history, landscape, and education.  She shows the Afghans to be deeply rooted in their traditions, and although they are now free from the Taliban rule they are still strict under the beliefs they had.  The Afghan society seems like it is trying to modernize, but many are hypocrites in their own homes.  An example of this is shown with Sultan and his liberal thinking about women in government positions, but when it comes to his family he wants to be fully in charge of everything.  The political shape of the country is changing, but it deeply based off of Muslim beliefs and American backed ideals.  Although they are not as oppressive as the Taliban, the new government does not clearly differentiate church from the state.  The system of power is also set up on the connections that you have.  It is hard to move up in power, and if you get into a conflict with someone with more respect or admiration from the citizens, you are in bad luck.  This is shown between Sultan and the carpenter.  Even though the carpenter is not proven guilty, he ends up going to jail for 3 years because of Sultan’s authority.  The history of Afghanistan is quite lengthy and complicated.  Early times had Afghanistan as a prominent society, with religious tolerance and educated people.  Other than this, the country has been put through many wars and switching of powers.  No government has been stable in the 20^th century, even the USSR could not keep their grip on Kabul.  Women are oppressed and do not have much freedom in Afghanistan.  The only thing they can keep private would be the little box they can lock belongings up in.  Men are shown to be spoiled in their actions, and with women they are especially controlling and disrespectful.  Seierstad does even create an excuse Sultan, claiming that the only model of a father he has is his own.  It is easy to see that the sons, specifically Mansur, are likely to turn out like Sultan himself.  Seierstad does seem to have some bias when she is talking about males, as she seems like more of a modern thinker. The whole book went into all of the aspects of Afghan society, when we really only assumed it would tell the story of one family in Kabul in the beginning.


A huge problem that our group had with the authors authority is that she left Afghanistan before she could see the endings that happened in the epilogue.  Although it is nice to give conclusion to the story, the ending she writes could be completely made up.  The book is basically a memoir, as Seierstad writes about her experiences with each of the characters and it is open to her interpretation.  The ending is just troublesome because she only speaks to Sultan, when in reality the story is based on the entire family.  Although Seierstad does have a first-hand experience with the Khan family, she does paint the characters as she wants and also does include some of her judgments and opinions.  The last part of the epilogue shows this, as she hears that Sonya is pregnant and is asked to pray for a boy.  Seierstad exclaims, “what if it’s a girl!” and answers that it will be “another little catastrophe in the Khan family” immediately after (288).  Although we have learned the value of women in Afghanistan, how can we be so sure that it is not the same as a typical American family just wishing for a baby boy?  We like that the author did address the question of what happened with the family, but it is hard to assume that she actually has all perspectives throughout the story.


The ideal audience for this book would be students.  We think that students studying English, journalism, Middle Eastern studies, and also current events would be benefited by reading this book.  It does give good discussion, good overview of Afghan culture and society, and an interesting perspective into a family in Kabul.  The stories that Seierstad writes about in the book do have many points of view, and she sometimes only focuses on her own, which can be problematic.  Seierstad did get sued by the Khan family for slandering, which would be an interesting aspect to look act.  This controversy could also help spur sales, although it may not help her credibility.

Justin's Graphic Organizer #2 (pages 267-288)

This organization is based off the last chapter, "A Broken Heart".  The chapter is based on the love affair that Leila is going through, as she wants it so badly but she knows she has no say in the issue.  She wants to marry Karim because he would let her study, and she would no longer be unappreciated.  Leila already has 3 other offers from relatives, which are the choices that Sultan approves of.  To end with this chapter shows the hopelessness of Afghan women, as many have accepted their fate as servants that will be forgotten.

Andrew Discussion leader (256-276)

1.      Was it right for Sultans family to reject Karim?

From an Afghan prospective it was right for Sultans family to reject Karim. Karim was not related and was from a small family. He was also a poor man who had little to provide. From an American prospective it was wrong to reject Karim. They loved each other and Leila wanted the marriage to happen.

        2. Was it the right decision for the part of the family to split off from Sultan?

The decision for Bibi, Gul, Yunus, Leila and Bulbula to leave Sultans household was the correct one. Sultan was too powerful and disrespectful to the rest of the family. Also the family was too big to get along smoothly.

