What do you think?
Rate this book
Lipstick in Afghanistan
Roberta Gately’s lyrical and authentic debut novel—inspired by her own experiences as a nurse in third world war zones—is one woman’s moving story of offering help and finding hope in the last place she expected.
Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager. Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own. No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister’s bureau. Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination. With lipstick on, she can do anything—even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.
But violent nights as an ER nurse in South Boston could not prepare Elsa for the devastation she witnesses at the small medical clinic she runs in Bamiyan. As she struggles to prove herself to the Afghan doctors and local villagers, she begins a forbidden romance with her only confidant, a charming Special Forces soldier. Then, a tube of lipstick she finds in the aftermath of a tragic bus bombing leads her to another life-changing friendship. In her neighbor Parween, Elsa finds a kindred spirit, fiery and generous. Together, the two women risk their lives to save friends and family from the worst excesses of the Taliban. But when the war waging around them threatens their own survival, Elsa discovers her only hope is to unveil the warrior within. Roberta Gately’s raw, intimate novel is an unforgettable tribute to the power of friendship and a poignant reminder of the tragic cost of war.
Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager. Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own. No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister’s bureau. Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination. With lipstick on, she can do anything—even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.
But violent nights as an ER nurse in South Boston could not prepare Elsa for the devastation she witnesses at the small medical clinic she runs in Bamiyan. As she struggles to prove herself to the Afghan doctors and local villagers, she begins a forbidden romance with her only confidant, a charming Special Forces soldier. Then, a tube of lipstick she finds in the aftermath of a tragic bus bombing leads her to another life-changing friendship. In her neighbor Parween, Elsa finds a kindred spirit, fiery and generous. Together, the two women risk their lives to save friends and family from the worst excesses of the Taliban. But when the war waging around them threatens their own survival, Elsa discovers her only hope is to unveil the warrior within. Roberta Gately’s raw, intimate novel is an unforgettable tribute to the power of friendship and a poignant reminder of the tragic cost of war.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
65 people are currently reading
1220 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Gately
13 books84 followersA nurse, humanitarian aid worker, and writer, Roberta Gately has served in third-world war zones ranging from Africa to Afghanistan. She has written extensively on the subject of refugees for the Journal of Emergency Nursing, as well as a series of articles for the BBC World News Online. She speaks regularly on the plight of the world’s refugees and displaced.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
November 11, 2010
Originally posted on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
This is the story of a Elsa, an ER nurse in her early 20s who wants to make a difference in the world. She is accepted as a relief nurse with an international organization and sent to Afghanistan in 2002 to help run the local hospital. Drama ensues.
I had a few problems with this book. And the bulk of my review will dwell on what I didn't think worked very well. But I do want to say that this book isn't bad. There is a market for this book, and I know people who would love reading this book. I, unfortunately, just wasn't one of them. But the book does have merit, and there were times when it was plain to see that the author had lived among these people and has an emotional attachment to their culture.
So, there are positive things to this book, and you won't be wasting your life if you decide to read it. However, I struggled with this book. It's an easy read, but I found my self speed reading, hoping to reach the end faster. I find it very hard to enjoy reading the book when I strongly dislike the main character. Elsa was whiny, annoying and naive. There's a part of the story, after she's been in Afghanistan for a while when she tries to convince her friend, Parween (and the other narrator of the story) that growing up poor in the poor part of Boston means she understands all the suffering any of the Afghanis have experienced.
She doesn't stop to think, and parts of other people's personalities rub off on her, (like Parween's impulsive thoughtlessness). She's incredibly self-centered, focusing only on things as they touch her. She can't imagine that life is bad in Afghanistan, or that other places are dangerous, or that her town is dangerous because she hasn't personally been exposed to it. If she doesn't see it, it doesn't really exist. It's like kids who see something bad on the news but think, 'that would never happen to me.' It got really old really fast.
I won't go into detail about the other characters, although I definitely could. There were a lot of people in the story, and all of them were rather black and white. They are good or bad. They are victims or fighters. They are happy or miserable. They are helpful or hurtful. And none of them felt real. I've heard a lot of people complain about authors telling rather than showing. This is one of the few times when I desperately agree. I can normally overlook that if I'm really enjoying the story, but in this case it made me want to pull my hair out. Everything I knew about any of these characters was because I was told that's how it supposed to be, not because the author just let them be that way. I didn't believe in anyone. I didn't believe their actions were reasonable or logical, and I didn't believe the situations they were in were realistic.
I also felt that the author was missing that happy median on details. We were either given very few, very sparse details about events, or overloaded with them. Some detailed accounts, such as the wedding ceremony was interesting, but most were not. It was just too much. The writing felt forced and murky and kind of like she was trying just a little bit too hard.
And the lipstick... I know this is a personal thing but I missed the lipstick point. I know that the author shares Elsa's fondness and need for lipstick, but I don't get it. And, there were times when I felt that the lipstick was more important than the story, and that the author relied on the lipstick to carry the story forward. It just didn't feel right to me.
Like I said before, I can see that this will be a book many people could enjoy. It just wasn't for me. Maybe someone else will have better luck.
