Purchase Price: $14.99 on Amazon.ca
A Fort Of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story [Kindle Edition]
Genre: Memoirs, Biographies, Non-Fiction
Book Description: The surprising, stunning book that took the publishing world by storm; a coming-of-age memoir of unimaginable perils and unexpected joys, steeped in the rhythms of folk tales and poetry, that is as unforgettable as it is rare - treasure for readers.
Qais Akbar Omar was born in Kabul in a time of relative peace. Until he was 7, he lived with his father, a high school physics teacher, and mother, a bank manager, in the spacious, garden-filled compound his grandfather had built. Noisy with the laughter of his cousins (with whom they lived in the typical Afghan style), fragrant with the scent of roses and apple blossoms, and rich in shady, tucked-away spots where Qais and his grandfather sat and read, home was the idyllic centre of their quiet, comfortable life.
But in the wake of the Russian withdrawal and the bloody civil conflict that erupted, his family was forced to flee and take refuge in the legendary Fort of Nine Towers, a centuries-old palace in the hills on the far side of Kabul. On a perilous trip home, Omar and his father were kidnapped, narrowly escaping, and the family fled again, his parents leading their 6 children on a remarkable, sometimes wondrous journey. Hiding inside the famous giant Bamiyan Buddhas sculpture, and among Kurchi herders, Omar cobbles together an education, learning the beautiful art of carpet-weaving from a deaf mute girl, which will become the family's means of support. Against a backdrop of uncertainty, violence and absurdity, young Qais Omar weaves together a story -and a self - that is complex, colourful, and profound.
Review:
A Fort of Nine Towers is Qais Akbar Omar's heartbreaking and inspiring true revelations about the turmoil and trauma he, and his family, experienced over the course of 12 or so years of great upheaval in his homeland of Afghanistan. This novel is truly eye opening, life changing, and searing to the heart, but is told with no embellishment, no tools to create unnecessary drama, the stark and honest tone of Qais's story is rending to the heart and spirit. At many points, the reader has to wonder how Qais survived all he did, and how he came out of it with such a strong connection to his homeland, his family, and his own sense of right and wrong. This story is one that will show you a glimpse of life in a country, Afghanistan, that many have misconceptions about, and reminds us all that people are people no matter where they are born, what they believe, and underneath it all, most just want to be free to live a life of peace and freedom from violence and war. An exceptional story by an exceptional writer, who just happens to be an exceptional human being.
**WARNING, THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS**
Qais Akbar Omar begins his true-life tale as a child in a very large and tight-knit family living in a large compound in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan at the time the Russian forces are finally leaving the country in 1989. Afghanistan, after years of Socialist influence, is in political turmoil, but Qais and his family are optimistic that the change will bring with it positive changes in his country.
Qais lives in his Grandfather's home, a compound of rooms that house his large extended family, many uncles and their wives and children. He looks up to his father, a well respected former boxer and a physics teacher, who also sells and trades precious antique hand-knotted rugs. He is very close to his Grandfather, and looks up to him with great respect, as does the community he lives in. His Grandfather is well respected, and often advises people on business matters as well as works to ensure that the community provides support for members in need. It is clear that Qais has a good life, his family is well established and relatively wealthy, but they are richer for their close relationships between siblings and cousins. Their days consist of learning, sharing meals, flying kites, and enjoying the beautiful gardens of the city of Kabul.
The first signs of change occur when the shouts of the Mujahedin, or Holy Warriors, can be heard in the streets in 1991. From this point on, nothing and no one is safe. Snipers hide in the nearby hills, rockets pound the beautiful city of Kabul and the city once known for it's gardens and tree lined streets becomes the center of civil war that rages for years to come.
Qais Akbar Omar relates his tale of escaping the city and leaving behind his beloved home, while his entire family tries to find a way to safety. Food is scarce, danger is everywhere, and it seems that no matter how hard Qais father tries to find a way out of the country, their attempts to flee are thwarted at every turn. With no money and no connections, the family moves from place to place with only the guidance of the BBC World News radio reports. Many times I felt dread as Qais tells his story, the violence he is exposed to is frightening, and one wonders how anyone survived the civil war that lasted so long between warring factions of the Mujahedin. Family losses are heavy, and weigh heavily on young Qais's developing sense of self.
When the Mujehedin is ousted by the Taliban, things go from bad to worse. Now the dangers are not bombs and sniper bullets, but a twisted take on the Islamic religion that means no one is safe from judgement, and following ever tightening rules becomes almost an impossibility. This unique inside view of how the Taliban seemed to come out of no-where and gain a strangle hold on the entire country is frightening. Qais describes something that only an insider, a survivor, could share. The wild swings of fortune, and more often, misfortune are visceral and pulsating with dread.
If you have ever wondered what it was like to live under Taliban rule, you must read this book. If you have ever wondered what living in a war-zone, where infighting between different factions of a Holy War literally decimate a population and a country, you must read this book. If you have wondered about the people of Afghanistan, the people just trying to live day to day, then this book will give you a glimpse that is fascinating. Most of all, this book is an amazing personal memoir of survival, and a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the connections of family and culture.
Fired Up Rating: 5/5 Flames
Bottom Line: I highly recommend A Fort of Nine Towers by Qais Akbar Omar, it is so many wonderful things all in one gripping and riveting novel. It will change your view of a people, a country, and the amazing strength of one boy growing up in the most unsettled of times for this one country, Afghanistan, in all of it's history. Simply remarkable.
** Note, this review is based on a copy that was obtained as part of the Goodreads, First Reads giveaways. The opinions expressed are my own and are in no way influenced by the Publisher, Author, or Goodreads.com **
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