3.Was it worth it for Leila to accept the letters?

Leila had both positive and negative consequences of accepting the letters. The letters from Karim put joy in her life and Karim gave her choices she never had before. However, accepting the letters was against her religion so it caused her fear that they would be found.

4.      How was the book?

It was interesting to lean about a different culture from a source other than the news. It was also a positive experience because we learned what Afghanistan is like. However, the book was frustrating at times because of the negative aspects of the society.

Summarizer, Mike, pg. 267-288

Leila receives love letters from Karim. In Afghani culture that is forbidden, so Leila is at a loss of what to do. She wants to be with Karim only because it would offer an escape from living in the situation that she currently lives in; Sultan's house as a hard working woman who receives little credit for her work. Karim tries to meet her and propose to her, but these attempts are unsuccessful largely because he is unrelated to Leila. Leila tries to get a teaching job, but fails in the process. The vast majority of the people in Sultan's house leave because they are tired of living under his rule.

The section was written by first explaining how Leila wanted to escape Sultan's house. Then her opportunity to escape by marrying Karim was described. Then her own and Karim's attempts to marry were described. Then the fact that the idea would be a failure was lastly described. Then came the Epilogue, in which the story was wrapped up in just a few pages with the author saying what happened to the Khan family shortly after the events that took place in the last chapter, including the departure of many people from Sultan's house.

Vocab pgs: 267-288 (Johanna)

Shrapnel: fragments from mine explosions or any other type of shell (projectile).

Divulge: to disclose or reveal something private, secret, or previously unknown.

Kinship: having a close relationship or family ties with others.

Indignation: strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, or insulting; righteous anger.

Fundamentalist: strict adherence to any set of basic ideas or principles.

Authoritarian: exercising complete control over the will of another or of others.

Parity: equality in amount, status, or character.

Creed: any system, doctrine, or formula of a certain religious belief.

Lucrative: profitable or moneymaking.

Technocrats: a theory and movement prominent around 1932, advocating control of industrial resources, reform of financial institutions, and reorganization of the social system, based on the findings of technologists and engineers.

Discussion Leader, Mike, pg. 214-267

1. What do you feel about the treatment of Jalaluddin?

We are extremely angered by the way that Sultan treated Jalauddin. It seems that Sultan simply can’t let anything go.  Jalauddin’s children are starving, and we all agreed that if our children were starving we might have stole too, and his punishment of a prison sentence and relentless beatings from his father are not right.

2. What do you think of the people in power in Afghanistan; eg. the war lords?

They seem power hungry, like all they want is power. They don’t seem to care about the general population, and they seem illiterate.

3. Do you think Sultan has any bit of goodness in his heart?

He seems like he is very literate and open minded when it comes to literature, and he did say at one point he did say that he was going to donate books to the library, which is respectable. However, when it comes to his family life he seems like a terrible person. It seems that too much of his “goodness” is put towards books, and not towards people.

4. What do you think of Tajmir's mother?

She seems like another Sultan. She seems cruel, mean, and overbearing on the child’s life.

Graphic Organizer Andrew

Justin's Vocab #2 (pages 214-266)

Haughtily (page 214) Scornfully and condescendingly
Disheveled (page 218) Marked by disorder
Bemoans (page 219) To express disapproval of or regret for; deplore
Resolutely (page 223) Showing firm determination or purpose
Sanctimonious (page 225) Feigning piety or righteousness
Piety (page 226) A devout act, thought, or statement
Virulent (page 227) Bitterly hostile or antagonistic; hateful
Wizened (page 231) Withered
Puce (page 238) A deep red to dark grayish purple
Emanated (page 248) To come or send forth, as from a source
Vociferous (page 253) Making, given to, or marked by noisy and vehement outcry

Journal #3

               Our group decided the most interesting thing in in the section of reading was the game of Buzkashi. The game consists of a group of horse men trying to pick up or drag a dead calf to a circle on the ground. We found Buzkashi interesting because of the brutality of the game. Also it is surprising that such a game is played in a former part of India, were cows are a sacred animal. Some information that surprised us was that Sultan would let Mansur partake in such an endeavor through the treacherous countryside of Afghanistan. This was a surprise because Sultan only trusts his children to work in his book stores and Mansur leaving would mean the temporary closing of one of the bookstores. Another part of the reading we deemed surprising was the route to Mazar-i-Sharif. The route is described as mountainous with dangerous and snow packed roads. At one point Mansur and his companion get stuck in a traffic jam inside a mountain tunnel. The two are stranded in the confined area while carbon monoxide builds up around them. But the traffic jam breaks just as they start to feel the effect of carbon-monoxide poisoning.  

