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undercoverreads's review against another edition
4.0
This novel focuses on the beauty of Afghanistan and its people. What made this novel extra special for me, was that it is told through the eyes of Fawad, a young Afghan boy. Fawad’s mother is a widow, having lost not only her husband, but two children as well. After existing on the charity of family, eking out a hand-to-mouth existence, they start living as opposed to existing, once Fawad’s mother gets a position as the housekeeper to Georgie, a vibrant Western woman, who “combs goats for a living”. Georgie also has two other guests living with her. James, a journalist from England and May, a lesbian engineer. There were many laugh out loud moments as Fawad tries to understand and make sense of the foreigners’ bahaviours and way of life. A truly enjoyable read. Judging from the cover and the blurb, I thought this book would be a somber read, full of heartbreak and pain, but I was pleasantly surprised that this was not so and instead it was a light-spirited, uplifting novel that shows us a side of Afghanistan that we don’t usually see in the media. A delightful read!
d52s's review against another edition
3.0
A mixed bag here. It was interesting to learn about the Afghan culture and more about the time period after the Taliban, but it was difficult to connect with the main character. He didn't think and act like a ten year old boy. Other reviewers pointed out that perhaps this is because he's seen so much tragedy. That makes sense, but because it was difficult to relate to this old/young boy, I wasn't too drawn in by the book. Aside from that, the story was interesting.
thukpa's review against another edition
4.0
My only complaint is that although the narrator, a boy of about 11 years old, is bright, sometimes his observations of his country (Afghanistan,) are far too adult. Would make sense if he were an adult telling of his childhood, but it is clearly as he is living it. Otherwise, funny- despite the serious events, and thoroughly charming!
pujakamdar's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic writing with a wonderful surprise at the end!
jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Fawad is an 11 year old boy living in Kabul after the fall of the Taliban. Having lost his father, brother and sister, he lives with his mother, Mariya, who works as a servant for three westerners sharing a house. Fawad becomes close to Georgie, May and James, even if their non-Muslim ways (they drink alcohol, one reads pornography and one is a lesbian) sometimes shock him. Nevertheless, Fawad is drawn into their lives and becomes especially close to Georgie, who is having a relationship with a high profile Afghan warlord. The book takes place over the course of a year, and Fawad's experiences reflect many of the realities of living in Afganistan today.
It's a very interesting setting for a novel and I learned a lot about Afghanistan. However I felt that the plot was somewhat aimless. It's an easy book to read, but I never felt particularly caught up in it, until the end when I realised how fond I had got of the characters. I felt that the choice to use a child as narrator meant that we never really got to understand what the adults - particularly Mariya and Georgie - were thinking and going through. It's hard not to compare it to The Kite Runner - while it's equally readable, it lacks the punch of that novel. It's humorous in parts and tragic in others. I'd describe it as perfectly okay, but not a standout for me.
It's a very interesting setting for a novel and I learned a lot about Afghanistan. However I felt that the plot was somewhat aimless. It's an easy book to read, but I never felt particularly caught up in it, until the end when I realised how fond I had got of the characters. I felt that the choice to use a child as narrator meant that we never really got to understand what the adults - particularly Mariya and Georgie - were thinking and going through. It's hard not to compare it to The Kite Runner - while it's equally readable, it lacks the punch of that novel. It's humorous in parts and tragic in others. I'd describe it as perfectly okay, but not a standout for me.
banrions's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this novel. The cover and title caught my attention, and I have been interested in novels set in the middle east for a while now. I am immensely glad I picked this up at the bookstore. Fawad is all you could ever hope for in a narrator. He is a very funny character, intelligent and observant. He is kind and interested in the people around him. And I fell in love with him in the first six pages.
Fawad's mother tells him he was born under a million shadows (the Taliban). His father and brother were killed in a raid, his sister was abducted (that same night) and he and his mother were forced to live with his aunt - not a particularly pleasant woman. They are poor and Fawad and his friends run around begging, stealing and working odd jobs after school. His mother finds work doing the cooking, cleaning etc. for three foreigners and she and Fawad head off to live with them. Fawad loves spying on them and the three of them befriend Fawad and his mother and welcome them almost as family.
