Customer Reviews

Kara Kush

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kara Kush is one of the best adventure stories I've ever read. The tales of bravery coupled with the fascinating history and insight into the freedom fighters of Afganistan and the world sparked my interest long before I knew what a Sufi was (I still may not know). This novel had such a ring of honesty that I found myself doubting it could be anything but the very best of non-fiction. From the actual phone number of the KGB to the descriptions of leaders and life experiences, this book paints a picture so vivid and genuine that one must wonder from what narrative or collection the author was writing. I would recommend this story to anyone with a curious spirit and the wish to be led somewhere interesting.

This book was published in 1986, but noticing it on my shelf, and with the news of the day, I thought it was high time to review it.

Although the conceit is an American-educated Afghan returning to organize Afghans fighting the Soviets in the 1980s--probably intended to help sales for this English-language book written by an Afghan--the book is an Afghan's view of the Afghan struggle to defeat the invading Soviets. While the cold war message Americans might have taken away from the book was that Afghans were our allies in defeating the totalitarian Soviet Union, the lasting message is a different one. Afghanistan is not so much a nation as a geographical region filled with fiercely independent tribes. Much has been made of their success in repulsing invaders. But the deeper story is that they have never surrendered their independence to anyone, including indigenous governments. Tribal leaders were willing to pledge nominal fealty to Afghan governments so long as those governments made no effort to expand their writ to tribal areas. But the tribes never allowed themselves to actually be governed by any central authority. Even the Taliban, for all their brutality, never controlled the whole area of Afghanistan.

Some have criticized this book for treating the Soviets as caricatures. But the book is told from the Afghan viewpoint, and fighters demonize their enemies. This is not an objective book that tries to see the Soviets as they really were, it is a book that presents the Soviets as an Afghan imagines them. If that is a problem for you, you might not like the book.

A powerful--albeit biased and definitely period--book, it still offers a vivid insight to Afghan tribalism. Yes, to read it today you will have to set aside some cold war baggage. But many "old" novels carry baggage from their era. This novel is a lively read, and deserves a new lease on remembrance by yet another tragic turn in Afghan history.

A revealing testimony about the authors homeland and his truely unique incites into its people and their history. A must read for any student of coherent thinking and a wonderful example of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. Whether you are interested in warfare, travel, or incites into the greater capacities of the human spirit Kara Kush is the book for you. This story is truely told from an insiders point of view.

When i got hold of this book (1987 Fontana edition) i had rather higher then average expectation`s. Who better to write a book about Soviet-occupied Afghanistan then an Afghan themselves? Half way through i decided that this book could have been so much better then it was. I can honestly say this book has a large amount of Anti-Russian feeling to it. I can understand why, considering the thing`s they`ve done there but Shah goes as far as to say that all Russian`s batter and beat their wives and consider it 'the right thing to do'. Almost every Russian in this book (and there are quite a few) are either described as psychotic lunatics (One smile`s in glee as he torture`s someone and rape`s her daughter) or so stupid you`d think they`d not even know how to operate the Kalishnikov`s they were assigned to use. The way Shah jump`s through the book giving new character`s almost every chapter, you can`t get to feel as if you have any connection or feeling`s for them and hence come`s across feeling more like a text book with a fictious story in a real life setting then a real story. Although it does have some good, like the description`s of Kabul and refugee`s escaping and such, i am forced to give this book an 'Average' rateing at best.

A pretty good read. Interessting details about the war with Russia, many of which I am sure are true. Gave me a better understanding of the Afgan people. The write goes a little "Tom Clancy" at times, but it's a good book and I think, for the most part, based on truth.