Journal Entry #2 - 04/30/10

The Bookseller of Kabul - Journal Entry #2

While reading the Chapter, Do You Want To Make Me Sad, it was surprising how a physical ailment, like a limp in your leg, makes you so worthless to a man. Bulbula is kept with her mother until she is a lot older than most girls are before they are sold to a husband but in this case, she couldn't necessarily have a man pay for her. Perhaps even more surprising were the restrictions we read in the next Chapter, No Admission To Heaven. There were 16 decrees, all that we felt were absurd. They have such strict rules, especially women, and some that don't even make sense, such as kite flying. Not only are the restrictions over the top, but their punishments are brutal. For example: "Prohibition against shaving - Anyone who has shaved off or cut his beard will be imprisoned until the beard has grown to the length of a clenched fist" (Page 80). This is just one example of the harsh rules they are forced to follow and the excessive consequences that follow. The following Chapter also surprised us with some of the details. We were surprised that women are left without any power and, when in the market, they seem even less of an individual. While they walk around, they are referred to as burka instead of by name. This technique used by the Author shows that women don't really have an identity, the Author is expressing how she feels about this situation without using her own words to say it.

The following day's reading, Chapteres 9 - 11, also had some surprising detail. In the Chapter, The Matriarch, the Author describes Bibi Gul's children and what happened to them in the past. The son Farid, for example, was excommunicated by Sultan for disrespecting him. Bibi Gul was also forced to give up her last born son due to a promise she made to a baren mother(a childless mother). The biggest surprise through these Chapters in the overall image of these women. They live these long, often unhappy lives filled with little choice, and the little choice they have they often have to give up. They live with great responsibility and loss, things that most people would not have to endure in our world. For them, this kind of agony is not uncommon, if anything, it's just considered typical. Not only was the Chapter, Temptations, surprising but we all found it disgusting and immoral. We thought so because of how Mansur took advantage of the young girl who was only 12 and slept with her as if she was a prostitute(giving her money after sex).

A passage that we thought was extremely well written is the burka scene that we discussed in our first paragraph:

“She keeps losing sight of the billowing burka, which merges with every other billowing burka. Sky blue everywhere. Her eyes are drawn to the ground. In the mud she can distinguish the dirty shoes from other dirty shoes. She can see the trimming on the white trousers and catch a glimpse of the edge of the purple dress worn over them. She walks around the bazaar, looking down, following the fluttering burka…”

We thought this was a well written paragraph because not only did it introduce the Chapter well but the writing helped give a vivid picture for the reader.

Graphic Organizer 4/30: Brittney

These three chapters revolove around what is and is not allowed in the Afghan culture. In the chapter, A Third Rate Wedding, there is a detailed account of what a bride is and is not allowed to do when it comes to her wedding. For example during the women's party the night before a wedding, a bride "...watches from a distance and is forbidden to either smile or dance." The reason given for this is that any sign of happiness would hurt the family the bride is leaving, and any sign of sorrow would hurt the family the bride is about to enter into. So with this the bride is forced to stare with a blank expression.

The chapter, The Matriarch, explains how Bibi Gul, Sultan Khan's mother must obey him, as her the head of the household. An example of ehr having to obey him would be when it came to her other son, Sultan's brother, Farid. Sultan excommunicated Farid, for showing lack of respect from him, and forces his family to erase Farid from their lives for good. Bibi Gul as a reader would know, goes behind Sultan's back and visits her excommunicated son. However, if her actions were to be discovered there would be severe punishments. This shows that in the Afghan culture, just how much power the head of the family has over the other family members.

In the chapter, Temptations, the concept of prostitution is brought up with Rahimullah, who so truly points out that "it would be useless to scream, because if anyone came to the rescue, the fault would lie with her, no matter what." In the Afghan culture, women who use their bodies in order to make money will and are always at fault. The men who pay for such services are not.