Georgie, is a british woman in love with and afghani man. Fawad develops a great friendship (and bit of a crush) with her.
May, is an american lesbian who Fawad is afraid will never find a husband and will go to hell. (His conversations with her are very entertaining)
and finally, James, an american journalist who can barley speak any Dari whatsoever. He is a bit of a womanizer and a drunk and every interaction with him and Fawad is hilarious.
The novel spans about a year and I enjoyed every minute of it. The author is fantastic, she really draws you in, knows how to set the pacing, uses descriptive and beautiful imagery, and creates full, complex and interesting characters that the reader comes to love. I feel like I should mention, while this novel takes place in a country during a war, and war is apart of it, the story isn't really about war. Its about these characters and Afghanistan kind of sometimes feels like a character in itself. It sounds beautiful. I have a feeling I will end up reading my copy over and over. Its really a great story about a fantastic young boy.
Fawad's mother tells him he was born under a million shadows (the Taliban). His father and brother were killed in a raid, his sister was abducted (that same night) and he and his mother were forced to live with his aunt - not a particularly pleasant woman. They are poor and Fawad and his friends run around begging, stealing and working odd jobs after school. His mother finds work doing the cooking, cleaning etc. for three foreigners and she and Fawad head off to live with them. Fawad loves spying on them and the three of them befriend Fawad and his mother and welcome them almost as family.
Georgie, is a british woman in love with and afghani man. Fawad develops a great friendship (and bit of a crush) with her.
May, is an american lesbian who Fawad is afraid will never find a husband and will go to hell. (His conversations with her are very entertaining)
and finally, James, an american journalist who can barley speak any Dari whatsoever. He is a bit of a womanizer and a drunk and every interaction with him and Fawad is hilarious.
The novel spans about a year and I enjoyed every minute of it. The author is fantastic, she really draws you in, knows how to set the pacing, uses descriptive and beautiful imagery, and creates full, complex and interesting characters that the reader comes to love. I feel like I should mention, while this novel takes place in a country during a war, and war is apart of it, the story isn't really about war. Its about these characters and Afghanistan kind of sometimes feels like a character in itself. It sounds beautiful. I have a feeling I will end up reading my copy over and over. Its really a great story about a fantastic young boy.
ldv's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly chose this book off the library shelf because of its spine and title [b:Born Under a Million Shadows|6361937|Born Under a Million Shadows|Andrea Busfield|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514C3s42f%2BL._SL75_.jpg|6549053]. It sounded good, and I was intrigued by the jacket's description that it "captures the hope and humanity of the Afghan people." I've read other books that are set in Afghanistan and they focus more on the "struggle and despair" than hope.
The book did not disappoint. Yes, there is hardship in the book, but it is not the gutrenching horrors of [b:The Kite Runner|77203|The Kite Runner|Khaled Hosseini|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573780s/77203.jpg|3295919]. It is after 9/11 and the country is officially free from Taliban rule. Narrated by an eleven year old boy provides an optimistic, carefree perspective that an adult POV could not. The characters are all likeable. There is wit and laughter in their lives. They may be born under a million shadows, but they do find sunshine.
It's not a master piece of literature, but it is colour and joy for a country about which we usually only hear grey and sorrow.
The book did not disappoint. Yes, there is hardship in the book, but it is not the gutrenching horrors of [b:The Kite Runner|77203|The Kite Runner|Khaled Hosseini|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573780s/77203.jpg|3295919]. It is after 9/11 and the country is officially free from Taliban rule. Narrated by an eleven year old boy provides an optimistic, carefree perspective that an adult POV could not. The characters are all likeable. There is wit and laughter in their lives. They may be born under a million shadows, but they do find sunshine.
It's not a master piece of literature, but it is colour and joy for a country about which we usually only hear grey and sorrow.
claire_melanie's review against another edition
4.0
This book was mostly fantastic but the end was really stupid and annoying. Read everything except the final chapter i reckon. Other than that it was sweet, funny and sad
bethg97's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
Would have been a 5-star book, but something about the end felt very tacked-on to me. A very funny, engaging narrator though, who I enjoyed spending time with.