Books...
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
This past week I read, in complete, Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. It is a dramatic story of a boy's childhood and young adulthood which took place in his native country of Afghanistan and also in California's Bay Area. The novel takes place during the end of that country's monarchy, through the Soviet invasion, and finally ends with the Taliban's rise to power during which the narrator begins his long journey to California.
To me, an average and unfortunately ignorant American, the story was a fairy tale. To me, Afghanistan is a desert and poor country where terrorists devise plots and where citizens live in caves. Housseini, an Afghan-American himself, introduced me to the real Afghanistan. I have the utmost respect for refugees and will take any opportunity to shake an Afghan-American's hand and enjoy a conversation with such.
I come away from the novel with a new interest in Middle East culture and history as well as a realization that an avid newspaper reading college student does not yield an adequate knowledge of the world.
_______________
John Adams, David McCullough
Just prior to a home dinner with my parents this evening I was browsing through my Dad's bookshelves in search of a new read. I choose John Adams mainly for two reasons:
1) I am a history major with only a basic understanding of the American Revolution and
2) I hope to soon engage in a political conversation with a Republican and amaze him/her that a liberal reads pro-American novels.
This past week I read, in complete, Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. It is a dramatic story of a boy's childhood and young adulthood which took place in his native country of Afghanistan and also in California's Bay Area. The novel takes place during the end of that country's monarchy, through the Soviet invasion, and finally ends with the Taliban's rise to power during which the narrator begins his long journey to California.
To me, an average and unfortunately ignorant American, the story was a fairy tale. To me, Afghanistan is a desert and poor country where terrorists devise plots and where citizens live in caves. Housseini, an Afghan-American himself, introduced me to the real Afghanistan. I have the utmost respect for refugees and will take any opportunity to shake an Afghan-American's hand and enjoy a conversation with such.
I come away from the novel with a new interest in Middle East culture and history as well as a realization that an avid newspaper reading college student does not yield an adequate knowledge of the world.
_______________
John Adams, David McCullough
Just prior to a home dinner with my parents this evening I was browsing through my Dad's bookshelves in search of a new read. I choose John Adams mainly for two reasons:
1) I am a history major with only a basic understanding of the American Revolution and
2) I hope to soon engage in a political conversation with a Republican and amaze him/her that a liberal reads pro-American novels.