Vocab - 04/30/10 - Kelli

Aubergine (Page 96) – NOUN. another term for eggplant .

Burka (Page 98) – NOUN. a long, loose garment covering the whole body, worn in public by many Muslim women.

Copious (Page 99) – ADJECTIVE. abundant in supply or quantity

Mullah (Page 102) – NOUN. a Muslim learned in Islamic theology and sacred law.

Eid (Page 103) – NOUN. a Muslim festival

Reverently (Page 105) – ADJECTIVE. feeling or showing deep and solemn respect

Pakora (Page 107) – NOUN. (in Indian cooking) a piece of vegetable or meat, coated in seasoned batter and deep-fried.

Cloyingly (Page 107) – VERB. disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment

Babushkas (Page 113) – NOUN. (in Poland and Russia) an old woman or grandmother.

Excommunicated (Page 117) – VERB. officially exclude (someone) from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

Summarizer-Steph 4/30/10

1. "A Third-Rate Wedding": This chapter describes Shakila's wedding and the traditions that go along with it. The tone of the chapter is very calm and even, with little emotion, which is a little surprising given that the chapter is describing a wedding. Generally weddings are full of emotion and often frantic, but the wedding described seems to lack both. Any "emergencies" that arise are quickly resolved and forgotten. While the bride's nervousness is mentioned, there is little else in regards to emotion described in the chapter. Instead the chapter meticulously describes the traditions involved in the ceremony, rather than the emotions commonly associated with a wedding.

2. "The Matriarch": This chapter is mostly about Bibi Gul, Sultan's mother. It lists her children and what became of them. The focus is not on Bibi Gul's life, rather on her children. This seems to be a reflection of the idea in Afghani culture that women are only as good as the children they can produce. So naturally Bibi Gul's pride would be in the children she gave birth to.

3. "Temptations": This chapter is about Sultan's son, Mansur. One day while working in his father's shop, Mansur meets a young girl. Although he doesn't have the book she needs, he tells her he will bring it the next day and asks her to return. He then makes plans to seduce and marry her. When Mansur thinks about her, he doesn't admire that she is educated, instead he admires her appearance. He also assumes she can be won over simply by his wealth.

Discussion Leader-Lesley-4/30/10

1. At the end of "Third-Rate Wedding" the blood covered cloth is brought up. The cloth must be given to Shakila's mother Bibi Gul by Wakil's aunt and it said that without the bloody cloth Shakila would have been the one returned to Bibi Gul instead. What is the significance of this bloody cloth?

I didn't realize it at first, but as I wrote this question, I understood. The bloody cloth is used to prove that Shakila was still a virgin prior to being married. If she had not bled, she would have been a shame to the entire family.

2. Sultan obviously appreciates the nicer things in life, and he has the money to afford them. So why is it that he seems to choose to not provide his family with some of the nicer things that he could provide them?

Personally, I am not quite sure why Sultan chooses not to get his family things like beds or other furniture. My only idea is that it is out of fear that if he gets these things they will only end up being stolen or damaged by the Taliban or others. I also feel like he could simply be selfish, because he is the only one with a nice piece of furniture, his bookcase, and he just doesn't want to get his family nicer things.

3. How does the "middle class" in Kabul at the time compare to the "middle class" we see here in the United States?

I believe that the two are very different, I think that the middle class in America would be considered the upper class in Kabul. They think that living in rundown apartment buildings is middle class simply because they have running water, but for us living in one of these war scorned apartments would be considered just above homelessness. It just shows how much culture and luxury varies based on the environment that you are accustomed to.

Graphic Organizer-Steph-4/28/10

THE BURKA

The chapters in today's readings were very focused on the role that women have in Afghani culture. The chapter I found the most intriguing was "Billowing, Fluttering, Winding." This chapter describes Sultan's sister Shakila as she and some other women, all clad in burkas, navigate the market in search of things needed for the wedding. What made the chapter so interesting was the manner in which the author referred to the women. At the beginning she refers to them based on their burkas. For example, there is "lead burka," "pregnant burka" and "billowing burka." In fact, the reader doesn't even know the identities of the women in the burkas until, in a desolate alley, Shakila reveals her face. By describing the women this way, the author demonstrates what the burkas do to the women. The burka allows the woman almost no individuality and asserts the authority of the man.

