A Door in the Earth by Amy Waldman

A DOOR IN THE EARTH by Amy Waldman (The Submission) is a complex text. In this novel, a recent Berkeley college grad and Afghan-American named Parveen is inspired by the earlier efforts of Dr. Gideon Crane to bring medical care to women in Afghanistan.  She decides to take a risk and retrace his steps, to live in a remote village for a few months in order to better document changes in attitudes and experiences for these women. Of course, the changes and observations which Parveen makes about the contrasts between her earlier life and current circumstances are fascinating, too, such as when she reflects on the items in her suitcase or on returning to a pre-digital life. Thinking about the absence of the written word, Parveen muses, “reading was perhaps the only learned behavior that became as involuntary as breathing. It couldn’t be unlearned, couldn’t be switched off, … Only now did she feel … how much work, how much filtering, her brain had been doing to withstand it.” And flashbacks allow for incorporating provocative comments by her professor: “Might opens the door for mission, which in turn justifies might.  Controlling land and bodies paves the way for saving souls, and saving souls solidifies control over land.” 

If there is any criticism of this novel it is that Parveen seems unwilling or unable to trust the evidence of her own eyes and, as a result, parts of the novel move slowly. However, Waldman is masterful at helping readers to appreciate the Afghan culture, particularly the role of women. While reading, many will recall the popularity and subsequent controversy associated with Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea – I was surprised to learn that Jon Krakauer had written Three Cups of Deceit, one of the many texts that Waldman consulted when writing this. Her references to media portrayal by “usual prominent white men (Charlie Rose, Tom Friedman, Tom Brokaw, David Brooks)”, the military, and America’s use of “kind power” are certainly thought-provoking and Waldman’s latest novel is a title worth considering as an addition to our Global Voices class’ syllabus.  A DOOR IN THE EARTH received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus.

The Fighters by C.J. Chivers

THE FIGHTERS by C.J. Chivers is a highly praised analysis of military history and American

combat in Afghanistan and Iraq which offers the perspective and experiences of six combatants described by the publisher as a fighter pilot, a corpsman, a scout helicopter pilot, a grunt, an infantry officer, and a Special Forces sergeant. Chivers said that his one organizing idea was to convey “that they are human,” especially to readers who may not have served or know anyone in the military. It is certainly eye-opening and at times an almost overwhelming emotional experience to read the personal details about the danger and suffering that these soldiers and their families faced, both during and after deployment.

Chivers was an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War and is a Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent for The New York Times. THE FIGHTERS was recently featured on PBS NewsHour and here is a short video interview with Chivers:

THE FIGHTERS received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. You can read or here an excerpt here.  Please look for a copy on our shelves soon.

Silent Hearts by Gwen Florio

Set mostly in the early 2000s and post 9/11, SILENT HEARTS by Gwen Florio is a recently published novel that explores parallels and contrasts through the intertwined lives of two women. Liv is an American expatriate in Afghanistan with her professor husband and Farida is an educated Pakistani who is newly married to the son of an Afghan businessman whose trade involves drugs and guns. Yes, despite clear differences, both women are often defined by their husbands’ roles and impacted by the men’s emotions: “Liv thought of her life in the sheltered embrace of the college campus, first as a student, then a researcher and Martin’s wife. Of the things in that universe that depended upon the whims of men. A door held open for her, or not. A date. A promotion. In this world [Afghanistan] a woman’s very life could turn on whether a man had had a bad day.”

With Farida acting as translator, Liv interviews Afghani women about their life experiences, preparing reports for an NGO named Face the Future. Both Farida and Liv display resilience and develop a mutual regard for each other, even bonding over Alice and Wonderland, the story of “a girl whose curiosity led her to ever-stranger places, who did her best to adjust to incomprehensible circumstances, but who inevitable called stupidity what it was.” Gwen Florio is a prize-winning journalist who has reported from Afghanistan and she movingly conveys the difficulties and dangers there as well as explaining cultural and religious differences. SILENT HEARTS received a starred review from Library Journal, has a helpful discussion guide here, and is definitely recommended for book group discussions.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy which was provided in exchange for this honest review.