This is the story of a Elsa, an ER nurse in her early 20s who wants to make a difference in the world. She is accepted as a relief nurse with an international organization and sent to Afghanistan in 2002 to help run the local hospital. Drama ensues.
I had a few problems with this book. And the bulk of my review will dwell on what I didn't think worked very well. But I do want to say that this book isn't bad. There is a market for this book, and I know people who would love reading this book. I, unfortunately, just wasn't one of them. But the book does have merit, and there were times when it was plain to see that the author had lived among these people and has an emotional attachment to their culture.
So, there are positive things to this book, and you won't be wasting your life if you decide to read it. However, I struggled with this book. It's an easy read, but I found my self speed reading, hoping to reach the end faster. I find it very hard to enjoy reading the book when I strongly dislike the main character. Elsa was whiny, annoying and naive. There's a part of the story, after she's been in Afghanistan for a while when she tries to convince her friend, Parween (and the other narrator of the story) that growing up poor in the poor part of Boston means she understands all the suffering any of the Afghanis have experienced.
She doesn't stop to think, and parts of other people's personalities rub off on her, (like Parween's impulsive thoughtlessness). She's incredibly self-centered, focusing only on things as they touch her. She can't imagine that life is bad in Afghanistan, or that other places are dangerous, or that her town is dangerous because she hasn't personally been exposed to it. If she doesn't see it, it doesn't really exist. It's like kids who see something bad on the news but think, 'that would never happen to me.' It got really old really fast.
I won't go into detail about the other characters, although I definitely could. There were a lot of people in the story, and all of them were rather black and white. They are good or bad. They are victims or fighters. They are happy or miserable. They are helpful or hurtful. And none of them felt real. I've heard a lot of people complain about authors telling rather than showing. This is one of the few times when I desperately agree. I can normally overlook that if I'm really enjoying the story, but in this case it made me want to pull my hair out. Everything I knew about any of these characters was because I was told that's how it supposed to be, not because the author just let them be that way. I didn't believe in anyone. I didn't believe their actions were reasonable or logical, and I didn't believe the situations they were in were realistic.
I also felt that the author was missing that happy median on details. We were either given very few, very sparse details about events, or overloaded with them. Some detailed accounts, such as the wedding ceremony was interesting, but most were not. It was just too much. The writing felt forced and murky and kind of like she was trying just a little bit too hard.
And the lipstick... I know this is a personal thing but I missed the lipstick point. I know that the author shares Elsa's fondness and need for lipstick, but I don't get it. And, there were times when I felt that the lipstick was more important than the story, and that the author relied on the lipstick to carry the story forward. It just didn't feel right to me.
Like I said before, I can see that this will be a book many people could enjoy. It just wasn't for me. Maybe someone else will have better luck.
December 9, 2010
This book is extra special to me because I used to work with the Author. I was anxious and a bit nervous to read Roberta's first book because I didn't know if I would like it and if I didn't like it, I would of felt sick about it. Well no worries my friends...I am about 75 percent through Elsa's story and I LOVE IT!! I know that Roberta's humanitarian experiences and efforts have shaped and given life to the character of Elsa and others in her story and it makes them more tangible and loveable. I feel like I have been given a rare and intimate glimpse of the war against the Taliban as seen through the eyes of the Afghani people and through the eyes of the humanitarian workers who have sacrificed their own personal safety, time and overall wellbeing to come to the aid of these people. Elsa's story is heroic, heartbreaking and triumphant. AND, I soooooooo love the idea of lipstick being symbolic and instrumental in forming the unlikely bond between women who are world's apart. Bravo Roberta, "Inshallah," Elsa's story will continue and you will write more gems like this one!!!
February 28, 2011
Okay, I couldn't finish this, or even get very far. I'm just saving the review to remember the book. The "lipstick" reference made for a great title and a terrible motif running through the book. Here is this "selfless" saintly character out to save the world and she is enpowered by Lipstick? She saves a magazine article of suffering people for years-- because magazines are so rare? The important people in her life die off quickly and easily so she is free to go on her adventure. None of it rings true. If I were her editor I would have said, trash the lipstick and lets start over: *show* us a real person with an inner life making these decisions. Without that, I just can't care.
November 17, 2010
This is a very well written and entertaining contemporary tale about a Boston ER nurse, Elsa. Elsa had a hard knock life and as a result, wants to help others in dire situations. She joins an aid organization and travels to Bamiyan, Afghanistan, home of the famous Buddha statues to work in a clinic. She has no electricty and no running water, but she is determined to spend one year there. She learns that running water and electricity do not a happy environment make. Instead, she discovers love with an American solider, friendships with Afghani women, and learns how hope and determination of a people can raise a country from the ashes of war....
see full review here:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...
see full review here:
http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...
February 25, 2011
While this book had an interesting premise, the writing was immature. I couldn't connect with the protagonist at all, and from the first line I felt as though she was set up to be a unbelievable character.
December 30, 2012
Well, I skimmed this book after the first 2 chapters. Another altruistic nurse trying to write a book about her experiences in a war zone but instead of a memoir it was a novel. Trite and void of any deep emotion.