Summarizer-Lesley-4/28/10

1) This section told the stories of Sultan's two sisters and how they finally got married even though it was at a very late age for Afghan women. It also covered a lot of the restrictions on women in the chapters "No Admission to Heaven" and "Billowing, Fluttering, Winding."

2) The way this section was written clearly showed the authors opinion on the restrictions of women. It started off by describing how important it was to Bibi Gul and Shakila that Shakila be able to continue her schooling and work but then shifted to how when the Taliban came and implemented all of the new restrictions, none of it was allowed anymore. The restrictions on women had become her focus and she made her opinion very well known. Only calling the women in the market "burka's" until they showed their face showed that she feels that these women don't have a name or an identity when they have the burka on because they are forced to hide who they are from the world.

Vocabulary 4/28/10: Brittney

Swill: Liquid or partly liquid food for animals, esp. kitchen refuse given to swine; hogwash. (Page:75)

Billowing: To make rise, surge, or swell. (Page: 84)

Grille: A grating or openwork barrier. (Page: 84)

Lattice: A structure of crossed wooden or metal strips usually arranged to form a diagonal pattern of open spaces between strips. (Page: 84)

Pakora: Fried snack found across South Asia. Created by taking one or two ingredients such as onion, eggplant, potato, spinach, cauliflower, tomato, chili, or occasionally bread of chicken and dipping them into a batter and then deep frying them. (Page: 85)

Dubious: Doubtful (Page: 85)

Roguishly: playfully mischievous (Page: 86)

Coquettish: When a woman flirts lightheartedly with men to win their admiration and affection. (Page: 86)

Wriggle: To twist to and fro (Page: 86)

Coriander: An herb, of the parsley family, native to Europe, having strong-scented leaves used in cooking and aromatic seeds used as a seasoning and in medicine. (Page: 87)

Discussion Leader - Kelli - 04/28/10

1) Why is Shakila allowed/permitted by Wakil to raise her voice or be, what many would interpret as disrespectful, towards him (Chapter 6)?

I believe it is because the man didn't think he would be able to get Shakila as his wife and because of this, he seems to let a lot more slide when it comes to respect towards the husband. Also, I think that his personality is a lot more passive-aggressive and is only willing to stand up to his wife when he feels it is necessary.

2) What are the main reasons Bibi Gul had for having her daughters remain at home with her and not have them married off (Chapter 6)?

It was said in the chapter that the reason she held onto her daughter Bulbula so long is because she was lame and what they considered lazy because one of her hands was not at full strength and she also walked with a limp. The mother believed that she was not as acceptable to be made a wife and the offers would not be great. Although the other daughter had a lot of potentials, the mother never allowed her to be married off because the men wouldn't let the daughter continue her studies or work.

3) What does it show that the Taliban focuses most of the rules on women (Chapter 7)?

I think it just continues to show how the women are treated in this culture and that they have a lot less respect or any authority. It also shows that they have no control or say in how they act, especially in public. I think the rules are very strict and at many points ridiculous that women have to hide themselves and that men are punished for the sole fact that they are encouraging women to be their own person.

4) What was the biggest step for women the author showed in this chapter (Chapter 8)?

I think the entire chapter pointed out a lot of big points for women. Because big leaders and names were allowing their wives to not wear the burka and encouraging other women to do the same, women felt like they had more power to make choices and not cover themselves. Not only did they stop wearing the burkas, but they also made more steps to wear heels and make-up and to really start standing up for themselves.

