The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

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The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg

Hardcover: 350 pages

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY) (16 Sept. 2014)

Source: Review copy (digital) from Publisher

ISBN: 978 0307952493

Book Synopsis:

An Afghan woman's life expectancy is just 44 years, and her life cycle often begins and ends in disappointment: being born a girl and finally, having a daughter of her own. For some, disguising themselves as boys is the only way to get ahead. Nordberg follows women such as Azita Rafaat, a parliamentarian who once lived as a Bacha Posh, the mother of seven-year-old Mehran, who she is raising as a Bacha Posh as well, but for different reasons than in the past. There's Zahra, a teenage student living as a boy who is about to display signs of womanhood as she enters puberty. And Skukria, a hospital nurse who remained in a Bacha Posh disguise until she was twenty, and who now has three children of her own. Exploring the historical roots of this tradition, The Underground Girls of Kabul is a fascinating and moving investigation.

My Thoughts:

'The Underground Girls of Kabul' by Jenny Nordberg is an immensely informative, insightful and compelling read. Nordberg obviously did extensive research on the practice in Afghanistan of 'basha posh'.  I was not aware of the practice but not surprised.

Having lived in the Middle East I can appreciate a little of the difficulties muslim women face daily living in this often oppressive, male dominated environment.  A woman's life outside the home is practically impossible without a male family member to escort them and I understand the necessity for the compromise in order to be able to get things done, or simply be respected.

The reportage is intelligently written in a compelling, non judgmental manner and brings to light the cultural and religious reasons, benefits and disadvantages of having, and being a 'basha posh'.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this enlightening, outstanding title.

Taking Fire: Saving Captain Aikman: A Story of the Vietnam Air War

AMAZON.com Hardback Link:

AMAZON.com Kindle Link:

Taking Fire: Saving Captain Aikman: A Story of the Vietnam Air War

Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters

Pages: 216 (H/B)

Publisher: Casemate

Publish Date: August 2013

Source: (digital ARC) Publisher via NetGalley

ISBN-10: 1612001262

ISBN-13: 978-1612001265

Rating: Read but Unrated - Not my thing

Synopsis: (Amazon)
"American military special operations forces Rangers, SEALs, and others have become a well recognized and highly respected part of our popular culture. But whom do these elite warriors look to in their times of greatest need: when wounded on the battlefield, cut off deep behind enemy lines, or adrift in the expanse of the world's oceans? They look skyward, hoping to catch a glimpse of their own personal guardian angel: a U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper (PJ) who lives, and sometimes dies, by the motto that others may live.

Taking Fire provides an up-close look into the heroism and mystique of this little known segment of the Air Force Special Tactics community by focusing on one of the most dramatic rescues of the Vietnam War. It was June 1972 and Capt. Lynn Aikman is returning from a bombing mission over North Vietnam when his F-4 Phantom is jumped by an enemy MiG and shot down. He and his backseater Tom Hanton eject from their crippled aircraft, but Hanton lands near a village and is quickly captured by local militia. Badly injured during the ejection, Aikman lands some distance from the village, and there is a chance that he can be recovered if American rescuers can reach him before the enemy does.

Now on the ground and drifting in and out of consciousness, Captain Aikman looks up and suddenly sees his guardian angel in the form of USAF Pararescue Jumper Chuck McGrath. As Sergeant McGrath is preparing to hook the downed pilot to a hoist line, he sees it fall to the ground. Hostile fire on the hovering Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter has damaged the hoist mechanism causing the operator to cut the line. While circling A-1 Skyraiders strafe the militia to keep them away from Aikman and McGrath, the helicopter crew races to come up with a plan. It's getting dark, and they'll only have one chance.

Taking Fire is an exciting, highly dramatic story of life and death over North Vietnam. Much more than a chronicle the events of 27 June 1972, the book gives the reader an up-close look at the little known world of the U.S. Air Force's elite aerial rescue force.'

My Thoughts:
Taking Fire is written in a military documented style of writing using interviews with the para rescue servicemen. I felt disengaged and emotionally unconnected because of this style of writing and did not really get a sense of who the real men were. The authors do go some way to describe Chuck's life leading upto the main event but felt they were far more comfortable with in-depth details of the various helicopters used during the missions.

