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La casa del almendro (Narrativa)
Si pierdes todo lo que amas, ¿cómo sobrevivir y empezar de nuevo? La casa del almendro cuenta la historia de una familia de refugiados que escapa del conflicto y la guerra en Afganistán en la década de 1990, e inicia un largo viaje en busca de libertad y seguridad.
"La emotiva novela de Laura McVeigh nos cuenta la historia de Afganistán después de la invasión soviética a través de las experiencias de una familia y de los ojos de una chica joven. McVeigh hace un tributo a la resiliencia de las mujeres afganas a través de la descripción de los horrores que tienen que sobrellevar y la fuerza que encuentran para sobrevivir". Deeyah Kahn, directora de cine, activista y embajadora de buena voluntad de la ONU para la libertad artística y creativa.
Samar, de quince años, la hija mediana, comparte la historia de su increíble viaje en el Expreso Trans-Siberiano, con la ayuda de Napoleón, el revisor, la Anna Karenina de Tolstoi, y sus padres y hermanos. Obligados a salir de Kabul cuando los rusos, y luego los talibanes, ponen su vida del revés, los niños y sus padres se enfrentan a la pérdida de todo su mundo y de su lugar en él.
A lo largo de toda la historia, nuestra narradora, Samar, se aferra con valentía a su familia y a la esperanza, aunque muchas veces cualquier tipo de supervivencia parezca imposible. Con la verdadera fortaleza que nace del amor, el conocimiento y la imaginación, Samar revela su extraordinaria capacidad de resistencia y el descubrimiento de que todo es posible, siempre que puedas aferrarte a la esperanza y al amor.
"Hay viajes que nos gustaría no tener que emprender jamás. Aun así tenemos que partir. Nos vamos porque no tenemos más remedio. Porque es el único modo de sobrevivir. Este es mi viaje, el que nunca quise hacer. Pero tuve que hacerlo.
Algunas cosas sobrevivieron. Algunas no. Pero nunca podremos olvidarlas.
Viajarán con nosotros hasta el final".
"El triunfo del amor y la esperanza sobre el mal que reina en nuestro mundo".
Gustará a todos aquellos que disfrutaron con Cometas en el cielo, Mil soles espléndidos o Un burka por amor.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 23, 2017
37 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
Laura McVeigh
11 books18 followersLaura McVeigh was born in Northern Ireland. She read Modern & Medieval Languages at Cambridge University and has an MSc in Global Politics from the University of London. Prior to writing full-time, Laura worked in publishing, human rights and the charity sector. She speaks several languages, has travelled widely, and has lived and worked abroad. Previous experience includes working on education, environmental and development projects, peace and conflict issues, and human rights work.
She lives in London and the Balearics with her family. Her second novel LENNY is out now (New Island Books, March 2022). Her debut novel sold in ten territories worldwide.
She lives in London and the Balearics with her family. Her second novel LENNY is out now (New Island Books, March 2022). Her debut novel sold in ten territories worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 16, 2022
3,5
Nuestra protagonista, Samar, una niña de 15 años, irá contándonos su vida a través de diarios, que escribe en un viaje en tren con destino a Moscú, huyendo de la invasión de la unión soviética a su tierra, Kabul.
La vida de la familia de Samar, comienza a verse afectada cuando la unión soviética se "retira y los talibanes comienzan a tomar el poder de una forma muy cruel y terrible para las familias de Afganistán, teniendo que abandonar su hogar y todo lo que conocían para marchar a sitios que no conocen.
Samar y su familia parten todos juntos, dejando su casa de Kabul, su casa amarilla y su almendro, donde nuestra protagonista jugaba con sus hermanos. Parten sin saber que les depara el destino, y llegarán a un pueblo donde viven sus abuelos paternos, y donde pasarán varios años.
Los capitulos son bastante duros y crueles, y cuando crees que no pueden pasar mas cosas malas, siguen ocurriendo.
Es una historia muy agil, muy sencilla, que se lee en un suspiro, pero me ha fallado conectar con la manera de escribir de la autora, aunque son hechos muy duros, tenia la sensación que la autora los contaba como algo normal, como si fuera lo común, además, la historia se va entremezclando entre el presente de Samar y el pasado con su familia y todo lo que pasaba, algo que me suele gustar pero en este caso esta muy mezclado sin llegar a entender lo que estaba pasando en ese momento.
Aunque no se sepa demasiado sobre la historia de Afganistan y de todas las razones de los conflictos durante los años 70 y 90, esta historia nos deja ver todas las injusticias que había (y hay) en muchas personas inocentes, y como las mujeres son mucho mas castigadas que los hombres ( como siempre)
Nuestra protagonista, Samar, una niña de 15 años, irá contándonos su vida a través de diarios, que escribe en un viaje en tren con destino a Moscú, huyendo de la invasión de la unión soviética a su tierra, Kabul.
La vida de la familia de Samar, comienza a verse afectada cuando la unión soviética se "retira y los talibanes comienzan a tomar el poder de una forma muy cruel y terrible para las familias de Afganistán, teniendo que abandonar su hogar y todo lo que conocían para marchar a sitios que no conocen.
Samar y su familia parten todos juntos, dejando su casa de Kabul, su casa amarilla y su almendro, donde nuestra protagonista jugaba con sus hermanos. Parten sin saber que les depara el destino, y llegarán a un pueblo donde viven sus abuelos paternos, y donde pasarán varios años.
Los capitulos son bastante duros y crueles, y cuando crees que no pueden pasar mas cosas malas, siguen ocurriendo.
Es una historia muy agil, muy sencilla, que se lee en un suspiro, pero me ha fallado conectar con la manera de escribir de la autora, aunque son hechos muy duros, tenia la sensación que la autora los contaba como algo normal, como si fuera lo común, además, la historia se va entremezclando entre el presente de Samar y el pasado con su familia y todo lo que pasaba, algo que me suele gustar pero en este caso esta muy mezclado sin llegar a entender lo que estaba pasando en ese momento.
Aunque no se sepa demasiado sobre la historia de Afganistan y de todas las razones de los conflictos durante los años 70 y 90, esta historia nos deja ver todas las injusticias que había (y hay) en muchas personas inocentes, y como las mujeres son mucho mas castigadas que los hombres ( como siempre)
May 2, 2017
Цялото ревю:
http://booksomnia.com/pod-bademovoto-...
„Под бадемовото дърво“ е тъжната история на едно 15-годишно афганистанско момиче с невероятно силен дух и инстинкт за оцеляване, видяло твърде много от живота за крехката си възраст. Силна и въздействаща история за страха, за войната и за жестоките последици от нея, засягащи невинни хора и семейства като това на Самара.
http://booksomnia.com/pod-bademovoto-...
„Под бадемовото дърво“ е тъжната история на едно 15-годишно афганистанско момиче с невероятно силен дух и инстинкт за оцеляване, видяло твърде много от живота за крехката си възраст. Силна и въздействаща история за страха, за войната и за жестоките последици от нея, засягащи невинни хора и семейства като това на Самара.