January 3, 2013
I couldn't finish this book - the plot could have been interesting, but the writing was so poor and the characters and situations so romanticized that it was painful.
February 15, 2012
It has been forever since I have posted on Goodreads, let alone actually read a book! Life gets so busy sometimes...but my life doesn't seem to be complete unless I am reading a worthwhile book! This one, I'm afraid, is questionable whether it was a worthwhile book. It would have been if it were were non-fiction or a type of fiction mixed with a bit of fiction, but it wasn't (at least not enough), I didn't find that out until half way through, I was very disappointed! It was my own fault for not seeing "A novel" written on the front.
The book is about a nurse who wants to be part of a bigger cause, to travel and save the world with her medical abilities. She joins an organization that has a station set up in Afghanistan. She leaves and spends 6 months on this assignment. Elsa, the character, made so many choices that were just plain dumb and the story at times was not believable. But--I finished the book, so it wasn't to the point where I was too frustrated and wanted to throw the book away. What's ironic is the author is a nurse and has been in Afghanistan to help. I was hoping to get a real story, one she personally experienced than a made up one.
The book is about a nurse who wants to be part of a bigger cause, to travel and save the world with her medical abilities. She joins an organization that has a station set up in Afghanistan. She leaves and spends 6 months on this assignment. Elsa, the character, made so many choices that were just plain dumb and the story at times was not believable. But--I finished the book, so it wasn't to the point where I was too frustrated and wanted to throw the book away. What's ironic is the author is a nurse and has been in Afghanistan to help. I was hoping to get a real story, one she personally experienced than a made up one.
September 12, 2016
Devo dire che il libro mi è piaciuto abbastanza.
O per lo meno mi è piaciuto in parte:
bella la storia di Parween...la sua vita..la sua forza..spiegati gli usi e costumi..quello che le succede..il suo matrimonio..
Banale la storia di Elsa..la sua motivazione per diventare infermiera e volontaria lascia un pò a desiderare.
Mi piace come si sviluppa la sua amicizia con Parween.
Non mi piace la scelta di cacciarci per forza la storia d'amore con il bel soldato di turno..bah..
E il finale..forse un pò troppo scontato!
Nel complesso diciamo che è un buon libro..sicuramente non tra i migliori che abbia letto!
"Con un velo di tristezza negli occhi Parween sospirò e rivolse lo sguardo al cielo azzurro. <>.
Elsa sorrise e prese la mano di Parween. Poi chiuse gli occhi e, sollevando il viso al cielo, si lasciò baciare dai raggi del sole."
O per lo meno mi è piaciuto in parte:
bella la storia di Parween...la sua vita..la sua forza..spiegati gli usi e costumi..quello che le succede..il suo matrimonio..
Banale la storia di Elsa..la sua motivazione per diventare infermiera e volontaria lascia un pò a desiderare.
Mi piace come si sviluppa la sua amicizia con Parween.
Non mi piace la scelta di cacciarci per forza la storia d'amore con il bel soldato di turno..bah..
E il finale..forse un pò troppo scontato!
Nel complesso diciamo che è un buon libro..sicuramente non tra i migliori che abbia letto!
"Con un velo di tristezza negli occhi Parween sospirò e rivolse lo sguardo al cielo azzurro. <>.
Elsa sorrise e prese la mano di Parween. Poi chiuse gli occhi e, sollevando il viso al cielo, si lasciò baciare dai raggi del sole."
August 1, 2012
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I love books that show me something from a point of view different than my own. This one is just such a book. Roberta Gately delivers this novel from her own experiences as a nurse in third world war zones. Her writing style is lyrical and authentic debut novel. A great read for book clubs.
Summary:
Gripped by haunting magazine images of starving refugees, Elsa has dreamed of becoming a nurse since she was a teenager. Of leaving her humble working-class Boston neighborhood to help people whose lives are far more difficult than her own. No one in her family has ever escaped poverty, but Elsa has a secret weapon: a tube of lipstick she found in her older sister’s bureau. Wearing it never fails to raise her spirits and cement her determination. With lipstick on, she can do anything—even travel alone to war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11.
If you like this also try: "Violets in March" by: sarah Jio
"Cutting for Stone" by Abraham Verghese
December 30, 2016
E' stata una piacevole lettura sebbene abbia deluso le mie aspettative.
Avrei voluto che fossero più approfondite e dettagliate le parti in cui si introducono abitudini e tradizioni del popolo Afghano; avrei voluto conoscere meglio la vita delle donne Afghane, le loro limitazioni e la loro forza d'animo, tematiche che vengono solo accennate.
La storia d'amore tra Elsa e Mike l'ho trovata frettolosa e inopportuna, Mike è la caricatura mal riuscita di un soldato, non è un personaggio a cui ci si affeziona o ben strutturato.
Il finale bello ma non grandioso, messo insieme in maniera approssimativa, quasi senza senso.
Curiosa la storia del rossetto, accessorio che diventa punto di incontro tra le donne occidentali e orientali nonché il simbolo di resistenza, amicizia, determinazione.
Insomma, carina l'idea ma non troppo il prodotto finito.