Article Finder-Steph-4/23/10

This article expands on a topic mentioned in chapter 5, "The Business Trip." In this chapter Sultan journeys to Peshawar, Pakistan to find a printer for the books he wishes to reprint. This chapter discusses the flourishing black market trade that exists in Peshawar. The above article from The New York Times, entitled "Bootlegging, Pakistan-Style," expands on one aspect of the black market in Peshawar not mentioned in the chapter: alcohol. The article discusses how other cities are more lax when it comes to enforcing prohibition, but in Peshawar, where the Taliban are very prominent, the trade is much more dangerous and profitable.

Graphic Organizer-Lesley-4/23/2010

A large portion of this reading focused on the disobedience and punishment of women in this society and it told the story of two women that were involved in this vicious cycle. The cycle begins with the women often not being allowed to marry the one they love, or being forced to marry a man who they do not love. Either situation leads to the woman being unhappy and to feeling some sort of dislike towards their husband. Many women in this situation choose to be an obedient wife even though it makes them unhappy, others choose disobedience. These women may decide to continue seeing the man they truely love and have an affair, but many of them get caught which leads to often severe punishment. Many women who are caught having an affair are beaten and in some cases even killed if the family chooses. This forces the husband to find a new wife which only takes the possibility of love away from another woman and allows the cycle to continue.

Discussion Leader 4/23/10: Brittney

Why do you think that Seierstad uses such emotional ways of writing when describing the feelings and events experienced by the Afghan women?

• I feel that Seierstad uses emotional language to emphasize Afghan women's lack of rights and the cruelties that they must endure. This can be seen on page 25, "Sharifa heard whispering and laughter commingling with sounds that cut her to the heart." Such descriptions as that make it easier for the reader to feel the pain the people in the story are experiencing, in this example it would be how Sharifa, Khan's wife, and how she felt towards her second husband's marriage. Due to Seierstad's writing technique the reader feels more for the characters.

Why does Seierstad focus on women so much?

• I feel that the author focuses on women as much as she does for two reasons. One, that since she herself is a woman she finds an interest in writing about her own sex. And two, that she sees the injustice that there is towards women in that part of the world and wants to make it known. Telling the stories of Saliqua and Jamila gives a more personal account of the injustices, and as a female reader in the U.S who can talk to the male gender without consequences, the thought comes to mind that I would be long dead by now if I lived in that part of the world. It gives a different perspective I feel.

What are some similarities between the Afghan and the U.S cultures found in these chapters?

• With there being so many differences I thought it would interesting to see and look for any similarities that exist in the text. One similarity that I found was on page 28, when it talks about how the women get together and gossip. I feel that this happens everywhere in the U.S, especially among women. Another example I found was how on page 51, it states that "...under the surface all is seething. In spite of running the risk of the death penalty, people have lovers and mistresses in Afghanistan too. There are prostitutes in the towns to whom young boys and men can resort while they wait for a bride." I think we all know that affairs and prostitution are present here in the United States as well.

Summarizer - Kelli - 04/23/10

1) Crime and Punishment - This chapter points out the struggles that Sultan's first wife, Sharifa, faces. After he marries his second wife, she is left in Pakistan while the rest of the family returns to Kabul. Not only does he rarely visit, but he breaks promises to return her home. She discusses that with her time, she often goes to pray and gossip with the neighbors since it is such a small town. One gossip story they share is about a young girl Saliqa who receives love letters from a boy and responds. She later meets up with him and is seen at a park in his company; a "crime" for which she is beaten by her uncle nearly to death. In another story shared, a lady named Jamila is married off to a man living in another country. As she lives with his family, a witness sees a man crawling in her window several times and his items are found. For her "crime," her family kills her. This chapter is written very strongly and really leaves an impression by writing about such sad things with such passion.

2) This entire paragraph is mostly poems where women discuss their secret desires and thoughts. Many of the poems include their hatred for their husband and their wish to be with their love. All of these desires and secrets would be punished if found out. This was written to be very memorable because it is written so differently from other chapters and it includes others' works.