June 21, 2020
Затрогваща и трагична история на едно момиче, търсещо своето безопасно място в този голям свят. Много ми харесаха някои от похватите, които е използвала авторката, за да разкаже историята още по-докосващо!
Началото ми тръгна малко бавно и тромаво, но съм благодарна, че реших да дочета книгата! Наистина с всяка изминала страница ставаше все по-добре.
Началото ми тръгна малко бавно и тромаво, но съм благодарна, че реших да дочета книгата! Наистина с всяка изминала страница ставаше все по-добре.
August 4, 2017
Inhalt
Früher lebte Samar mit ihren Eltern und ihren Geschwistern in Kabul, bis es zu gefährlich für die Familie wurde. Erst die Russen und später die Taliban brachten Chaos in das Leben so vieler Familien.
Nun sitzt Samar in einem Zug, der ins Ungewisse führt, aber die Reise hierhin war nicht leicht und sie hat viele Verluste erlitten ...
Cover und Titel
Mir gefallen Die Farben schonmal sehr gut, Sonnenauf- und -untergänge sehen generell schon mal sehr schön aus, mit ihren Farbübergängen. Die Sonne befindet sich hinter dem spielenden Kind und ich finde, kombiniert mit dem Titel wirkt es sehr traurig, aber auch hoffnungsvoll. Den englischen Titel finde ich auch gut, sogar etwas besser, da der Platz unterm Mandelbaum schon eine Rolle spielt.
Charaktere
Samar ist bei ihrem ersten Auftritt fünf Jahre alt und wird im Verlauf des Buches natürlich älter. Unter den gegebenen Umständen ist auch sie gezwungen, früher erwachsen zu werden, darum fiel es mir immer schwer, ihr Alter einzuschätzen. Samar ist wissbegierig und könnte Lehrerin oder Schriftstellerin werden. Sie hat viele Träume und immer noch Hoffnung. Wenn Schlimmes passiert, versucht sie, darüber hinwegzukommen, in die Zukunft zu blicken und sich wenn nötig neue Ziele zu setzen. Sie versteht oft Zusammenhänge und liest oft zwischen den Zeilen, aber es ist eben eine Welt, in der nur die Schlauen überleben können.
Es gibt viele weitere Charaktere: Samars fünf Geschwister, jeder von ihnen voller Leidenschaft bei ihren Taten, ihre Eltern, die ihre Geheimnisse haben, Familienfreunde und Verwandte, die sie unterstützen, und viele weitere Personen, die sie auf ihrem Weg treffen.Wenn ich mehr zu ihnen sage, wüsste ich gar nicht, wo ich anfangen und aufhören soll. Jeder spielt eine Rolle.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Huh, ich weiß gar nicht wirklich, was ich dazu sagen soll. Es werden eben von Zeit zu Zeit neue Dinge enthüllt, und ich weiß nicht, wie ich meine Meinung erklären soll, ohne zu spoilern.
Es wird abwechselnd aus der Gegenwart und chronologisch aus der Vergangenheit erzählt, aus der Perspektive der jungen Samar, die in der Gegenwart gerade mal fünfzehn ist. Meiner Meinung nach war das eine gute Weise, das Geschehene zu erzählen. Man ahnte, wo sie landen würden und hatte daher Hoffnung, trotz all der schrecklichen Dinge, die ihnen zugestoßen sind. So hat das Buch die Gefühle des Lesers gelenkt und Hoffnung, Trauer und Mitgefühl erzeugt. Das finde ich natürlich gut, ich mag es ja, wenn Geschichten mich berühren und ich später nicht nur denke, dass es ein netter Zeitvertreib war.
Die Kriege und Auseinandersetzungen, die Flüchtlingslager und die strengen Gesetze der Taliban waren schrecklich. Dabei werden Familien auseinander gerissen, Heimaten zerstört, und unzählige sterben. Dieses Buch hatte genau das zum Thema, also ist es natürlich ein ernstes Buch. Ich fand die Perspektive des jungen Mädchens gut gewählt, es wäre eine ganz andere Geschichte gewesen, wenn es eine Mutter oder ein Soldat oder Ähnliches gewesen wäre.
Fazit
"Als die Träume in den Himmel stiegen" ist ein Buch mit einem ernsten Thema aus der Sicht eines jungen Mädchens, dass durch die Hölle geht, bevor sie dann in diesem Zug landet. Es ist eine Reise und Flucht mit Hoffnung, Angst, Trauer und Verzweiflung, bei der Samar viel zu schnell erwachsen werden musste.
Früher lebte Samar mit ihren Eltern und ihren Geschwistern in Kabul, bis es zu gefährlich für die Familie wurde. Erst die Russen und später die Taliban brachten Chaos in das Leben so vieler Familien.
Nun sitzt Samar in einem Zug, der ins Ungewisse führt, aber die Reise hierhin war nicht leicht und sie hat viele Verluste erlitten ...
Cover und Titel
Mir gefallen Die Farben schonmal sehr gut, Sonnenauf- und -untergänge sehen generell schon mal sehr schön aus, mit ihren Farbübergängen. Die Sonne befindet sich hinter dem spielenden Kind und ich finde, kombiniert mit dem Titel wirkt es sehr traurig, aber auch hoffnungsvoll. Den englischen Titel finde ich auch gut, sogar etwas besser, da der Platz unterm Mandelbaum schon eine Rolle spielt.
Charaktere
Samar ist bei ihrem ersten Auftritt fünf Jahre alt und wird im Verlauf des Buches natürlich älter. Unter den gegebenen Umständen ist auch sie gezwungen, früher erwachsen zu werden, darum fiel es mir immer schwer, ihr Alter einzuschätzen. Samar ist wissbegierig und könnte Lehrerin oder Schriftstellerin werden. Sie hat viele Träume und immer noch Hoffnung. Wenn Schlimmes passiert, versucht sie, darüber hinwegzukommen, in die Zukunft zu blicken und sich wenn nötig neue Ziele zu setzen. Sie versteht oft Zusammenhänge und liest oft zwischen den Zeilen, aber es ist eben eine Welt, in der nur die Schlauen überleben können.
Es gibt viele weitere Charaktere: Samars fünf Geschwister, jeder von ihnen voller Leidenschaft bei ihren Taten, ihre Eltern, die ihre Geheimnisse haben, Familienfreunde und Verwandte, die sie unterstützen, und viele weitere Personen, die sie auf ihrem Weg treffen.Wenn ich mehr zu ihnen sage, wüsste ich gar nicht, wo ich anfangen und aufhören soll. Jeder spielt eine Rolle.
Handlung und Schreibstil
Huh, ich weiß gar nicht wirklich, was ich dazu sagen soll. Es werden eben von Zeit zu Zeit neue Dinge enthüllt, und ich weiß nicht, wie ich meine Meinung erklären soll, ohne zu spoilern.