Avrei voluto che fossero più approfondite e dettagliate le parti in cui si introducono abitudini e tradizioni del popolo Afghano; avrei voluto conoscere meglio la vita delle donne Afghane, le loro limitazioni e la loro forza d'animo, tematiche che vengono solo accennate.
La storia d'amore tra Elsa e Mike l'ho trovata frettolosa e inopportuna, Mike è la caricatura mal riuscita di un soldato, non è un personaggio a cui ci si affeziona o ben strutturato.
Il finale bello ma non grandioso, messo insieme in maniera approssimativa, quasi senza senso.
Curiosa la storia del rossetto, accessorio che diventa punto di incontro tra le donne occidentali e orientali nonché il simbolo di resistenza, amicizia, determinazione.
Insomma, carina l'idea ma non troppo il prodotto finito.
September 18, 2019
3.5
La trama di base non è male anche se la trovo poco credibile, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il colpo di fulmine, nato grazie a un incontro di sguardi, in un ambiente così devastato e ostile. La parte più interessante è la descrizione dello stile di vita afgano, davvero curato nei minimi dettagli, che riesce a catapultare il lettore in una realtà lontana. Trovo poco consono anche il titolo con la storia narrata: "Lipstick in Afghanistan", titolo originale, era assolutamente perfetto.
La trama di base non è male anche se la trovo poco credibile, soprattutto per quanto riguarda il colpo di fulmine, nato grazie a un incontro di sguardi, in un ambiente così devastato e ostile. La parte più interessante è la descrizione dello stile di vita afgano, davvero curato nei minimi dettagli, che riesce a catapultare il lettore in una realtà lontana. Trovo poco consono anche il titolo con la storia narrata: "Lipstick in Afghanistan", titolo originale, era assolutamente perfetto.
July 2, 2013
Nothing lyrical or subtle about this book. It is obvious and unimaginative. I am so disappointed to still have not found good fiction about nurses.
August 10, 2025
Storia molto interessante. libro molto forte perché parla di storie che accadono ancora ora in quel paese
February 23, 2012
Non è un libro brutto, ma non è neanche bello, non è una di quelle letture che ti restano dentro, che ricordi anche a distanza di anni per la loro bellezza, la loro storia appassionante, i personaggi indimenticabili... no, questo una volta chiuso lo dimentichi subito e a dirla tutta anche durante la lettura non è che prenda chissà quanto.
Non mi ha lasciato nulla, lo leggevo e a volte mi ritrovavo a pensare a tutt'altro, non provavo nessuna sensazione durante la lettura, né irritazione né piacere.
Il libro è scorrevole e lo leggete davvero in un soffio, è scritto grande ed ha le pagine molto spesse, così che sembra un bel tomo quando invece è un libretto abbastanza piccolo: inoltre, benché lo stile dell'autrice non mi sia parso chissà che, non è malvagio e non annoia.
Quindi se volete un libro senza infamia e senza lode per occupare qualche ora, va anche bene anche se c'è molto di meglio in giro; se però state cercando un libro per comprendere la condizione delle donne afghane o i modi di vivere in quei paesi o anche solo una storia toccante e commovente di ribellione contro le oppressioni beh... questo è il libro sbagliato.
Anche se Roberta Gately è stata in Afghanistan come infermiera e quindi ha vissuto in prima persona quest'esperienza, in questo libro non ho sentito nessun coinvolgimento, l'ho trovato freddo, troppo didascalico e descrittivo, senza pathos né emozione.
I personaggi, a parte un paio come Parween e Raziq, mi sono sembrati piatti, senza spessore, non sono riuscita a sentire nessuna empatia con loro e neanche a provare simpatia o interesse per le loro vicende.
Elsa, l'infermiera protagonista, è un personaggio abbastanza odioso: non ho mai avuto l'impressione che fosse andata in Afghanistan mossa da un sincero desiderio di aiutare gli altri, ma mi è sembrato che l'avesse fatto solo per dimostrare a tutti il suo valore e per sfuggire alla monotonia della sua vita a Boston.
Non cerca mai concretamente di capire il paese in cui si trova, crede che tutto sia bello e facile finché non sbatte contro le difficoltà e anche in quei casi raramente reagisce in modo forte e propositivo, spesso si limita a farsi trasportare dagli eventi.
La sua storia d'amore con il soldato Mike, poi, l'ho trovata francamente inutile: dalla metà del libro in poi ci sono capitoli dedicati solo alle loro faccende che tolgono spazio alla storia.
C'è ben poco Afghanistan in queste pagine.
La storia di Parween è l'unica parte veramente interessante e mi è piaciuta davvero molto, ma non riesce a riscattare il risultato finale piuttosto deludente.
Peccato, le premesse erano interessanti.
Voto: 5/10
Non mi ha lasciato nulla, lo leggevo e a volte mi ritrovavo a pensare a tutt'altro, non provavo nessuna sensazione durante la lettura, né irritazione né piacere.
Il libro è scorrevole e lo leggete davvero in un soffio, è scritto grande ed ha le pagine molto spesse, così che sembra un bel tomo quando invece è un libretto abbastanza piccolo: inoltre, benché lo stile dell'autrice non mi sia parso chissà che, non è malvagio e non annoia.
