I'll admit it. I had no idea about the actual history behind this story when I picked it up. Honestly, my interest stemmed from the fact that my brother and his wife lived in Kabul for quite some time, after 9-11, so we had a first-hand glimpse of life in Afghanistan after the Taliban left. Would you believe I even have a burkha in my garage??
Kabul24 is the gripping account of the arrest and imprisonment of 24 workers from the organization Shelter Now International. The workers were arrested in August 2001, and released 105 days later in November of that same year. The chapters follow the 8 foreign aid workers and their 16 Muslim associates through their arrests and imprisonments by the Taliban, their enduring the bombing of Kabul post-9/11, to their miraculous release by the U.S. Special forces.
The names Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry may be familiar to many evangelical readers; their book, Prisoners of Hope, was published in 2002 and rode the wave of interest in all things Afghani following the events of the fall of 2001. Less well known in the U.S. are the other 6 international worker held captive, and hidden even further from our eyes is the plight of the 16 Muslims who were accused of converting to Christianity.
The strength of Kabul24 lies in its detailed descriptions of the conditions of the prisons and the interrogations, the insights it gives into the risks many ordinary Afghanis took to help these foreigners, the means the captives used to maintain their sanity and serve God in the midst of persecution, and the tracing of the sovereign hand of God in their rescue. A terrific, mesmerizing read that puts a personal face and context onto recent history.
This book is actually a manuscript version of the movie, Kabul24, which I am very much hoping to see at some point.
And now. . . .the giveaway!
This really is an excellent read, and a great account of life inside the dark days of the Taliban's rule. If you'd like to be entered to win a copy, just post a comment! I'll let one of my kids draw your name out of a hat, and the book will be on its way to you.
Thanks for reading!
Edited: hscarol, you win the draw! If you can email me at hthrhnrqsbassoon@gmail.com, I can ship the book to you. Enjoy!
2 comments:
Sounds interesting.
I love historical novels....and ones that are completely true are even more thrilling. Thanks for pointing out this book. None of the libraries in my state have it so hoping I win your giveaway...or else I'll probably have to find somewhere to buy it!
Post a Comment