              After reading nearly two-thirds the book the author has reviled much about why she wrote the book and for whom she wrote it for. She wrote the book because Sultan has an interesting family. She used Sultan as a base to describe the Afghani culture and political its insecurities. She wrote the book for mainly sociologists and people with an interest about Afghan people. Also there is no coincidence that the book was released soon after 9/11. The terrorists were mainly of Afghan decent so a wide interest of their culture opened up in America. The author was there to inform the people and sell her book.

             Throughout the reading the authors tone has been the same as it has bee throughout the book, informative. The main focus in the reading is the plight of the Afghan citizen. Although the focus did shift for a chapter when Mansur took his pilgrimage to Mazar-i-Sharif. The focus shifted to the Geography of Afghanistan, which added a refreshing new topic. The Author establishes her authority by including in the book that she spent four months living amongst Sultans family. She also explained that she wore the burka while living in Afghanistan. Although Seierstad does show signs of ethnocentrism in the book.

           The Bookseller of Kabul connects with most of the subjects we have talked about in class. For starters Afghanistan is drenched in poverty and all of the problems that come with the issue. The book also has a main focus on sexism. The Afghani culture is the epitome of a patriarchal society were the man of the house rules with an iron fist and the women have to obey his every command. Also women get the brunt of the punishment if both women and men are involved. Another subject that we talked about in class that is also in the book is education. In the book most of the main characters either have an education or desire an education. Seierstad state:

“In two large halls women scrub themselves, lying, sitting or standing. They scrub themselves, each other or their children. Some are Rubenesquely fat, others thin as rakes, with protruding ribs. With large homemade hemp gloves they scrub each others backs, arms, legs... There is not much time before young girls with birdlike chests become Brest-feeding mothers. Thin teenage girls have broad stretch marks from births their bodies were not yer ready for. Nearly all the woman's bellies have cracked skin from giving birth too early and too frequently.”(161)

This passage is important to the book for many reasons. For one it outlines the different nutrition rates in Kabul. The nutrition of the people can be directly related to their wealth. For example if someone is “Thin as [a rake] with protruding ribs” we can assume they are poor and therefore can't afford food, leading to their thin state. Another reason that the passage is important to the book is because it describes that the women have been negatively affected by the birth of children. Which outlines the fact that their husbands want kids and they have no say in the matter. The passage is about washing the dust off1the girls'. The dust could be a metaphor for the harshness they feel from their confined lives or disrespectful husbands.

Summary pgs 214-266 (Johanna)

The Carpenter

Jalaluddin is a carpenter who built shelves for one of Sultan's shops. One day, Mansur caught him stealing postcards and reported it to Sultan who was furious. He doesn't let anyone steal from him and vowed not to rest until Jalaluddin is punished. Mansur and Sultan drive to the carpenter's house to question him, but he pleads innocence; he has a large family and they are all starving. He only stole the few cards to try and feed them but he gave them back. Sultan is convinced that he lied and sold the cards to vendors around Kabul. The police get involved but Jalaluddin sticks to his story. He is facing six years in prison which means starvation and destitution for his family; through it all they plead for mercy from the Khan family but to no avail. Through all this Mansur faces the inner torment of convicting a desperate man or defying his father. He cannot go against Sultan and he takes his frustration out on the rest of the family.

My Mother Osama

This chapter tells the story of Tajmir, son of Feroza, Sultan's sister. Feroza raised her son like a dictator and he often jokes about it. Ironically, Tajmir is a translator for and American journalist who is hoping for a story about Osama bin Laden. They journey to Khost which is one of the most lawless areas in Afghanistan. There, the police force under the leadership of Mustafa, rival the tribal control of the four Khan brothers (different from Sultan's family). They both believe they should have the power over the region and the conflict between them never seems to end. Each side has its opinions and while this continues, there won't be any peace. Tajmir and the journalist spend some time searching for a story but nothing comes up so they return to Kabul, to a much less harmful Osama.

