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The Silenced Cry: One Woman's Diary of a Journey to Afghanistan
Inspired by a lecture in Barcelona given by a leading member of RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), the radical feminist women's group who work under cover as the only real opposition to the Taliban, Ana Tortajada, an experienced Spanish journalist, decided to make a trip to Afghanistan in the summer of 2000. She wanted to learn more about the lives of Afghan women, to visit their homes and the places where they worked as clandestine teachers and doctors, to meet their families, to listen to their stories, and see how they lived under the veil.
Tortajada's journey takes her from the slums and refugee camps in Peshawar, along the Pakistani-Afghan border, to Kabul. She writes about the revolutionary efforts of RAWA, the genocidal campaign of the Taliban to extinguish the Hazara ethnicity in Afghanistan, the failure of the international community to ameliorate the alarming situation of Afghan refugees, and offers a first-hand account of the atrocities Afghan women have been suffering at the hands of the Taliban.
The Silenced Cry is not only timely, but also compelling. With extremely evocative and poetic writing, Tortajada conveys the beauty of the landscape, and the wonderfully inspiring optimism of the people. In heart wrenching detail, we see just how debilitated and wretched the conditions were, yet we also see people who still fought for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights. Candid and compassionate, never condescending or pitying, The Silenced Cry is a human, approachable, and provocative look at the best and worst in the human spirit.
Tortajada's journey takes her from the slums and refugee camps in Peshawar, along the Pakistani-Afghan border, to Kabul. She writes about the revolutionary efforts of RAWA, the genocidal campaign of the Taliban to extinguish the Hazara ethnicity in Afghanistan, the failure of the international community to ameliorate the alarming situation of Afghan refugees, and offers a first-hand account of the atrocities Afghan women have been suffering at the hands of the Taliban.
The Silenced Cry is not only timely, but also compelling. With extremely evocative and poetic writing, Tortajada conveys the beauty of the landscape, and the wonderfully inspiring optimism of the people. In heart wrenching detail, we see just how debilitated and wretched the conditions were, yet we also see people who still fought for freedom, democracy, and basic human rights. Candid and compassionate, never condescending or pitying, The Silenced Cry is a human, approachable, and provocative look at the best and worst in the human spirit.
- GenresNonfictionAsia
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Anna Tortajada
41 books1 followerAnna Tortajada Orriols (Sabadell, 24 de maig de 1957) és una escriptora catalana i traductora de l'alemany al català o castellà. Va treballar molts anys com a traductora i lectora d'alemany per a diferents editorials i, posteriorment, va començar a publicar els seus propis llibres.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 7, 2019
The story was good but kind of dull and I didn't particularly enjoy the translation.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
June 29, 2014
Un simple viaje, puede acabar tocando corazones, incluyendo los de los lectores.
Un fragmento de este libro logró quedarse conmigo:
"No creo en el destino, ni en la suerte, tampoco en la casualidad, ni en la predestinación, pero sí creo en la vida y en mí misma, en las elecciones que cada uno hace ante la infinidad de posibilidades que se nos ofrecen. Mirando hacías atrás, es fácil reconocer el hilo conductor de decisiones concadenadas y circunstancias, favorables o adversas, que de alguna forma nos han ido llevando hasta el presente.
, dice un proverbio de la región de Kabul. Cada cosa que hacemos tiene consecuencias y causas. Aunque la mayoría de las veces las desconozcamos."
Yo como la escritora, no creo en el destino, la suerte, casualidades...
Un fragmento de este libro logró quedarse conmigo:
"No creo en el destino, ni en la suerte, tampoco en la casualidad, ni en la predestinación, pero sí creo en la vida y en mí misma, en las elecciones que cada uno hace ante la infinidad de posibilidades que se nos ofrecen. Mirando hacías atrás, es fácil reconocer el hilo conductor de decisiones concadenadas y circunstancias, favorables o adversas, que de alguna forma nos han ido llevando hasta el presente.
, dice un proverbio de la región de Kabul. Cada cosa que hacemos tiene consecuencias y causas. Aunque la mayoría de las veces las desconozcamos."
Yo como la escritora, no creo en el destino, la suerte, casualidades...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2019
The story was good but kind of dull and I didn't particularly enjoy the translation.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
December 28, 2024
Rescaté este libro de un contenedor de basura. Ha sido un regalo. Un viaje a Afganistan que me ha atrapado y me ha mostrado una realidad de la que solo conocía una mínima parte.
El libro que, quizás por la realidad de su narración, más me ha conmovido en este 2024.
El libro que, quizás por la realidad de su narración, más me ha conmovido en este 2024.
Currently reading
May 11, 2015The time frame of this book would be 2 weeks in Afghanistan. The main characters in this book are Sara, Meme, Azada, and Anna. The book was about a women that goes to Afghanistan, learns about their ways, and how they live. I felt like there should have been more stuff about what happened during the day. I just felt like this book wasn't that interesting all together. I only thought a few parts were interesting. For example when the had to dress like the women. also when they visted the market. I didn't like this book because it had very little interesting facts. I wouldn't recommend this book.
March 7, 2019
The story was good but kind of dull and I didn't particularly enjoy the translation.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
This book was originally written in Catalan and it was clear that it was a translation because it wasn't very good. I loved the purpose of the book because it was truly necessary to raise awareness of what happened and primary sources are so much more trustable than secondary account. I applaud at the bravery to enter Afganistan at the period of Taliban ocupation👏👏👏. Yet there was something missing. It was slow and more like a reflection than anything.
The translation was truly bad and that didn't add to the quality of the book.
August 30, 2012
Es una historia muy interesante sobre la mujer Afgana, cómo vive, lo que tiene que soportar y lo que no puede hacer. Una periodista española viaja con una familia para recopilar datos e historias y dar a conocer la historia de las mujeres al resto del mundo y ayudarlas en su lucha.
Es una muy buena historia, un poco triste en ocasiones.
Es una muy buena historia, un poco triste en ocasiones.
March 27, 2017
I should be more moved by the plight of the Afghan women. But Tortajada has not managed to write a more moving account of her days in Peshawar, or in Kabul.
Not the book to read for in-depth info.
Not the book to read for in-depth info.
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November 7, 2010I did not read this book. Goodreads made a mistake.
September 29, 2021
Una història tant real com crua. Fa 20 anys del llibre i ha tornat a pasar. Afganistán torna a estar en l'infern.... Cal llegir-lo.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews