A fascinating book, full of insight.
I picked up this book out of curiosity and was soon fascinated by its account of a city and a culture of which I knew far less than I should: Kabul, seen in the period of relative peace and prosperity between 2001 and 2013.
Taran Khan was born and raised in India but has familial links with Afghanistan. The book unfolds partly as a kind of dialogue between her and her beloved grandfather, who'd made a lifetime's study of Kabul and its culture though he never visited in person. Khan spent several extended periods there and her explorations of the city, often on foot (sometimes against the advice of friends) bring it to life in a way we don't get from conventional history books and news reports. There are chapters on subjects as diverse as drugs and mental health, and the extravagant culture of the 'wedding halls' which sprang up in great numbers during the years in question. I was particularly taken by the chapter on bookshops and libraries, and its testimony to the courage and determination of those who protected Kabul's written heritage and culture during the first period of Taliban rule.
A very moving, elegiac, final chapter records the closing days of Khan's final sojourn in Kabul, as the security situation deteriorates, and as she makes her reluctant farewells. We are left to wonder what has happened to the engaging and spirited characters we've come to know in these pages.
Unreservedly recommended.