 In the first chapter of this section, Seierstad recounts the story of the carpenter simply by retelling the events that occurred and what was said. Through the dialogue between Sultan and Jalaluddin and Mansur the reader understands how desperate the carpenter is and how ruthless Sultan is. This chapter further emphasized what a merciless tyrant Sultan is and the reader almost begins to loathe him. The second chapter in this section is written mainly through the perspective of Tajmir. He travels all over as a translator but hates the danger. Seierstad introduces this character to counter Sultan. Unlike his uncle, Tajmir loves his wife and is content with his small family. He would rather be home with them than out traveling on business like Sultan does. By contrasting these two characters, the reader is refreshed to hear about an Afghan man who is not as oppressive as Sultan.

Andrew Vocab 178-215

Pg.182 Loutish: characteristic of a lout; unpleasant and uncouth

Pg.183 Mikrorayan : housing project in Kabul

Pg.184 Reprimands: to admonish or rebuke, esp formally; reprove

Pg.186 Bazaars: a marketplace or shopping quarter, esp. one in the MiddleEast.

Pg.194 Frenzied: affected with or marked by frenzy or mania uncontrolled by reason; "a frenzied attack"; "a frenzied mob"; "the prosecutor's frenzied denunciation of the accused"- H.W.Carter; "outbursts of drunken violence and manic activity and creativity"

Pg.197 Muhammad: ounder of the religion of Islam,^[3] and is regarded byMuslims as a messenger and prophet of God

Pg.198 Dates: s a palm in the genus Phoenix, cultivated for its edible sweet fruit.

Pg.199 Flagstones: flagstone, or flag, is a type of generic flat stone, usually used for paving slabs or walkways, patios, fences and roofing. It may also be used for making memorials,headstones, facades and many construction projects. ^[1]

Pg.201 Tunic: A tunic is any of several types of clothing for the body, of various lengths reaching from the shoulders to somewhere between the hips and the ankles.

Pg.210 Equinox: An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens.

Discussion Leader pgs: 181-214 (Johanna)

1. Why do you think that Leila was so embarrassed to be in a class with boys?

Leila has been brought up under the Taliban regime and wearing the burka in public is all she knows. Letting other males outside her family see her face is a foreign thought to her, so when she walks into a classroom full of boys it comes as quite a shock. All her life, Leila has been told that it is wrong to expose her face to men, and suddenly throwing this ingrained practice away leaves her feeling cheap and indecent.

2. What is your opinion of Sultan's treatment of Leila and Sonya? Why do you think he places higher value on his young wife than his sister whom he has known his whole life?

Sultan was the favorite child when he was young and this “special treatment” has made him drunk with power. He feels he can treat people however he wants and that all the women of the house should be at his beck and call. In addition to this, Sonya is a novelty because she has only been with them a few years and the honeymoon isn’t over for Sultan. Leila, his baby sister has always been the one to do the work in the house and he isn’t about to lighten her load just because there’s an new pair of delicate hands in the house.

3. Would you consider it a blessing or a curse that Sultan "fired" Fazil and sent him home?

There are positive and negative sides of Fazil being sent back home. His mother was very upset at first, but soon she realized that Fazil was no longer trapped under Sultan’s rule, and he could get an education. If he had been working in one of the bookstores, there wouldn’t be time for school. However, Fazil dreams of becoming a successful business man and although he is getting an education, he doesn’t have an income at all, and it is hard to get anywhere without money.

4.  What do you think will become of Aimal, who has been robbed of his childhood and is a slave to his father?

At 12 years old, Aimal is no longer a carefree kid, but an adult who has been sucked into the monotony of a dead-end job. He has no time to play or study, though he desperately wants to go to school. But of course, Sultan forbid him and forces him to work instead. Without an education, Aimal will probably be trapped in similar jobs for the rest of his life. Sultan said he could go to school “later,” but it seems doubtful that there will ever be time. Also, Aimal has become depressed and has developed a sallow complexion. If his childhood continues to be taken from him, this condition could worsen and lead to many consequences. Working in the shop is both mentally and physically damaging.