There are some horrific incidents described during the course of this book but even so I did not feel any real sense of involvement. I am not heartless it is purely the writing style. I don't think the authors meant it to be a 'tear jerker' or 'feel sorry for' story, and intended it to be a clear, matter of all the facts, military book documenting the rescue missions and the bravery of these little known servicemen during the Vietnam war. They definitely achieved their aim.

I have read many factual books about war but this was just not for me. In my opinion this is a man's book and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in military operations wanting to find out more about these extremely brave men and about the dangerous rescue missions.Thank you to the Publisher via Net Galley for allowing me to review this title.

The Knitted Teddy Bear by Sandra Polley

AMAZON UK LINK:

This is a lovely book with some charming colour photographs of traditionally knitted bears.  New knitters with basic skills will easily progress from the simple bear to the more adventurous jointed bear in a short amount of time. Clear diagrams and instructions will help to create the teddy bears of different sizes,  style and character. Matching knitted wardrobe accessories are included with clear diagrams and illustrations on how to sew, join, and complete the bears.  Sandra Polley offers handy tips and some money saving ideas including stuffing alternatives for your bear.

Advice is given on the various yarns that can be used along with a handy converter for the different US/UK terms given for the respective yarns.  A variety of looks can be achieved by using different yarns or materials, and size of knitting needles, so once you're confident enough you should be able to create your very own unique heirloom.

A charming  book for any bear fan to knit for gifts, heirlooms or to keep for themselves.  This book is suited to any level of expertise. The only limit is your creativity.

I would like to thank the Publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this craft book.

DAY OF THE ELEPHANTS by RON SWAGER

Amazon Link

Tite: Day of the Elephants

Authors: Ron Swager & Ed Chinn

Pages: 104

Publishers: Smith Publicity -- Reel Marketing Systems, LLC

Publish Date: 10th July 2013

Genre: Biographies, Memoirs, Christian

Source: (e-copy) Publisher via Net Galley

Rating: A Liberal  3 out of 5

'Day of the Elephants' : African proverb - "When the bull elephants fight, the grass always loses."

Set in Liberia during the 1989-1996 civil war 'Day of the Elephants' is the heart wrenching tale of Roland Deah who as a child of 8 is witness to horrific torture, violence, and mass murder on an epic scale.  He loses family members and friends and along with masses of refugees is forced to flee for his life from the warring tribes.

I cannot imagine the absolute terror and horrors endured by the people caught up in this man made tragedy,  unfortunately I think that the writing style also fails to convey it.  It appears sanitised with the author drawing parallels of his own health issues with the horror of Roland's struggle to survive. I felt it detracted from Roland's experiences and didn't quite have the same impact.

It felt trite, trying too hard to incorporate a connection of a privileged society with that of the suffering people endured in Liberia.  The underlaying message that with faith you can endure anything did not sit well with me and left me feeling that Roland's story would have had more depth, and impact had it been told without this ulterior agenda. There is nothing wrong with including Psalms and Bible passages, but it was unbalanced and just not appropriate in my opinion.

What we learn is a brief history of Liberia and of its connection to the USA from the days of slavery. We learn, to some extent, the politics of the tribal regimes. Knowing very little about Liberia this spurred me on to research  Liberia, its tribes and the civil war. 

Even with the issues about the writing style, or even because of it  I would have no concern with my 12 year old daughter reading 'Day of the Elephants'.

Roland Deah is a proud, seemingly unbroken man, who against all the odds has survived thanks to his faith and the unselfish and brave acts of others.  Roland's tale has stuck with me and I really do hope and pray for the best possible future for him and others like him throughout this troubled world we currently reside.

My view is that the intended market for this book would be readers who do not necessarily want, or need to read in any depth, the details of horrendous acts and  I think they would be moved and appreciate this book.

I would like to thank the Publishers, in particular Anne Johnson of Smith Publicity,  and Net Galley for the opportunity to review this title.