Words in the Dust

Words in the Dust
by
Trent Reedy
YA fiction

Inspired by events that happened to the author when he was stationed in Afghanistan this book is contemporary and highly readable. Zulaikha is an Afghan girl with a birth defect - a cleft lip. This makes eating and talking difficult for her, but most importantly, it affects her marriageability. She is mocked by the village boys and her family is not so sure what her future will hold. The American soldiers notice her one day and come up with a plan to have the American doctors help her. Will her dreams of a normal life come true? Is it too much for a poor girl to dream?

The author ties in all kinds of facts about current life in Afghanistan and references to the past that made the country what it is today. Another theme that runs throughout is the role of women in society, the love of poetry that Afghans have traditionally held, the aftermath of war, the lack of literacy among the young people, and many more discussable topics.

It reminds me of "Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind" but more up to date.

The publisher has included a glossary, which was very helpful. There were many words that the author used that were rather foreign. There is also a discussion with the author, a bibliography of other books about Afghanistan, and a note about the poetry that is referenced in the book.

This book deserves to go on a number of reading lists - books for teenaged girls, books about current events, books about the role of women, books about world culture, etc.

It is touching that the author says that the best person to write this would be an Afghan woman, but the literacy rate among females in that part of Afghanistan is only about 1 %. Heartbreaking! The author is donating money to a charity that supports the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan and there is also a link to a group that starts and runs schools for girls in central Asia.

Reading this book reminds me how grateful I need to be that I am an American woman instead of a poor, illiterate Afghani.

Masquerade

Masquerade
by
Nancy Moser
adult Christian romance fiction

A young woman from a respectable Victorian family must leave England, as her father has lost the family's money and a suitor from New York has agreed to court her. Charlotte wants more out of life than a boring marriage, though. So she and her maid switch identities as they disembark in NYC. Can she and her maid be true to their own personalities even though they are in disguise? Will they find the love they desire? Does wealth buy happiness?
This is a pleasant but unoriginal plot. If you are looking for a quick, but forgettable read, then try this book.
P. S. I think this is an unfortunate title that can be confused with many other books with the same title. Three hundred three titles with the word "masquerade" show up in my library's catalog.

Marrying Anita: A Quest for Love in the New India

Marrying Anita: A Quest for Love in the New India
by
Anita Jain
Adult nonfiction, autobiography.
Anita grew up in the U. S. to parents who were born in India. She has always felt that she was part of both worlds and neither. As she ages, passing 21, 25, then the dreaded 30 her parents wonder if she will ever settle down with a nice Indian American boy. Anita thinks that she probably wants to get married and have children, but is not willing to settle for just anyone. She needs someone who is her equal. Wanted: modern, well educated, articulate, fun loving Indian or Indian American man, cast no bar (barrier).
Anita has a Harvard education and has worked all over the world. She isn't the most beautiful woman, but she is reasonably attractive. She has plenty of friends and has had a number of boyfriends. She decides to look for a man in India while working as a journalist. She tries classified ads, friends of friends, distant relatives, men off the street, men from bars, straight friends of gay friends. Will one of them be Mister Right?
In some ways, Anita is so liberated, but in so ways her situation is very sad. This is a fascinating study about how courtship has lost its way in the twenty first century. It could certainly be included in a sociology reading list about feminism, marriage, and the immigrant experience. One could compare and contrast this case study published in 2008 with those published 20 years before, 50 years before, etc. Maybe in 2029 someone will compare it to an autobiography written in 2028.
I found myself cheering for Anita to have a happy ending, but at the same time I questioned if she was too picky or not committed in her search.
Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...