Es wird abwechselnd aus der Gegenwart und chronologisch aus der Vergangenheit erzählt, aus der Perspektive der jungen Samar, die in der Gegenwart gerade mal fünfzehn ist. Meiner Meinung nach war das eine gute Weise, das Geschehene zu erzählen. Man ahnte, wo sie landen würden und hatte daher Hoffnung, trotz all der schrecklichen Dinge, die ihnen zugestoßen sind. So hat das Buch die Gefühle des Lesers gelenkt und Hoffnung, Trauer und Mitgefühl erzeugt. Das finde ich natürlich gut, ich mag es ja, wenn Geschichten mich berühren und ich später nicht nur denke, dass es ein netter Zeitvertreib war.
Die Kriege und Auseinandersetzungen, die Flüchtlingslager und die strengen Gesetze der Taliban waren schrecklich. Dabei werden Familien auseinander gerissen, Heimaten zerstört, und unzählige sterben. Dieses Buch hatte genau das zum Thema, also ist es natürlich ein ernstes Buch. Ich fand die Perspektive des jungen Mädchens gut gewählt, es wäre eine ganz andere Geschichte gewesen, wenn es eine Mutter oder ein Soldat oder Ähnliches gewesen wäre.
Fazit
"Als die Träume in den Himmel stiegen" ist ein Buch mit einem ernsten Thema aus der Sicht eines jungen Mädchens, dass durch die Hölle geht, bevor sie dann in diesem Zug landet. Es ist eine Reise und Flucht mit Hoffnung, Angst, Trauer und Verzweiflung, bei der Samar viel zu schnell erwachsen werden musste.
April 20, 2017
Under the Almond Tree is a really brave novel. Laura McVeigh writes from the perspective of a teenage Afghan refugee - Samar - remembering a past life in Afghanistan before landing up shuttling backwards and forwards on the Trans-Siberian railway. Self-evidently, this is not autobiography and McVeigh may have opened herself up to accusations of cultural appropriation. The novel is also brave in the way it runs two parallel narrative streams - the present day set on the train and the past set (mostly) in Afghanistan - and rather than the usual bringing the threads together at the end, pretty much lets one overwrite the other.
The execution of the novel, though, is pretty much flawless and fully justifies the huge risk.
That does not mean that this is an easy book. It is intense, which makes it hard to read in long bursts and tends to make it quite hard to pick the book up again. For the first half, I wondered where it was all going and thought it might be another standard piece of refugee misery fiction. But something clicked at the half way point; the back story started to become gripping; the characters started to coalesce into three dimensions; and the train narrative started to intrigue. That was the point the novel stopped being hard to pick up and became hard to put down.
Samar's voice becomes really haunting. At times she is sad, at times she is hopeful. She is never self-pitying yet still comes across as young and deeply vulnerable. She has seen the worst of humanity, yet she spends her time writing about her family playing games along the length of the train, stepping off at stations to buy food from the platform vendors, forming dangerous liaisons with the western tourists... There is a sense of purpose and direction, even if the purpose itself is not always clear.
The story itself is illuminating; we see a once proud nation descend into chaos, first through the encroachment of Soviet troops and later through the encroachment of religious fundamentalism. This is handled well, and kept in proportion. We see people trying to go about their normal lives in spite of the incursions; we see them trying to normalise the situation in their own minds. When tragedies come, they are as likely to be caused by natural disaster as by war; yet when war does change the course it does so in truly devastating ways.
Under the Almond Tree also conveys a great sense of place. I know the Trans-Siberian railway and the detail is spot on. I don't know Afghanistan or the Central Asian republics, but the novel is convincing and conveys, in particular, a sense of scale and barrenness.
The people all feel real; whether it is Samar and her immediate family - her sister Are, her brothers Javed and Omar, her parents and grandparents - or whether it is the minor characters - the truck drivers, the refugee camp medics, the teacher, the Taliban commander, the provodnitsya on the train. Every one if them feels solid, genuine and complex.
This is a really terrific novel and as it unfolds, it becomes clear just how delicate a feat of narration it pulls off. This is not quite like any other novel I can think of.
The execution of the novel, though, is pretty much flawless and fully justifies the huge risk.
That does not mean that this is an easy book. It is intense, which makes it hard to read in long bursts and tends to make it quite hard to pick the book up again. For the first half, I wondered where it was all going and thought it might be another standard piece of refugee misery fiction. But something clicked at the half way point; the back story started to become gripping; the characters started to coalesce into three dimensions; and the train narrative started to intrigue. That was the point the novel stopped being hard to pick up and became hard to put down.
Samar's voice becomes really haunting. At times she is sad, at times she is hopeful. She is never self-pitying yet still comes across as young and deeply vulnerable. She has seen the worst of humanity, yet she spends her time writing about her family playing games along the length of the train, stepping off at stations to buy food from the platform vendors, forming dangerous liaisons with the western tourists... There is a sense of purpose and direction, even if the purpose itself is not always clear.
The story itself is illuminating; we see a once proud nation descend into chaos, first through the encroachment of Soviet troops and later through the encroachment of religious fundamentalism. This is handled well, and kept in proportion. We see people trying to go about their normal lives in spite of the incursions; we see them trying to normalise the situation in their own minds. When tragedies come, they are as likely to be caused by natural disaster as by war; yet when war does change the course it does so in truly devastating ways.
Under the Almond Tree also conveys a great sense of place. I know the Trans-Siberian railway and the detail is spot on. I don't know Afghanistan or the Central Asian republics, but the novel is convincing and conveys, in particular, a sense of scale and barrenness.
The people all feel real; whether it is Samar and her immediate family - her sister Are, her brothers Javed and Omar, her parents and grandparents - or whether it is the minor characters - the truck drivers, the refugee camp medics, the teacher, the Taliban commander, the provodnitsya on the train. Every one if them feels solid, genuine and complex.
This is a really terrific novel and as it unfolds, it becomes clear just how delicate a feat of narration it pulls off. This is not quite like any other novel I can think of.
September 10, 2024
Aceasta nu este povestea tipică a unei fete din Afganistan care supraviețuiește, în ciuda ororilor prin care trece. Aceasta nu este o simplă carte care îți deschide ochii asupra dezastrelor, deja știute, înfăptuite de sovietici și talibanezi. Nu.
Aceasta este povestea Afsanei, o tânără aspirantă scriitoare, o fiică de care familia era mândră, o soră iubitoare și prezentă la nevoie, o prietenă veselă și o fată care, chiar dacă a trecut prin momente tragice, găsește soarele din viața ei prin scris, prin imaginație, prin amintiri.
Își scrie povestea, scrie povestea familiei ei, cea a părinților ei, cea a lui Napoleon, controlorul de bilete și cel care o aprovizionează cu caiete cumpărate din stațiile de tren. Scrie despre oamenii din tren, despre oamenii pe care i-a cunoscut în copilărie, despre cei din munți, despre cei din tabere și despre cei de care a fugit. Descoperim, cu ochii ei, istoria familiei sale, plăcerea ei pentru romanul lui Tolstoi, fel de fel de oameni cu care se întâlnește în tren, o societate schimbată de război. Și pe ea.
Și, cu toate că povestea pe care o scrie e adevărată, imaginația transcende realitatea. Când îți dai seama de asta, totul ia o turnură întunecată. Când ajungi la sfârșitul cărții, începutul se destramă.
https://cartileluilulu.wordpress.com/...
Aceasta este povestea Afsanei, o tânără aspirantă scriitoare, o fiică de care familia era mândră, o soră iubitoare și prezentă la nevoie, o prietenă veselă și o fată care, chiar dacă a trecut prin momente tragice, găsește soarele din viața ei prin scris, prin imaginație, prin amintiri.
Își scrie povestea, scrie povestea familiei ei, cea a părinților ei, cea a lui Napoleon, controlorul de bilete și cel care o aprovizionează cu caiete cumpărate din stațiile de tren. Scrie despre oamenii din tren, despre oamenii pe care i-a cunoscut în copilărie, despre cei din munți, despre cei din tabere și despre cei de care a fugit. Descoperim, cu ochii ei, istoria familiei sale, plăcerea ei pentru romanul lui Tolstoi, fel de fel de oameni cu care se întâlnește în tren, o societate schimbată de război. Și pe ea.
Și, cu toate că povestea pe care o scrie e adevărată, imaginația transcende realitatea. Când îți dai seama de asta, totul ia o turnură întunecată. Când ajungi la sfârșitul cărții, începutul se destramă.
https://cartileluilulu.wordpress.com/...
July 3, 2021
Abandonată aproape de jumătate pentru că nu am simțit nimic. Nici măcar plictiseală, atât de anostă mi s-a părut.
Un el și o ea se îndrăgostesc, iar familiile lor îi alungă. De ce? Nu am aflat, nu știu dacă urma sau doar trebuia să accept drama și să le plâng de milă. Deși trăiesc de pe-o zi pe alta și nu au nicio sursă de venit, fac un copil. Apoi mai fac alți cinci. Nu vorbim despre niște inculți fără acces la educație sexuală, ci despre intelectuali cu studii superioare, care aduc pe bandă rulantă copii într-o țară măcinată de război, violență și sărăcie. Cât am citit doar a povestit una dintre fiicele lor cum își petrec ei timpul în tren, cum au fost dați afară din casă și că e greu în Afganistan. Asta știam deja, iar restul poveștii nu m-a interesat.
Trebuia să îmi dau seama după sandalele de pe copertă ce mă așteaptă.
Un el și o ea se îndrăgostesc, iar familiile lor îi alungă. De ce? Nu am aflat, nu știu dacă urma sau doar trebuia să accept drama și să le plâng de milă. Deși trăiesc de pe-o zi pe alta și nu au nicio sursă de venit, fac un copil. Apoi mai fac alți cinci. Nu vorbim despre niște inculți fără acces la educație sexuală, ci despre intelectuali cu studii superioare, care aduc pe bandă rulantă copii într-o țară măcinată de război, violență și sărăcie. Cât am citit doar a povestit una dintre fiicele lor cum își petrec ei timpul în tren, cum au fost dați afară din casă și că e greu în Afganistan. Asta știam deja, iar restul poveștii nu m-a interesat.
Trebuia să îmi dau seama după sandalele de pe copertă ce mă așteaptă.
May 29, 2017
Това е вторият роман, който чета за Афганистан през тази година. Странна смесица между реалност и илюзия. Разказ за съдбата на едно афганистанско семейство на фона на едно пътуване с влак, за което се питаш в началото "що за идиотия е това", докато накрая разбираш какво е било и пътуването, и всичко...
Тъжна книга, оставяща някои неразкрити тайни..
Оценка 3,5*/5*
Тъжна книга, оставяща някои неразкрити тайни..
Оценка 3,5*/5*
July 11, 2021
3,5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2018
I admit I am taken aback by all the negative reviews this book has received, because it was easily one of my top 2017 reads. A lot of the comments made revolved around the fact that it was not true to the refugee situation and that Laura McVeigh, being a white woman, was just cashing in on the refugee crisis. I must disagree. I am no expert, and cannot begin to imagine what the lives of these refugees are like, but I did not for a moment think that it was too cliché or that it was riddled with inaccuracies. I’ve read The Kite Runner, for instance – and I’m not trying to be stereotypical, but that’s the closest book I could think of that also talks about an Afghani family being thrown into war and having to leave their country, and I did think that the struggle and suffering were the same. The nature of the book needs to be put into context as well. This was a book that seemed to target younger readers, and as such, it was written in a simpler way perhaps, with just the right amount of violence and suffering to send the message across.
Under the Almond Tree is written from the perspective of Samar, a young Afghan girl, who along with her family, is on the Trans-Siberian railway trying to get to Moscow, where her aunt is assumed to be residing. As Samar and her family journey back and forth through different cities and towns, we also journey back and forth through time as she remembers her life back in Afghanistan and the events that led to their escape, while giving us glimpses of her life on this train at present.
The execution of the two storylines and how they interweave and meet is absolutely brilliant. Once I hit the climax of the story, or the “plot twist” as it were, I literally put the book down in disbelief. I wanted to cry angry tears for all the injustices of the world.
Samar, who grew up listening to her mother regale them with beautiful stories, aspired to become a writer herself. To write stories and tell them to the world. She loved to read, her favorite book being Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, and you can immediately find parallels between her world and that of Anna Karenina. Be it her journey on the train, or her faint suspicion that her mother may have had an affair at one point, all things that are told from Samar’s perspective and not necessarily ever confirmed or resolved. That was one of the things I enjoyed about this book, the fact that we could never know whether Samar ever made it to Moscow, or whether she survived her journey, or whether her mother really did have an affair, or whatever happened to her sibling…all things with no answers, and although it is extremely frustrating, but it is also extremely realistic. You, as a reader, don’t need to know all the answers, because that is not the point of this story.
As Samar writes her story on the train, she finds friendship in the train conductor, who encourages her to continue writing and follow her dreams. Once we hit the turning point in the book, the whole story shifts into a dark and heavy read. My chest constricts just remembering all of it. I was in denial for a good part of it, but alas…I couldn’t put the book down, but I wanted to cry and shout and scream in agony. Samar is a good storyteller, a good narrator, she is extremely expressive and emotive, at the same time…she continues to be hopeful. She sometimes comes across as naïve, but given her age, it was natural to be so.
The tragedies that the wars caused to the lives of these people are truly devastating.
You get to meet and intimately know Samar’s entire family and extended family, which makes it all harder to bear. The characters are all convincing, well-rounded, complex and the development as the story progresses is genuine. Even the minor characters feel real.
Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2017, and I highly recommend that it is read without any judgment. To just take in the story and delve into Samar’s world. I assure you, you will be left heartbroken by the end of it.