3) This chapter discusses when Sultan finally come to see his first wife in Pakistan. It discusses the dangers and troubles travelling there because of the Taliban. When he arrives, she makes him food and prepares everything. After, they laugh and enjoy each other's company before going to visit many members of the family who were unable to go to Afghanistan, too.

Journal Entry #1 - 04/23/10

The Bookseller of Kabul – Journal Entry #1

We were very surprised with how strict the men are towards women and how they are punished if anyone feels they were “disobedient.” When Jamila married a man who did not live there, she started having what we know of as an affair. Someone claimed they saw a man crawl through her window at night and when the room was checked, some of his things were found. Because of this, the family had a “council meeting.” At this council meeting of her family, everyone, even the mother voted to have her killed because she dishonored the family. After she was killed, most of the evidence that a marriage had taken place was gotten rid of. A young girl named Saliqa was also disobedient because she responded to love letters sent to her. She met him in a taxi and went to a park, although nothing happened, she was severely punished. When her uncle came home, he beat her close to death. Even right away in the beginning of the book, Sultan gets a second wife, against all wishes of the family. Not even his first wife had any say as she was just pushed aside.

These stories give us a better idea of how other cultures live and how women are treated. This information doesn’t necessarily pertain to our lives because in this country we have so many rights as women. Also, it isn’t a man that makes a woman valuable in society but their own personal success.

We believe the author has deeper concentration on the treatment of women than necessarily on men. In the foreword, she vocalizes her struggle in the home because of her feelings on how the women were treated by the men. One of the most interesting things we’ve read about is when Sultan gets a second wife, his first wife who gave him his children, is just left in another country. As much as he promises to send for them, he makes up reasons to still leave her there with her youngest daughter. All of the back stories on the women and their treatment were also very interesting. She focuses a lot on the women’s roles and their struggles than the men’s. Another thing that we enjoyed reading was the poems that they included. The author added in history of the poems and what could and would happened to many of the authors if it was read, especially women authors. The poems showed the women’s hate towards their husbands that they weren’t allowed to vocalize but also the sexual desires the women also felt but were unable to show. Because of the focus on women and their treatment, they would be an ideal audience for reading this book.

Just last week we were talking in class about gender roles and different assumptions the opposite gender had of each other. Although we seemed to point out roles in the US, we also briefly discussed how this could change or be a lot more drastic in other cultures. The ideas in this book will help contribute a lot to the discussion next week that is focused more on women.

“In Afghanistan a woman’s longing for love is taboo. It is forbidden by the tribe’s notion of honor and by the mullahs. Young people have no right to meet, to love, or to choose. Love has little to do with romance; on the contrary, love can be interpreted as committing a serious crime, punishable by death. The undisciplined are cruelly killed. Should only one guilty party be executed, it is invariably the woman.”

This paragraph helps the author transition from the chapter discussing the death and beatings of the girls and also helps introduce the coming chapter. In the coming chapter, it includes the poems in which women discuss their secret thoughts and desires, thoughts that would be punished.

Summary: 4/21/10. By: Brittney Hinner

In the foreward, the book's author, Asne Seierstad gave background information on not only herself, but also Sultan Khan, a.k.a, the bookseller of Kabul. Seierstad during 2001, "spent six weeks in Afganistant with the commandos of the Northern Alliance" and while in Kabul, met Sultan Khan. Khan, was a man whom she became facinated with, due to his stories "about his battles against the different regimes and their censors, how he launched his personal flight, hiding books from the police, lending them out to others-and finally going to prison for it." And, after hearing Khan's stories, an inspired Seierstad decided to write a book about them, and with Sultan Khan's permissin moved in with him and his family.

