Afghanistan,
Where God Only Comes to Weep
by Siba Shakib
Nige was roundly exposed as a complete Philistine for his inability to distinguish literature from bodice-rippers and misery-memoirs.
Nonetheless he refused to crash and burn steadfastly maintaining that this tragic yarn is a wonderful depiction of the harsh lives of the people of Afghanistan and particularly the women of that country.
Criticisms of the book particularly concerned its style which was often repetitive and was considered by some to be immature.
It was possible that any literary merit had disappeared in translation.
There was a general view that Siba Shakib should not give up the day job – as a film-maker and journalist –
although even those who didn’t like the book’s style generally responded to its content and it certainly engendered some lively discussion.
NS May 2009
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