I wouldn’t have chosen to read this book. My mother left it behind and I thought I would give it a go. I think I was put off by all of the hype surrounding The Kite Runner (I tend to be disappointed when something is universally acclaimed).

For me this book is all about the story – I thought the writing was a bit ordinary – but the story is compelling. I know very little about Afghanistan and had no idea that the war(s) had been going on for so long. And although, I knew women were treated badly, a first hand account (albeit fictional) carries much more impact.

This is a sad tale – probably not for the faint hearted – but it’s worth reading for the insight into the lives of Afghan women.