Under the Almond Tree is written from the perspective of Samar, a young Afghan girl, who along with her family, is on the Trans-Siberian railway trying to get to Moscow, where her aunt is assumed to be residing. As Samar and her family journey back and forth through different cities and towns, we also journey back and forth through time as she remembers her life back in Afghanistan and the events that led to their escape, while giving us glimpses of her life on this train at present.
The execution of the two storylines and how they interweave and meet is absolutely brilliant. Once I hit the climax of the story, or the “plot twist” as it were, I literally put the book down in disbelief. I wanted to cry angry tears for all the injustices of the world.
Samar, who grew up listening to her mother regale them with beautiful stories, aspired to become a writer herself. To write stories and tell them to the world. She loved to read, her favorite book being Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, and you can immediately find parallels between her world and that of Anna Karenina. Be it her journey on the train, or her faint suspicion that her mother may have had an affair at one point, all things that are told from Samar’s perspective and not necessarily ever confirmed or resolved. That was one of the things I enjoyed about this book, the fact that we could never know whether Samar ever made it to Moscow, or whether she survived her journey, or whether her mother really did have an affair, or whatever happened to her sibling…all things with no answers, and although it is extremely frustrating, but it is also extremely realistic. You, as a reader, don’t need to know all the answers, because that is not the point of this story.
As Samar writes her story on the train, she finds friendship in the train conductor, who encourages her to continue writing and follow her dreams. Once we hit the turning point in the book, the whole story shifts into a dark and heavy read. My chest constricts just remembering all of it. I was in denial for a good part of it, but alas…I couldn’t put the book down, but I wanted to cry and shout and scream in agony. Samar is a good storyteller, a good narrator, she is extremely expressive and emotive, at the same time…she continues to be hopeful. She sometimes comes across as naïve, but given her age, it was natural to be so.
The tragedies that the wars caused to the lives of these people are truly devastating.
You get to meet and intimately know Samar’s entire family and extended family, which makes it all harder to bear. The characters are all convincing, well-rounded, complex and the development as the story progresses is genuine. Even the minor characters feel real.
Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2017, and I highly recommend that it is read without any judgment. To just take in the story and delve into Samar’s world. I assure you, you will be left heartbroken by the end of it.
June 22, 2019
Леле!!! Прочиташ анотация на задната корица, но тя не те подготвя по никакъв начин за това, което ще прочетеш. Зашеметяващо, разтърсващо и помитащо преживяване. Суровата действителност на войната и рушещият се свят е представена през очите на малко момиче, а това няма как да те остави безучастен. От първата страница до последната читателя е погълнат от света на Самара. И макар героинята да е представена на крепка възраст, тя е изградена като изключително силен персонаж. Борец! Оцеляващ! И макар историята да е художествена измислица, представя действителността за милиони хора жертва на военните конфликти и последиците от тях!
January 16, 2018
Maravilloso!! Encantador!! Sorprendente!! Lo amé!! ♥️
December 7, 2021
By the end, I loved this book.
Like many reviewers, I struggled with it for the first half and found my attention wandering a bit. That left me in the position of wondering whether, in my semi-focused state, I’d missed something, or whether things just didn’t add up. Turned out to be a bit of both.
But, something happens halfway through the book that draws you back in.
I have to say that for much of the book, I was conflicted about the ethics of an Irish woman telling the story of an Afghani refugee. However, the revelation at the halfway point made me feel a bit better about it as it signposted to the reader that this was certainly a piece of fiction. And, reflecting on that, I realised that this specific piece of fiction led me to a renewed interest in the experiences of refugees from war torn Afghanistan during the 90s and sent me down a path to better understand the immensity of what the Afghans have suffered over the decades.
So, I suppose that is where I settled on this question of uncomfortable cultural appropriation. The book prompted me down a path that broadened by awareness, so that seems to have been worth something.
Like many reviewers, I struggled with it for the first half and found my attention wandering a bit. That left me in the position of wondering whether, in my semi-focused state, I’d missed something, or whether things just didn’t add up. Turned out to be a bit of both.
But, something happens halfway through the book that draws you back in.
I have to say that for much of the book, I was conflicted about the ethics of an Irish woman telling the story of an Afghani refugee. However, the revelation at the halfway point made me feel a bit better about it as it signposted to the reader that this was certainly a piece of fiction. And, reflecting on that, I realised that this specific piece of fiction led me to a renewed interest in the experiences of refugees from war torn Afghanistan during the 90s and sent me down a path to better understand the immensity of what the Afghans have suffered over the decades.
So, I suppose that is where I settled on this question of uncomfortable cultural appropriation. The book prompted me down a path that broadened by awareness, so that seems to have been worth something.
February 6, 2021
В началото книгата не е много увлекателна. На моменти дори скучна с непрекъснатото описание на пътуването с влака. Не е много ясно кое събитие кога се случва. Редуват се минало и настояще. В един момент написаното те сграбчва за гърлото, държи те в напрежение и съпреживяваш мъката на едно 15 годишно момиче загубило дом и семейство.
April 8, 2022
4'5⭐
En esta relativamente breve obra (280páginas)conoceremos la historia de Samar y su familia.
Su huida de Kabul hacia las montañas en un comienzo(y finalmente de Afganistán).Una huida de la muerte, de los combates y bombardeos continúos dejando atrás no todo eso, sino también casi todas sus posesiones y la casa amarilla con su almendro en el jardín, hogar hasta ahora de la familia y que quedará para siempre en el recuerdo de la pequeña Samar.
🗓️ El libro está ambientado en Afganistán entre las décadas de los 60 y 90.A través de los progenitores de Samar y sus hermanos veremos el antes y el después de su país en el que poco a poco sus habitantes en general, y las mujeres en particular, fueron perdiendo derechos llegando a un punto en el que la vida, tras la llegada de los Talibanes, era oscura, llena de terror y desconfianza.
Este un libro de contrastes, tanto como lo es el propio Afganistán. En sus páginas, narradas de manera sencilla y directa sin grandes artificios(que tampoco son necesarios) veremos la lucha y la superación de esas gentes que viven entre conflictos continúos.
❓¿Lo recomendaría? Sí. Es un libro duro, en el que se refleja la compleja vida de los refugiados pero al mismo tiempo es bello y a mí me ha dejado mucho poso llevándome a Samar, Ara, Madar y a todas esas mujeres fuertes y luchadoras , en un rinconcito de mi corazón.
🚂Ese viaje en el transiberiano, de este a oeste y de oeste a este, Napoleón, su revisor y sus historias, acompañando a Samar y su familia la lectura de Anna Karenina, las partidas de ajedrez, los cantos de Ära... Han llegado para quedarse.
En esta relativamente breve obra (280páginas)conoceremos la historia de Samar y su familia.
Su huida de Kabul hacia las montañas en un comienzo(y finalmente de Afganistán).Una huida de la muerte, de los combates y bombardeos continúos dejando atrás no todo eso, sino también casi todas sus posesiones y la casa amarilla con su almendro en el jardín, hogar hasta ahora de la familia y que quedará para siempre en el recuerdo de la pequeña Samar.
