BY NADIA HASHIMI
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See.
In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.
But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.
Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?
In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.
But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.
Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?
Nadia Hashimi's parents left Afghanistan in the 1970s, before the Soviet invasion. In 2002, Hashimi visited Afghanistan for the first time. She lives with her family in suburban Washington, D.C., where she works as a pediatrician. TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL AUTHOR, VISIT HER WEBSITE "BIO" HERE.
BEHIND THE STORY:
Find out more about this fascinating subject by visiting Nadia Hashimi's website HERE where she shares the fascinating "Story Behind the Story". There you will "meet" Rahima and Shekiba and see what each of their Afghanistan is all about.
RAHIMA
SHEKIBA
PRAISE FOR THE PEARL THAT BROKE ITS SHELL:
“Nadia Hashimi has written, first and foremost, a tender and beautiful family story. Her always engaging multigenerational tale is a portrait of Afghanistan in all of its perplexing, enigmatic glory, and a mirror into the still ongoing struggles of Afghan women.” —Khaled Hosseini, author of And the Mountains Echoed and The Kite Runner
“A fascinating look at the unspoken lives of Afghani women, separated by generations and miles, yet achingly similar. This is a story to transport you and make you think.” —Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter
“Hashimi weaves together two equally engrossing stories in her epic, spellbinding debut.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A fascinating look at the unspoken lives of Afghani women, separated by generations and miles, yet achingly similar. This is a story to transport you and make you think.” —Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter
“Hashimi weaves together two equally engrossing stories in her epic, spellbinding debut.” —Booklist (starred review)
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO KATHERINE AND THE FOLKS
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THANKS TO KATHERINE AND THE FOLKS
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121 comments:
This sounds like a fascinating story. I like to learn about other cultures, and I have had my eye on this book for a while. Thanks for the giveaway.
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The author is a pediatrician of Afghan descent.
I too like Margie like to read about other cultures and what I have read about this culture and the lack of freedom for girls and women seems barbaric. I am very interested what Nadia Hashimi has to tell the world. Thanks for the opportunity.
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I think this w/b a very thought-provoking book.
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I first read this custom in The Underground Girls of Kabul: In Search of a Hidden Resistance in Afghanistanabout by Jenny Nordberg. Instead of being judgmental about cultural customs, we need to work with the culture for change. This custom evolved as a way to save the family. One example is when woman's husband dies and she has no sons to contribute to the family's survival. In one interview, one little girl is keeping her family alive by working part time as a clerk in a store. She didn't want to do it but her mother is prohibited as a grown woman from working and she has no brothers. She is proud of her work because it keeps her family alive. Yes, the culture is very, very restrictive when it comes to women's roles but there are avenues where "freedom" can be found for girls. Some have refused to go back to being seen as women and they continue to dress as men and say their freedom is more precious than the prospect of losing ir completely through Afghan marriage customs. I have added this book to my wish list. I definitely want to read it.
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I clicked on the link to the article:
"Afghan Boys Are Prized, So Girls Live the Part". It describes the situation for girls and women very truthfully.
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I had read about this ancient custom and want to know more. This sounds like an extraordinary book. patricia dot mariani dot esq at g mail dot com
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custom of bacha posh fascinates me
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I enjoy reading about other cultures. Would be interesting to read about bacha posh their ancient custom. I realize the women in this culture are not treated equally as the men which interests me.
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She went to medical school, finished all her training and now a pediatrician. This book is her debut .
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