When Mountains Weep

by Gharbi M. Mustafa

“Carrying a gun is not the way to a better life. So, little Hamko, go to school tomorrow and learn how to read and write, even if it’s in the language of your enemies.” Hamko’s enemies are Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath regime. His moving memoir exposes the brutal violence against the Kurdish people in Iraq. Bullying, cruelty and fear are everywhere. Hamko perseveres even as his people are forced to flee to their beloved mountains, where the refugees endure winter rains, minefields and threats of chemical warfare. There, the survivors bury their dead and turn on each other for a piece of bread. But in the midst of injustice arise unexpected acts of kindness, unmerited mercy and idealized love. In the mountains of Kurdistan, a courageous people sings songs of hope among ashes.

Genres: Fiction

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2013

Reviews

[P-the book nerd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book was a complete disappointment... It gave a bad image of Kurdistan in my opinion! And it didn't deliver the struggles of the time in a good way, even though I was too young at that time and don't remember the events, but just from what my parents have told me, what I have Learned from people, saw on TV, and read about... The immigration was much harder than its been described in the book, or its his delivery of the story that is not very touching...

I think the name of the book and the plot... Looks too similar.. And that just makes me sad!

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my quest to read a book written by an author from every country in the world. This author is from Iraq.

Gharbi Mustafa is a native of Iraqi Kurdistan and he is a professor of English at the University of Dohuk. Dohuk is a city in Northern Iraq, close to the borders of Syria and Turkey. I have learned that Kurdistan is not a country but a group of people and a section of land comprised of the parts of 4 countries: Iraqi (or Southern) Kurdistan (Northern Iraq), Northern Kurdistan (southeastern Turkey), Western Kurdistan (northern Syria), and Eastern Kurdistan (northwestern Iran). The Kurdistan Region (KRI) is an autonomous region recognized by the Constitution of Iraq. The Kurds are one of the largest stateless nations in the world and they were mostly nomadic until the end of World War I.

The author writes this memoir from the perspective of a Kurdish boy growing up in the 1990's and 2000's under the persecution of the regime of Saddam Hussein of Iraq. He describes what it was like to flee the country to Turkey, where he and his family lived in tents with millions of other refugees. It is heartwrenching to read abut the suffering and loss of lives that families endured.

I have read other books about refugees and I feel that this book doesn't seem to be that well balanced. In one section, the boy is in love with a girl he sees in class - he is obsessed with her. When he gets home from school that day, he mentions that war is starting and the family has to leave their home.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

#ReadAroundTheWorld #Kurdistan #Iraq

Kurdistan is a region covering parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, home to the Kurdish people, but at present not currently recognised internationally as an independent nation or state, although it is recognised by Iraq as an autonomous region. The Kurds are currently one of the largest stateless nations in the world.

This story is written from the perspective of a Kurdish boy, Hamko, growing up in the 1990s and 2000s under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath party in Iraq. It details the persecution of the Kurdish people and the flight of many of them as refugees into the mountains and to Turkey.

The book highlights some of the history and suffering of the Kurdish people and also some disturbing cultural things happening around them in Iraq like honour killings, but overall I did not think it was particularly well written. This may be the use of a not particularly likeable adolescent boy as narrator, or may be due to some stylistic choices. If you want to understand more about the Kurds I would suggest reading Daughter of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa.

[Steven]

I really enjoyed this novel, especially after meeting the author during my stay in Duhok! It gives a good glimpse in to the life of a youth coming of age in Kurdistan in the 90s, through a collection of stories that help the reader experience what the main character is seeing, feeling, and experiencing, from first romantic feelings to being forcefully drafted in to the army, to later fleeing a coming invasion with his family and trying to survive as a refugee. Recommended for anyone who would like a window into growing up in this part of the world, or who likes to learn about life in other cultures from an insider perspective.

[Lara Bakhtyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Kurdish girl, I really enjoyed this book it sheds a light on the struggles of Kurdish people during the Ba’ath regime, in which I was not born but only heard stories being told by my parents and relatives.
What really makes happy about this book is that it’s written in a universal language that many people can read and learn about our history.
Another thing that I really like is that the way he describes the women in the story.
Totally recommend!!

[Bella98 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great small book that represented the struggle of the Kurds and their struggle under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and the Ba’ath party. Also highlights the genocide of the Kurdish people and how hard they fought to survive and persevere.

[Jemiah ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so heartbreaking and harsh. Whilst I read it in a few hours, I think the story is going to stay with me for much, much longer.

[Abdulrahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The taste of its details will attract you to read it more and more Thank you to the author, Dr.Gharbi Mustafa

[Rosamund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but devastating memoir of growing up as a Kurd in Saddam Hussein's Iraq.