Quindi se volete un libro senza infamia e senza lode per occupare qualche ora, va anche bene anche se c'è molto di meglio in giro; se però state cercando un libro per comprendere la condizione delle donne afghane o i modi di vivere in quei paesi o anche solo una storia toccante e commovente di ribellione contro le oppressioni beh... questo è il libro sbagliato.
Anche se Roberta Gately è stata in Afghanistan come infermiera e quindi ha vissuto in prima persona quest'esperienza, in questo libro non ho sentito nessun coinvolgimento, l'ho trovato freddo, troppo didascalico e descrittivo, senza pathos né emozione.
I personaggi, a parte un paio come Parween e Raziq, mi sono sembrati piatti, senza spessore, non sono riuscita a sentire nessuna empatia con loro e neanche a provare simpatia o interesse per le loro vicende.
Elsa, l'infermiera protagonista, è un personaggio abbastanza odioso: non ho mai avuto l'impressione che fosse andata in Afghanistan mossa da un sincero desiderio di aiutare gli altri, ma mi è sembrato che l'avesse fatto solo per dimostrare a tutti il suo valore e per sfuggire alla monotonia della sua vita a Boston.
Non cerca mai concretamente di capire il paese in cui si trova, crede che tutto sia bello e facile finché non sbatte contro le difficoltà e anche in quei casi raramente reagisce in modo forte e propositivo, spesso si limita a farsi trasportare dagli eventi.
La sua storia d'amore con il soldato Mike, poi, l'ho trovata francamente inutile: dalla metà del libro in poi ci sono capitoli dedicati solo alle loro faccende che tolgono spazio alla storia.
C'è ben poco Afghanistan in queste pagine.
La storia di Parween è l'unica parte veramente interessante e mi è piaciuta davvero molto, ma non riesce a riscattare il risultato finale piuttosto deludente.
Peccato, le premesse erano interessanti.
Voto: 5/10
November 3, 2014
“Lipstick in Afghanistan” by Roberta Gately is fictional picture of rural Afghanistan through the eyes of nurse, Elsa and young woman named Parween. They develop a friendship that breaks through cultural boundaries and gives hope to the one and growth to the other.
It was difficult for me to understand the part about the lipstick. There is an emphasis on a tube of lipstick giving women a sense of importance and beauty. Although makeup is very important in Afghani weddings, it is not that important in daily life. After reading the interview with the author, it, I know that lipstick makes her feel better. Lipstick has a bigger role in the author’s life than mine; I will let it go at that.
The story is very engaging and educational. I learned more about the Taliban, how they even banned some of the joys of childhood. Also, some of the language, including the standard greeting:
"As-salaam alaikum. Chetore asti? Khoob asti? Jona jurast" which means "May peace be with you. How are you? You are well? How is your health?". Page 61.
Elsa, the nurse, came from an impoverished and rough neighborhood, and her family role was taking care of her disabled sister. She was a lonely person. Somehow she was very naïve about the dangers of war but she learned what she needed to know in Afghanistan with the help of the friends that she made.
Parween was a very intelligent, rebellious tom boy who could stand up against the boys for herself, betrothed at the age of 12, but relieved to know that she could ask for a better husband. She was thrilled when husband encouraged her to learn English.
The two women became inspired by a recent legend of a woman warrior against the Taliban. Their experiences made their friendship grow strong as they faced the demonic Taliban.
I highly recommend this book to people who would like to learn more about Afghanistan culture and some about the Taliban.
It was difficult for me to understand the part about the lipstick. There is an emphasis on a tube of lipstick giving women a sense of importance and beauty. Although makeup is very important in Afghani weddings, it is not that important in daily life. After reading the interview with the author, it, I know that lipstick makes her feel better. Lipstick has a bigger role in the author’s life than mine; I will let it go at that.
The story is very engaging and educational. I learned more about the Taliban, how they even banned some of the joys of childhood. Also, some of the language, including the standard greeting:
"As-salaam alaikum. Chetore asti? Khoob asti? Jona jurast" which means "May peace be with you. How are you? You are well? How is your health?". Page 61.
Elsa, the nurse, came from an impoverished and rough neighborhood, and her family role was taking care of her disabled sister. She was a lonely person. Somehow she was very naïve about the dangers of war but she learned what she needed to know in Afghanistan with the help of the friends that she made.
Parween was a very intelligent, rebellious tom boy who could stand up against the boys for herself, betrothed at the age of 12, but relieved to know that she could ask for a better husband. She was thrilled when husband encouraged her to learn English.
The two women became inspired by a recent legend of a woman warrior against the Taliban. Their experiences made their friendship grow strong as they faced the demonic Taliban.
I highly recommend this book to people who would like to learn more about Afghanistan culture and some about the Taliban.
