What do you think?
Rate this book
My Forbidden Face
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 18, 2023
This is an incredible book and one which I think certain politicians would benefit from reading.
How anyone could not sympathise with Latifa, who as a 16 year old had been leading a normal life with plans in place to go to university and become a journalist and whose life was not only turned upside down but completely devastated over night, is beyond me.
This is not only a very personal account of the impact the Talibans invasion of Kabul had on one family, but one that resonates with the entire city and beyond.
It is really hard to comprehend how people in cities like Kabul have to live under the rule of such extremists and when you see reports of the news they only really touch the surface and as someone growing up in the West you can feel so far removed it’s difficult to relate to the suffering that goes on.
This book spells it out in ways that hit home and enable the reader to put themselves in the situation Latifa finds herself in. The Taliban have always treated women with contempt to say the very least and following Latifa as she tries to navigate her way through an entirely new way of life is an emotional experience and one you can easily put yourself in.
Please read this book, although it was written before the turn of the century it is as relevant today as it was then and with all the atrocities that are going on on the world right now, books like this should be mandatory reading to all those who believe the propaganda extremist cells put out there, the reality of day to day life under such conditions might make people thing twice about believing the hype.
Latifa herself says: “I pray that books will replace arms, that education will lead us to respect one another, that hospitals will fulfill their missions and that our culture will rise again from the ashes of our pillaged and burnt out museums”
At the end of the day shouldn’t this be what we all wish for?
How anyone could not sympathise with Latifa, who as a 16 year old had been leading a normal life with plans in place to go to university and become a journalist and whose life was not only turned upside down but completely devastated over night, is beyond me.
This is not only a very personal account of the impact the Talibans invasion of Kabul had on one family, but one that resonates with the entire city and beyond.
It is really hard to comprehend how people in cities like Kabul have to live under the rule of such extremists and when you see reports of the news they only really touch the surface and as someone growing up in the West you can feel so far removed it’s difficult to relate to the suffering that goes on.
This book spells it out in ways that hit home and enable the reader to put themselves in the situation Latifa finds herself in. The Taliban have always treated women with contempt to say the very least and following Latifa as she tries to navigate her way through an entirely new way of life is an emotional experience and one you can easily put yourself in.
Please read this book, although it was written before the turn of the century it is as relevant today as it was then and with all the atrocities that are going on on the world right now, books like this should be mandatory reading to all those who believe the propaganda extremist cells put out there, the reality of day to day life under such conditions might make people thing twice about believing the hype.
Latifa herself says: “I pray that books will replace arms, that education will lead us to respect one another, that hospitals will fulfill their missions and that our culture will rise again from the ashes of our pillaged and burnt out museums”
At the end of the day shouldn’t this be what we all wish for?
June 22, 2025
OK WHY ARENT MORE PEOPLE READING AND TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK MAYBE IM LATE TO THE PARTY BUT THIS. IS. IMPORTANT. WE NEED TO HEAR HER STORY AND THE STORY OF AFGHAN WOMEN. AND ALL WOMEN. AND ALL PEOPLE.
Power of narrative!
Power of narrative!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews