Welcome to August
and the last few weeks before school begins! I want to share with you about a
few books that you might read between now and then. Let’s call it an interlude. The on-line
Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us that one of three definitions means: “A
period of time between events or activities” (An Encyclopedia Britannica
Company, found at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interlude).
During your
interlude, I might suggest a new book entitled, “The
Pearl That Broke Its Shell,” by Nadia Hashimi. Protagonist, Hashimi comes from
a family originally from Afghanistan.
She however grew up in the United States. Her parents immigrated in 1970
just before the Russians invaded (back-flap). This book is about a young girl
living in Afghanistan. She is forced to apply the bacha posh custom of dressing like a boy so that she can go to
school and even go to such mundane things as going to the market. As she grows older, the question becomes how
will she transition to being a young woman in her culture, or even will
she. The author weaves this story in
with a woman of an earlier generation who faced the same dilemma. Read, learn and grow in the cultural
difficulties of others around the world face daily.
Another book on this subject is one that is a must read for those who want to understand the time in Afghanistan prior to 9-11. The citizens of that nation suffered long before we ever were affected by extremists.The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters,
One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe,”
by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. The author has a recent graduate with a BA. in teaching tell her family's story. The Taliban move into Kabul and take over the city. Her brother is sent to Pakistan, her father and mother flee to the north in the tribal area of Afghanistan, and her little brother stays with the three young women. This leaves the ladies without help. They can not go to the market to purchase food without their little brother, they have no way to earn money. Their savings is running out and they do not know what to do. Until the most recent graduate decides to learn to sew. This venture changes the hopes of the family, women in the neighborhood and eventually those in the City. A must read of strength, stamina and perseverance.