March 25, 2012
Lipstick in Afghanistan doesn’t make any pretense of being factual and it’s a darn good thing. The back cover promises it is “inspired by experiences as a nurse in third world war zones.” I can’t remember when I read a more heavy-handed book. It’s almost as if (wait for it…) the author colored all the Key Symbols in with bright red lipstick. Like, for example, well, lipstick. Lipstick is Female Connection and Beauty and Freedom in an Oppressive-to-Women World. Lipstick, all that?
Really?
Oh my.
The Poignant Moments seem painted in lipstick, too. The American soldier sneaking in to make love to our main character in…a burkah? No one noticed that the soldier, described as magnificently tall with blazing blue eyes, is taller than, say the average tiny Afghan woman in a burkah? And the lovemaking is really going to be all-that with our main character taking a bath only every third day, a main character who occasionally finds a deadly scorpion in her bed? And, most unbelievable of all, is our main character and her Afghan friend traveling to a nearby village to check out whether or not a school should be built there. No one bothered to ask the American soldiers (or probably anyone else in a hundred-mile radius) whether the Taliban were located there. Boom. Boom. Our Afghan friend is gone, along with the heroic American soldier (husband and father of two, eagerly awaiting his return home in two months!) attempting to rescue her.
(By the way, I am giving nothing away. Believe you me, I am saving you hours of agony reading this book.)
Really?
Oh my.
The Poignant Moments seem painted in lipstick, too. The American soldier sneaking in to make love to our main character in…a burkah? No one noticed that the soldier, described as magnificently tall with blazing blue eyes, is taller than, say the average tiny Afghan woman in a burkah? And the lovemaking is really going to be all-that with our main character taking a bath only every third day, a main character who occasionally finds a deadly scorpion in her bed? And, most unbelievable of all, is our main character and her Afghan friend traveling to a nearby village to check out whether or not a school should be built there. No one bothered to ask the American soldiers (or probably anyone else in a hundred-mile radius) whether the Taliban were located there. Boom. Boom. Our Afghan friend is gone, along with the heroic American soldier (husband and father of two, eagerly awaiting his return home in two months!) attempting to rescue her.
(By the way, I am giving nothing away. Believe you me, I am saving you hours of agony reading this book.)
April 16, 2013
When I read the back of this book I knew I would love it. This was such a great story that was well written, especially for being a first novel. Roberta Gately has gained a new fan and I look forward to reading more from her.
Not only could I picture everything that was happening, but I felt connected with the main character, Elsa. The fact that she went to another country to help others and not only helped them, but helped herself as well. Her character is very sweet and in some ways innocent in the beginning, but by the end of the book her character grows so much and is strong, independent and has so much courage.
Another part of the book I loved was the friendship between both Elsa and Parween. They are two different women from two different worlds who connect and become best friends. That made this book even harder to put down. I read this book from beginning to cover while I was on my plane trip to California last month and I still talk about it to a few friends of mine. If I didn't have a family to take care of I would love to travel to another country to help those in need. I do hope to do that with my children and husband one day once they're a bit older. A great book that deserves to be read by all!
http://www.justusgirlsblog.com/2013/0...
Not only could I picture everything that was happening, but I felt connected with the main character, Elsa. The fact that she went to another country to help others and not only helped them, but helped herself as well. Her character is very sweet and in some ways innocent in the beginning, but by the end of the book her character grows so much and is strong, independent and has so much courage.
Another part of the book I loved was the friendship between both Elsa and Parween. They are two different women from two different worlds who connect and become best friends. That made this book even harder to put down. I read this book from beginning to cover while I was on my plane trip to California last month and I still talk about it to a few friends of mine. If I didn't have a family to take care of I would love to travel to another country to help those in need. I do hope to do that with my children and husband one day once they're a bit older. A great book that deserves to be read by all!
http://www.justusgirlsblog.com/2013/0...
January 13, 2019
L'ambientazione e la trama avevano creato grandi aspettative. Stile e scrittura molto banali e basici. Dialoghi tra personaggi altamente improbabili, inadatti ai personaggi afghani che ad esempio parlano inglese. Epilogo davvero molto improbabile e anch'esso banale. Purtroppo la storia non coinvolge perché, secondo me, si fa molto caso all'improbabilita della scrittura e alla sua troppa semplicità di stile. È probabile che questo effetto sia dovuto alla traduzione verso l'italiano, ma bisognerebbe leggere la versione in inglese. Tuttavia le altre recensioni anche straniere confermano quanto detto.
Read
September 15, 2017it took me a day to read this novel about Afghanistan.
it is actually about an American nurse called Esa who lives in boston and she plans to go to Afghanistan as a nurse , and then 9/11 happens and things are shattered.
she then flies to Kabul where she becomes a nurse and takes care of various people over there.
it talks about the Taliban , there have been given very beautiful details about Afghanistan.
it talks about the destruction of the great Buddha and how is became a pile of mud.
this novel is based in Kabul and about how Esa becomes a nurse and stays in Afghanistan , then she becomes friends with a women called parween and that is how the story ends.
this was a very well written novel which tells us a lot about Afghanistan and about its people are their lives!.
it is actually about an American nurse called Esa who lives in boston and she plans to go to Afghanistan as a nurse , and then 9/11 happens and things are shattered.
she then flies to Kabul where she becomes a nurse and takes care of various people over there.
it talks about the Taliban , there have been given very beautiful details about Afghanistan.
it talks about the destruction of the great Buddha and how is became a pile of mud.
this novel is based in Kabul and about how Esa becomes a nurse and stays in Afghanistan , then she becomes friends with a women called parween and that is how the story ends.
this was a very well written novel which tells us a lot about Afghanistan and about its people are their lives!.