The first chapter titled The Proposal, goes into detail about how Sultan went about marrying his second wife, Sonya. In this chapter, Seierstad focuses her writing not only on Khan's feelings, but more on the women's feelings. She writes how Sultan Khan's mother, sisters, and first wife, Sharifa disapproved of the engagement. Sharifa, who was not warned before the news of the intended marriage was said to have cried for twenty days, and could not bring herself to attend the wedding. With such a focus on the females and their emotions so early in the book, one may guess that the role of women will continue to be of constant focus of this book.

The second chapter titled Burning Books gives an indepth look at the stories that Seierstad had orginally been facinated with. She writes the stories wile including pieces of historical information within them, that in the end gives the reader a richer knowledge of the situations being discribed.

Graphic Organizer - Kelli - 4/21/2010

In the "arrival" box, it illustrates the opening when she first comes to stay with the family and outlines the entire story. This is very important because it gives the base for the book and gives explanations of what we are going to read. It then goes to the beginning of everything to describe the proposal Sultan has. This chapter was important because it gave everyone their character and roles. It also led to the next box, the bookstores. This is the basis of the book and the main characters greatest passion. it relate back to the first box because she describes how this got her connected in the first place.

Discussion Leader-Steph-4/21/10

1. How does the reader's feelings toward Sultan Khan change throughout this section?

I felt as a reader anger towards Sultan Khan in the first chapter because of his treatment towards women. He acts as though they are just a commodity. However, in the second chapter as the author describes his passion for books and the suffering he endured to keep alive his country's history and culture I gained more respect for him.

2. If the first chapter, 'The Proposal,' had been written from Sultan Khan's perspective, rather than an omniscient author, how would it have differed?

I think that the story would have had little to no emphasis on his wife's opinion on the matter. The passage would have portrayed his decision as necessary and practical. There may have been a bit of hostility towards the women in his family for expressing their displeasure with his decision.

3. What evidence from the first two chapters confirms the author's caution in the foreword that the family described in the book isn't "typical" of Afghanistan?

The first chapter establishes, among other things, the family's wealth-something not common in Afghanistan. Also the family is not only literate, but also has access to a plethora of different books.

Vocabulary Builder-Lesley-4/21/10

1. Bazaar-pg. xii

• A marketplace or shopping quarter in the Middle East.

2. Hammam-pg. xii

• A communal bathhouse in Islamic countries, usually with separate baths for men and women.

3. Burka-pg. xiv

• A loose garment covering the entire body and having a veiled opening for the eyes, worn by Muslim women.

4. Chockablock-pg. xiv

• Extremely full; crowded; jammed

5. Vacillated-pg. xvi

• To waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

6. Superannuated-pg. 8

• Retired because of age or infirmity; too old for use.

7. Kalashikov-pg. 10

• Any series of assault rifles of Soviet design, especially the AK-47.

8. Mullahs-pg. 12

• A title of respect in Islamic countries for someone who is learned in teaches of expounds the sacred laws.

9. Mujahedeen-pg. 15

• Muslim guerilla warriors engaged in a jihad.

10. Pyre-pg. 16

• A pile or heap of wood or other combustible material.

11. Plinth-pg. 20

• A slablike member beneath the base of a column or pier.

Introduction

Going into the book, none of us have had any direct experience with the culture being discussed. Our knowledge of Afghanistan's culture, geography and politics is limited to what we've learned in previous history/geography classes. We also have some knowledge of Afghanistan from news coverage of the war going on there.

Based on the brief reading we’ve done of the book up to this point, it seems that the book focuses a lot on the treatment and status of women in Afghani culture. As women ourselves, we may be slightly biased against the culture because of what seems to us to be poor treatment of women. As college students, we are independent and career-minded, making it difficult for us to accept the almost second class status of women in the book.

We are interested in reading this book because we want to learn more about the culture. Despite the plethora of news coverage about Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion in 2001, we, like the majority of Americans, are not that familiar with the culture. Hopefully by gaining a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan’s culture and recent history, we will better understand the barriers obstructing peace in the country.