So far, in The Bookseller of Kabul, we have all quite happily enjoyed the book. The book is different from most other books that we have read. The author, Seierstad, does a phenomenal job with her writing techniques to keep us interested throughout each section.
One of her techniques that she incorporates within her writing is slipping in historical information about Islam and Afghanistan. Her storylines seem to fall perfectly with her information. The way that she does this is terrific because it does not seem like we are reading a history book or learning a boring lesson. Extra information that has been fused into the stories of the characters, which adds more in depth understanding of the characters and more generally the people of Afghanistan or of Muslim religion. At some points, we agreed that the history aspects get a little long, but overall it provides great background to the story.
Seierstad also does a great job at the descriptions in the book. Her words draw the readers in wanting more with each page. One example of this is written on page 176 where she writes, “She has been brought up to serve, and she has become a servant, ordered around by everyone. With every new order, respect for her diminishes. If anyone is in a bad mood, Leila suffers.” Not only does this passage make you want to keep reading on, but it also makes you feel for the character Leila. The character Leila sees herself as a servant, a slave to everyone’s wishes. The rest of her story is found in the chapters of The Smell of Dust and An Attempt where the reader is able to experience the hidden emotions of a woman in their culture. Seierstad writes with this creative spark with all of her characters and she does a good job with it.
Not only does she write creatively, but her writing is also not written at too difficult of a level. This helps draw all different types of audience members to read this book. This ease also helps you fly through the book while enjoying it nonetheless.
One thing that has surprised us so far in the book was how she has written the book as a full story. The synopsis at the back of the book makes it seem like the main focus of the story will be about Sultan and how he is able to run his bookstore and run his family at the same time. However, Seierstad has chosen to dedicate a few chapters to each individual character. She does this in such a way that it is not disorienting but very interesting. By focusing on a character for a specific amount of time helps the reader see different aspects of their culture and how the family lives their life on a daily basis. We believe that she did not want the book to look like it was only in the eyes of Sultan, and also not only in the eyes of Seierstad herself. By keeping her identity secret and putting the perspective on the others in the family was very creative. It helps the focus be upon the family and their struggles or delights.
Relating this book to class discussion is not very difficult because one of the main things that is focused on in this book is the roles/characteristics of males and females. How we, as Americans, perceive these aspects in each other is very different to the characters in the book. The cultural barrier creates these differences. Americans see females as sexual characters in the media. In Afghanistan, if there are woman presented in multiple media forms then those items are blackened out. Women are supposed to keep themselves hidden under their burkas where only close relatives are able to see. While men are seen differently in the two cultures, they also have some similar characteristics as well. Americans tend to see men as strong and loyal but the similarities in the two cultures with men involve being protective. We are able to see in The Bookseller that men are very protective of their family and the women in the family. The men make sure that they are well provided with money to run the family and also keep the woman safe by wearing their burkas (even if we (Americans) see burkas as evil tools).
We cannot wait to keep reading!
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