December 15, 2010
This was a wonderful journey into Afghanistan with the author who I know personally. I could hear Roberta's voice as she told the tale of Elsa, Parween, and the many other characters during a six-month experience in Bamiyan, Afghanistan. The descriptions of the lifestyle and living conditions, including the daily threat of violence, hunger, and disease was shocking and tragic (all true, I know for sure)and yet Elsa's character (through Roberta's experience and compassion) provided such humanity and dignity to her patients and new friends. Thank you Roberta for your service, and for writing this book. I'm going to go refresh my lipstick!
September 27, 2017
Chiaro esempio (a mio modo di vedere) di come il passaparola fa apparire un libro del tutto mediocre una sorta di successo. Leggo svariate recensioni sulla tragedia afghana, sulle donne, sulle difficoltà, sulla guerra, le ingiustizie...ma tutto ciò è solo la cornice per una storiella da romanzetto da spiaggia con la copertina rosa, con un finale già scritto dall'inizio, del tutto scadente e scontato. Leggete piuttosto "due splendidi destini" o "cenerentola a kabul", "le lezioni proibite" o i libri di Deborah Rodriguez. Capirete molto meglio la realtà.
May 27, 2012
This book just sucked, there's simply no nice way for me to say it. I couldn't even force myself to finish it (and I can count on one hand the number of times I haven't finished a book). The writing wwas very poor, immature almost, and I found it a bit stunted and forced. It did not flow or read naturally at all for me. And the protagonist was rather unrealistic as well.
December 29, 2011
A decent easy read - the story of Elsa, a Boston girl turned nurse and aid worker in Afghanistan. The story was a bit superficial, but I enjoyed the portrayals of women's friendship and the culture of women in Afghanistan. The ending was a bit spotty and abrupt, but not a bad read.
November 9, 2014
Man, what a sad friggin book. Ugh.
June 23, 2012
An American nurse goes to volunteer at a clinic in Afghanistan. There, she finds love and a deep understanding of the people and their culture.
March 16, 2017
Avoid. Not even worth the time to review.
November 21, 2019
Synopsis: Elsa trained as a nurse and decides to go to Afghanistan as a volunteer. She has limited support and must navigate the culture and customs with almost no help. She meets locals and makes friendships during her 6 months of volunteering.
My Rating:
3/5
I learned so much about the culture and customs of Afghanistan. This was an incredibly eye opening book much like my previous experience reading the Kite Runner. The author is a humanitarian worker and her depiction of the people and customs was well researched and rang true. The setting was done well and was amazingly rich. Afghanistan is almost a character in this novel.
The exploration of women in Afghanistan was inspiring. The women in this book often must do incredible things with little power. Afghanistan is a country where women are suppressed and yet the women in this book are heroes. They risk everything to help other women and to care for their families. The bonds they form with one another touched my heart. The lipstick in the title is symbolic of female empowerment and I really appreciated the symbolism it held especially as Elsa struggles with how she and other women are treated. People don't understand why she is not married. They have no concept of a career woman.
While I loved the setting and the character depth I also had several issues with this novel.
This is a debut novel and I found the prose frustrating to read. It is written in 3rd person and at times there is more telling than showing. Just overall I didn't jive with the writing of this book.
I also thought the story started too early. The book opens when Elsa is a child and I felt that was unnecessary. Her background could have been woven through the story and worked better. I felt like the beginning of the novel just meandered.
Another major issue I had was with the plot of this book. This book felt more like loosely connected vignettes than a book with an overarching plot. The plot of the book is Elsa goes to Afghanistan. She is a nurse there. Stuff happens. After six months she leaves.
Especially near the end of the book it seemed to me the story was in the weeds and things got convoluted and weird.
I felt like the book was missing the glue to hold the story it was trying to tell together. We got some amazing fragments but missed out on the whole.
I also was not a fan of the romance sub plot in this book.
Overall I don't feel I can recommend this book as a novel read for entertainment. If you want a novel that looks at the culture of Afghanistan and you are less concerned about story then this book may work well enough for you.
My Rating:
3/5
I learned so much about the culture and customs of Afghanistan. This was an incredibly eye opening book much like my previous experience reading the Kite Runner. The author is a humanitarian worker and her depiction of the people and customs was well researched and rang true. The setting was done well and was amazingly rich. Afghanistan is almost a character in this novel.
The exploration of women in Afghanistan was inspiring. The women in this book often must do incredible things with little power. Afghanistan is a country where women are suppressed and yet the women in this book are heroes. They risk everything to help other women and to care for their families. The bonds they form with one another touched my heart. The lipstick in the title is symbolic of female empowerment and I really appreciated the symbolism it held especially as Elsa struggles with how she and other women are treated. People don't understand why she is not married. They have no concept of a career woman.