🗓️ El libro está ambientado en Afganistán entre las décadas de los 60 y 90.A través de los progenitores de Samar y sus hermanos veremos el antes y el después de su país en el que poco a poco sus habitantes en general, y las mujeres en particular, fueron perdiendo derechos llegando a un punto en el que la vida, tras la llegada de los Talibanes, era oscura, llena de terror y desconfianza.
Este un libro de contrastes, tanto como lo es el propio Afganistán. En sus páginas, narradas de manera sencilla y directa sin grandes artificios(que tampoco son necesarios) veremos la lucha y la superación de esas gentes que viven entre conflictos continúos.
❓¿Lo recomendaría? Sí. Es un libro duro, en el que se refleja la compleja vida de los refugiados pero al mismo tiempo es bello y a mí me ha dejado mucho poso llevándome a Samar, Ara, Madar y a todas esas mujeres fuertes y luchadoras , en un rinconcito de mi corazón.
🚂Ese viaje en el transiberiano, de este a oeste y de oeste a este, Napoleón, su revisor y sus historias, acompañando a Samar y su familia la lectura de Anna Karenina, las partidas de ajedrez, los cantos de Ära... Han llegado para quedarse.
May 3, 2021
Хубавата литература създава и разказва истории, които вълнуват, сближават и дават свобода.
Вдъхновена от любовта си към руската литература, Лора Маквей започва своя роман с думите на Толстой:
"В човешкия дух има нещо, което винаги оцелява и надвива всички превратности.
В човешкото сърце има миниатюрна, бляскава светлинка, която никога не изгасва, колкото и да се сгъстява мракът в големия свят."
А "Ана Каренина" се оказва едно от най-големите богатства на 15 годишната Самара, пътуваща по Транссибирската железница към Москва. Разказвайки историята на своето семейство, тя пръвръща читателя в свой довереник. През нейните очи, читателят вижда не само сменящия се пейзаж от влака, но пътува и назад в миналото, за да види различните лица на Афганистан и Кабул - преди и след съветската окупацията, а след това и през 90-те години под властта на талибаните.
Самара започва своя разказ от самото начало - срещата на своите родатели, защото "за да продължиш напред, понякога първо трябва да се върнеш назад".
Позволете й да ви разкаже цялата история, за да създаде заедно нейния край. Заслужава си!
Вдъхновена от любовта си към руската литература, Лора Маквей започва своя роман с думите на Толстой:
"В човешкия дух има нещо, което винаги оцелява и надвива всички превратности.
В човешкото сърце има миниатюрна, бляскава светлинка, която никога не изгасва, колкото и да се сгъстява мракът в големия свят."
А "Ана Каренина" се оказва едно от най-големите богатства на 15 годишната Самара, пътуваща по Транссибирската железница към Москва. Разказвайки историята на своето семейство, тя пръвръща читателя в свой довереник. През нейните очи, читателят вижда не само сменящия се пейзаж от влака, но пътува и назад в миналото, за да види различните лица на Афганистан и Кабул - преди и след съветската окупацията, а след това и през 90-те години под властта на талибаните.
Самара започва своя разказ от самото начало - срещата на своите родатели, защото "за да продължиш напред, понякога първо трябва да се върнеш назад".
Позволете й да ви разкаже цялата история, за да създаде заедно нейния край. Заслужава си!
October 12, 2020
Es un libro algo extraño. La historia te entretiene, te intriga y está _bonita_. Cuando digo _bonita_ me refiero a que la autora escribe a los personajes de tal manera que los sientes cercanos, empatizas con ellos y sientes sus dolencias, porque en realidad ellos viven situaciones muy duras y sería muy grosero de mi parte decir que es una historia bonita así nada más.
Tengo dos grandes problemas con la historia: 1. Siento que explota el dolor de la familia, es decir, la narración y los eventos están construidos para que todo el tiempo digas "ay, pobre familia, no se merecen eso": entre más buenos son los personajes más los compadeces y creo que por eso gusta, por el sufrimiento gratuito al que los personajes se enfrentan.
Sin embargo estoy consciente de que fueron circunstancias muy dolorosas por las que pasaron los personajes, desde perderlo todo hasta ver cómo se acaba el mundo como lo conocías, por ese lado lo entiendo pero al mismo tiempo creo que abusa al no ponerles otro tipo de situaciones que sean bálsamo para sus problemas.
2. Pese a que hay dos o tres giros en la trama que sí me sorprendieron y creo que le hacen bien a la historia no fueron suficientes para cerrar algunas historias y situaciones que quedaron muy abiertas y es por esto que el crecimiento de la protagonista no es completo ni del todo creíble.
Tengo dos grandes problemas con la historia: 1. Siento que explota el dolor de la familia, es decir, la narración y los eventos están construidos para que todo el tiempo digas "ay, pobre familia, no se merecen eso": entre más buenos son los personajes más los compadeces y creo que por eso gusta, por el sufrimiento gratuito al que los personajes se enfrentan.
Sin embargo estoy consciente de que fueron circunstancias muy dolorosas por las que pasaron los personajes, desde perderlo todo hasta ver cómo se acaba el mundo como lo conocías, por ese lado lo entiendo pero al mismo tiempo creo que abusa al no ponerles otro tipo de situaciones que sean bálsamo para sus problemas.
2. Pese a que hay dos o tres giros en la trama que sí me sorprendieron y creo que le hacen bien a la historia no fueron suficientes para cerrar algunas historias y situaciones que quedaron muy abiertas y es por esto que el crecimiento de la protagonista no es completo ni del todo creíble.
December 25, 2020
4,5 estrellas. Es el tercer libro sobre Afganistán que me leo.
Si os gustó cometas en el cielo este también os gustará.
Hay partes que son duras y tristes, pero el libro es fantástico.
Si os gustó cometas en el cielo este también os gustará.
Hay partes que son duras y tristes, pero el libro es fantástico.
March 21, 2017
This is a very strange book. To describe it as surreal is something of an understatement. It is the story of a journey, certainly of a spiritual journey, and possibly of an actual journey. It is the story of how Samar, a young Afghan girl, survives in her flight from Kabul to Moscow and there is also the question about whether or not she actually does survive. You will have to decide that.
The story is told from a train on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with flashbacks to a yellow house in Kabul, where Samar’s family lived, with an almond tree in its garden. Slowly, the tale of how Samar became a refugee begins to unfold. During the telling of the tale, you will meet her parents and grandparents, her brothers and sisters, her friends and the friends of her family, and several really nasty and unpleasant people. You will also discover that Samar has a really powerful imagination, and that this is one of the things that helps her to survive.
You will also discover that she is immersed in books, and that “Anna Karenina” has a very special attraction for her. The passionate love between Anna and Vronsky appeals to her, as does the throwing of all caution to the winds. Partly, it is because her family have to do exactly that in order to escape from the Taliban, and partly it is because she thinks, from the beginning of the book, that her mother may have had an affair. The evidence for this is circumstantial, and you will have to decide what actually happened between Madar and Arsalan.
That is both the problem with the book and also its great strength. You have to decide what is true and what is a product of Samar’s imagination, and, as you will discover, she certainly has an imagination. Therefore each reader will come to a different conclusion, as they decide what did happen, and what did not happen, and therefore what is true and what is not. Samar is, I suppose, an unreliable narrator.
Laura McVeigh says that she did not choose to write this book. The story chose her and she had to write it. That is true of every story and every book, in its own particular way. You will have to decide whether or not you believe this story.
The story is told from a train on the Trans-Siberian Railway, with flashbacks to a yellow house in Kabul, where Samar’s family lived, with an almond tree in its garden. Slowly, the tale of how Samar became a refugee begins to unfold. During the telling of the tale, you will meet her parents and grandparents, her brothers and sisters, her friends and the friends of her family, and several really nasty and unpleasant people. You will also discover that Samar has a really powerful imagination, and that this is one of the things that helps her to survive.
You will also discover that she is immersed in books, and that “Anna Karenina” has a very special attraction for her. The passionate love between Anna and Vronsky appeals to her, as does the throwing of all caution to the winds. Partly, it is because her family have to do exactly that in order to escape from the Taliban, and partly it is because she thinks, from the beginning of the book, that her mother may have had an affair. The evidence for this is circumstantial, and you will have to decide what actually happened between Madar and Arsalan.
That is both the problem with the book and also its great strength. You have to decide what is true and what is a product of Samar’s imagination, and, as you will discover, she certainly has an imagination. Therefore each reader will come to a different conclusion, as they decide what did happen, and what did not happen, and therefore what is true and what is not. Samar is, I suppose, an unreliable narrator.
Laura McVeigh says that she did not choose to write this book. The story chose her and she had to write it. That is true of every story and every book, in its own particular way. You will have to decide whether or not you believe this story.
April 15, 2018
Sub stelele tăcute este romanul de care-ţi vei aminti cu o durere indescriptibilă în suflet. Laura McVeigh a avut grijă să transmită o poveste care să te şocheze, să te uimească, să te fascineze şi să ţi se imprime în suflet şi în minte. Un miraj al însetatului bătut de soarele necruţător al deşertului, aşa este Sub stelele tăcute a Laurei McVeigh. O poveste în care păşeşti cu veselia omului ce ştie că după suferinţa îndurată are parte de o dulce pauză de respiro. Urmăreşti cu drag viaţa Afsanei şi a familiei sale. O viaţă nomadă dusă într-un tren, spre o destinaţie necunoscută familiei afgane. Fugind de atrocităţile şi schimbările negative din propria ţară, caută adăpost în altă lume, pe un alt teritoriu. Dar unde se vor opri din căutare, nu ştim nici noi, nu ştiu nici ei.
Afsana îşi ia rol de narator ţinându-ne la curent cu prezentul vieţii de nomad şi făcându-ne cunoştinţă cu trecutul ce i-a fugărit din minunata casă albastră. Ne lăsăm legănaţi de dulcea voce a Afsanei, realizând mult prea târziu prăpastia ce ne aşteaptă la orizont.
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-sub-st...
Afsana îşi ia rol de narator ţinându-ne la curent cu prezentul vieţii de nomad şi făcându-ne cunoştinţă cu trecutul ce i-a fugărit din minunata casă albastră. Ne lăsăm legănaţi de dulcea voce a Afsanei, realizând mult prea târziu prăpastia ce ne aşteaptă la orizont.
https://booknation.ro/recenzie-sub-st...
April 24, 2017
This is a story about incredible loss, tremendous suffering, despair but also hope and how people learn to cope with such difficulties in life, a story about resilience,... it's a also a story very close to us in time... It's beautifully written.
November 4, 2019
The begining was very long, detailed and hard to stand. The real story develops in the second half and I have read the last 150 pages on one breath. It is an intersting and original way to discribe the horrors in Afganistan throuth the eyes of a child.
September 8, 2017
Empieza curioso pero termina enganchando. Original. Historia dura de familia afgana
July 22, 2018
Laura McVeigh a grandi en Irlande du Nord. Diplômée de langues modernes et médiévales à l’université de Cambridge, elle a travaillé dans l’édition et le secteur humanitaire. Elle a récemment rejoint la direction de PEN International, l’association mondiale des écrivains pour la liberté d’expression. Par ailleurs, elle est diplômée du Royal Court Theatre Young Writer’s Program, membre de la Royal Sociaty of Arts et détient également une maîtrise en politique mondiale de l’université de Londres. Elle vit à Londres et à Majorque avec son mari et sa fille.
Que dire de ce premier roman sinon qu’il s’agit d’un roman bouleversant sur la force et la résilience de ceux qui ont été obligés de tout quitter et de recommencer leur vie à zéro ?
« Il est des voyages qu’on préférerait ne jamais entreprendre. Pourtant on part. On part parce qu’on n’a pas le choix, parce que c’est la seule façon de survivre. Ceci est mon voyage, celui que j’aurais voulu ne jamais faire. Mais je l’ai fait. Certaines choses ont survécu. D’autres ne peuvent être, ne serons jamais oubliées. Elles nous accompagnent jusqu’à la fin. »
Réflexion sur la guerre, la perte, la détresse, mais aussi sur l’espoir, l’amour, la paix et le bonheur de vivre unis et entourés des siens, le roman de Laura McVeigh relate les souvenirs douloureux d’Afsana, une jeune Afghane de 15 ans dont l’enfance et le quotidien ont été ravagés par la guerre civile et le régime imposé par les talibans. À travers elle, l’auteure raconte les interdictions et les lois absurdes qui grignotent sans cesse la liberté, réduit comme peau de chagrin les droits les plus fondamentaux de chacun. Elle décrit, parfois durement, les injustices, les dénonciations et l’horreur des exécutions sommaires qui poussent les habitants à fuir, à s’installer toujours plus loin, quitte à tout abandonner : leur maison, leur famille, leurs amis pour rester libres, mais surtout pour avoir une chance de rester en vie… Seulement, peut-on vraiment recommencer quand on a tout perdu ? Quand il ne reste plus rien, comment fait-on pour trouver, en soi, la force de ne pas baisser les bras ?
Les mots de la jeune Afsana et son incroyable maturité résonnent longtemps dans l’esprit du lecteur. Malgré l’horreur de ce qu’elle et les siens ont vécu, on retient surtout son courage et son immense détermination à toujours aller de l’avant. Même s’il arrive parfois qu’il faille reculer pour avancer, c’est bel et bien une exhortation à croire en soi et en l’avenir qui imprègne les pages de ce roman ! C’est chaleureux et finalement bien plus lumineux que ce que l’on aurait pu croire de prime abord. Une lecture essentielle, à recommander au plus grand nombre !
Que dire de ce premier roman sinon qu’il s’agit d’un roman bouleversant sur la force et la résilience de ceux qui ont été obligés de tout quitter et de recommencer leur vie à zéro ?
« Il est des voyages qu’on préférerait ne jamais entreprendre. Pourtant on part. On part parce qu’on n’a pas le choix, parce que c’est la seule façon de survivre. Ceci est mon voyage, celui que j’aurais voulu ne jamais faire. Mais je l’ai fait. Certaines choses ont survécu. D’autres ne peuvent être, ne serons jamais oubliées. Elles nous accompagnent jusqu’à la fin. »
Réflexion sur la guerre, la perte, la détresse, mais aussi sur l’espoir, l’amour, la paix et le bonheur de vivre unis et entourés des siens, le roman de Laura McVeigh relate les souvenirs douloureux d’Afsana, une jeune Afghane de 15 ans dont l’enfance et le quotidien ont été ravagés par la guerre civile et le régime imposé par les talibans. À travers elle, l’auteure raconte les interdictions et les lois absurdes qui grignotent sans cesse la liberté, réduit comme peau de chagrin les droits les plus fondamentaux de chacun. Elle décrit, parfois durement, les injustices, les dénonciations et l’horreur des exécutions sommaires qui poussent les habitants à fuir, à s’installer toujours plus loin, quitte à tout abandonner : leur maison, leur famille, leurs amis pour rester libres, mais surtout pour avoir une chance de rester en vie… Seulement, peut-on vraiment recommencer quand on a tout perdu ? Quand il ne reste plus rien, comment fait-on pour trouver, en soi, la force de ne pas baisser les bras ?
Les mots de la jeune Afsana et son incroyable maturité résonnent longtemps dans l’esprit du lecteur. Malgré l’horreur de ce qu’elle et les siens ont vécu, on retient surtout son courage et son immense détermination à toujours aller de l’avant. Même s’il arrive parfois qu’il faille reculer pour avancer, c’est bel et bien une exhortation à croire en soi et en l’avenir qui imprègne les pages de ce roman ! C’est chaleureux et finalement bien plus lumineux que ce que l’on aurait pu croire de prime abord. Une lecture essentielle, à recommander au plus grand nombre !
May 26, 2022
„Ich wusste nicht, wie etwas so Trauriges sie so lebendig machen konnte. Ich begriff nicht, wie der Tod sie daran erinnern konnte, dass das Leben lebenswert war.“
Mir fällt es immer schwer, Bücher mit Kriegsthematik zu bewerten, weil ich das Gefühl habe, dass es mir nicht zusteht, etwas zu bewerten, was sehr wohl real sein könnte und es wahrscheinlich auch ist.
Die Geschichte von Samar und ihrer Familie ist mir unter die Haut gegangen.
Und auch der Plottwist mitten im Buch hat mich aufschrecken lassen und mich leer zurückgelassen.
Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist, dass mir die Geschichte zu kurz gekommen ist, dass einige Geheimnisse nie aufgelöst wurden und man immer irgendwie mit Fragezeichen zurückgelassen wurde.
Vielleicht war das beabsichtigt (zur Geschichte würde es definitiv passen), aber ich hätte es besser gefunden, wenn alles zu einem Ganzen zusammengeflossen wäre.
Ansonsten sehr emotionales, rührendes und wunderschönes Buch, das ich nur weiterempfehlen kann!
Mir fällt es immer schwer, Bücher mit Kriegsthematik zu bewerten, weil ich das Gefühl habe, dass es mir nicht zusteht, etwas zu bewerten, was sehr wohl real sein könnte und es wahrscheinlich auch ist.
Die Geschichte von Samar und ihrer Familie ist mir unter die Haut gegangen.
Und auch der Plottwist mitten im Buch hat mich aufschrecken lassen und mich leer zurückgelassen.
Mein einziger Kritikpunkt ist, dass mir die Geschichte zu kurz gekommen ist, dass einige Geheimnisse nie aufgelöst wurden und man immer irgendwie mit Fragezeichen zurückgelassen wurde.
Vielleicht war das beabsichtigt (zur Geschichte würde es definitiv passen), aber ich hätte es besser gefunden, wenn alles zu einem Ganzen zusammengeflossen wäre.
Ansonsten sehr emotionales, rührendes und wunderschönes Buch, das ich nur weiterempfehlen kann!
February 11, 2018
20/20
Lorsque la guerre s’impose, que reste-t-il ? Afsana a dû quitter l’Afghanistan avec ses proches, pour espérer survivre et reconstruire une nouvelle vie ailleurs. Son courage et sa vie sont bouleversants, et ce livre est un sublime récit de la tragédie dans laquelle sont plongés des milliers de réfugiés, privés de tout.
Ma chronique : https://myprettybooks.wordpress.com/2...
Lorsque la guerre s’impose, que reste-t-il ? Afsana a dû quitter l’Afghanistan avec ses proches, pour espérer survivre et reconstruire une nouvelle vie ailleurs. Son courage et sa vie sont bouleversants, et ce livre est un sublime récit de la tragédie dans laquelle sont plongés des milliers de réfugiés, privés de tout.
Ma chronique : https://myprettybooks.wordpress.com/2...
August 9, 2017
Dit boek verraste mij! Erg goed boek wat, ondanks het heftige onderwerp, makkelijk wegleest.
December 4, 2018
Книгата определено надмина очакванията ми. Тя ми е подарък и като прочетох за какво се разказва и си помислих, че ще е много скучна. Въобще не очаквах да е толкова интересна. Тази книга буквално ме разтърси. Много силен роман за войната и оцеляването. В тази книга надеждата умира последна. Тя крепи борбата за оцеляване от войната. С надежда дори да няма къде да отидеш все ще намериш изход от проблема и ще успееш да се измъкнеш. Това е историята на 15-годишната Самара. Тя докато пътува с влак бягайки от родната си страна я пише. Самара разказва за семейството си, как са живеели преди войната и как тя ги погубва. Много ми харесва, че Самара е толкова борбена и никога не се предава. Когато тя иска да се откаже въображението и идва на помощ и я спасява. Наистина много хубава книга с две ръце я препоръчвам. Показва войната като толкова тежка, толкова жестока. На няколко пъти дори ме разплака и разгневи тази история. Книгата показва, че и сред руините да се намираш пак можеш да оцелееш стига да имаш силна надежда. И всичко да загубиш винаги има път. Просто не се отказвай.
November 16, 2017
This was such a heart-wrenching book. The sadness slowly creeps up on you, hope and despair battle for the limelight until the very last page.
August 30, 2020
Una historia que representa a las tantas vividas en Afganistan entre los 70s-90s... muy dura y es que en la vida hay quienes viven circunstancias muy dificiles pero aun así lo viven con valentía y fuerzas salen siempre que uno se lo proponga.
Historia de la familia, el amor y sobrevivencia...
Historia de la familia, el amor y sobrevivencia...
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