While I loved the setting and the character depth I also had several issues with this novel.
This is a debut novel and I found the prose frustrating to read. It is written in 3rd person and at times there is more telling than showing. Just overall I didn't jive with the writing of this book.
I also thought the story started too early. The book opens when Elsa is a child and I felt that was unnecessary. Her background could have been woven through the story and worked better. I felt like the beginning of the novel just meandered.
Another major issue I had was with the plot of this book. This book felt more like loosely connected vignettes than a book with an overarching plot. The plot of the book is Elsa goes to Afghanistan. She is a nurse there. Stuff happens. After six months she leaves.
Especially near the end of the book it seemed to me the story was in the weeds and things got convoluted and weird.
I felt like the book was missing the glue to hold the story it was trying to tell together. We got some amazing fragments but missed out on the whole.
I also was not a fan of the romance sub plot in this book.
Overall I don't feel I can recommend this book as a novel read for entertainment. If you want a novel that looks at the culture of Afghanistan and you are less concerned about story then this book may work well enough for you.
October 10, 2018
„Să porți ruj în Afghanistan” este o poveste cu iz oriental desprinsă parcă din „O mie și una de nopți”, în care predomină sentimentele de prietenie și de iubire duse la extrem, până la uitarea de sine. Este o carte despre puterea de a dărui părți din tine celor din jur și, mai ales, celor pe care soarta nu i-a binecuvântat cu o viață liniștită și lipsită de griji, un roman despre sacrificiu și forța de a schimba lumea sau cel puțin universul înconjurător prin puterea exemplului personal. De asemenea, este un bun exemplu de bunătate, toleranță și lipsa preconcepțiilor de orice fel. Personajul principal ne învață că, mai presus de orice, trebuie să nu uităm să fim oameni printre oameni.
Autoarea ne prezintă o lume aflată în total contrast cu aceea civilizată din Boston, însă mult mai plină de compasiune și de dorința de într-ajutorare, căci nu îți mai rămâne nimic altceva de făcut când lumea ta este dominată de ură și de război. Cartea sa reușește să surprindă cu acuratețe culoarea locală din Afghanistanul de după evenimentele din 11 septembrie 2001, o țară a contrastelor, aflată în plin conflict intern cu talibanii și într-un continuu război cu America, fapt care transformă locurile odată idilice în spații în care predomină frica, teroarea, moartea, și în care lipsesc și cele mai elementare semne de confort, așa cum sunt curentul electric, apa curentă sau lecțiile efectuate într-un cadru organizat. Imaginați-vă cum este să trăiți într-o lume în care copiii nu au o școală, în care soții se află în permanență cu capul sub o sabie pe care o pot simți, chiar dacă nu întotdeauna o și văd, și în care femeile sunt subapreciate și coborâte la nivelul de sursă de plăcere și ispită și toate acestea din cauza unui regim opresiv, izvorât parcă din Evul Mediu! Cu toate acestea, oamenii din aceste zone de conflict nu își pierd bunătatea și ospitalitatea, nu se transformă peste noapte în călăi și aleg să meargă mai departe în ciuda tuturor lipsurilor și a amenințărilor permanente venite din diverse surse, fie ele locale sau internaționale...
„E greu de imaginat cum poți trăi așa - fără electricitate, fără apă curentă, fără școli sau jucării pentru copii. Și întotdeauna două tabere care se luptă între ele.”
http://sufletsicrampeie.blogspot.com/...
Autoarea ne prezintă o lume aflată în total contrast cu aceea civilizată din Boston, însă mult mai plină de compasiune și de dorința de într-ajutorare, căci nu îți mai rămâne nimic altceva de făcut când lumea ta este dominată de ură și de război. Cartea sa reușește să surprindă cu acuratețe culoarea locală din Afghanistanul de după evenimentele din 11 septembrie 2001, o țară a contrastelor, aflată în plin conflict intern cu talibanii și într-un continuu război cu America, fapt care transformă locurile odată idilice în spații în care predomină frica, teroarea, moartea, și în care lipsesc și cele mai elementare semne de confort, așa cum sunt curentul electric, apa curentă sau lecțiile efectuate într-un cadru organizat. Imaginați-vă cum este să trăiți într-o lume în care copiii nu au o școală, în care soții se află în permanență cu capul sub o sabie pe care o pot simți, chiar dacă nu întotdeauna o și văd, și în care femeile sunt subapreciate și coborâte la nivelul de sursă de plăcere și ispită și toate acestea din cauza unui regim opresiv, izvorât parcă din Evul Mediu! Cu toate acestea, oamenii din aceste zone de conflict nu își pierd bunătatea și ospitalitatea, nu se transformă peste noapte în călăi și aleg să meargă mai departe în ciuda tuturor lipsurilor și a amenințărilor permanente venite din diverse surse, fie ele locale sau internaționale...
„E greu de imaginat cum poți trăi așa - fără electricitate, fără apă curentă, fără școli sau jucării pentru copii. Și întotdeauna două tabere care se luptă între ele.”
http://sufletsicrampeie.blogspot.com/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews