Homeira Qaderi is a mother, author, celebrated activist and champion of rights for all Afghani women, and outspoken critic of the Taliban. When the United States announced their withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Taliban regained control of Homeira's beloved country, she knew her life was now in danger. But she was determined to stay in Kabul and keep speaking out against the Taliban. Until her family finally convinced her to try and escape.
Sam Aronson, a junior diplomat with the State Department, was on vacation when Afghanistan devolved into chaos. He quickly volunteered to help with the refugee crisis and ended up being sent to the airport in Kabul to try and vet the thousands of Afghani citizens desperate to leave their country and escape the Taliban--especially those who had done so much to help the Americans over the last twenty years. But it's all the ones he's forced to turn away that begin to give him nightmares. That's when he decides to try and bring as many people as he can through the airport's secret gate before it closes for good. Homeira Qaderi and her son are two of the people he helped save.
My thoughts: This incredible true story is both riveting and heartbreaking. Thinking about what happened in Afghanistan in August of 2021 still makes me angry and sad. And this book captures all of those emotions. The masterful way that Zuckoff interweaves Homeira's and Sam's eyewitness accounts lets you see the harrowing and tragic events taking place on both sides of the gate. Sam's determination to save lives was inspiring. And Homeira's love for her country deepened my understanding of Afghanistan and it's history. For me, this was a 5-star read!
Happy Reading!
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The blurb gives me chills! This would be an eye opening read. Wonderful review, Lark!
ReplyDeleteIt was eye-opening and heart-breaking in equal measure.
DeleteThanks friend. Regine
ReplyDeleteHi, Regine! Thanks for visiting. :D
DeleteOh gosh she has such a powerful story! The whole situation there seems both tragic and inevitable.
ReplyDeleteHomeira Qaderi is an amazing and very brave woman. I admire her a lot.
DeleteThis situation totally kicked me in the gut and I think this book would be powerful reading.
ReplyDeleteSophia Rose
I agree, it was a real kick in the gut.
DeleteI watched the fall of Saigon in which the US was lucky to get its own people out of the city, and never dreamed that our government would let anything remotely like that debacle happen to us again. Well, never say never because the current administration said "oh yeah, hold my beer" and showed the world something much worse. I'm still angry about it too, Lark, and can barely read books like this one without setting them down over and over again. What we did to those people was disgraceful and will never be forgotten or forgiven.
ReplyDeleteIt was disgraceful! And I hope it's never forgotten. That's why I think it's important for books like this one to be written, read and shared.
DeleteWow. I think I remember hearing about the secret gate too. So infuriating to leave people behind.
ReplyDeleteAnd so sad! I hate the way it all went down.
DeleteThis sounds like such an important and interesting book.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very compelling read!
DeleteI was just reading a story about how the Taliban is now ordering the closure of beauty salons. It's like, less take away any and every freedom women can have. It's heartbreaking. I hadn't heard of this book but sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks at how we abandoned the women of Afghanistan and left them to the cruelty of the Taliban.
DeleteThe events are so heartbreaking! Especially for women. Seems like women are the biggest losers as usual.
ReplyDeleteThe women are certainly the ones suffering the most in Afghanistan now. And all the interpreters that got left behind. It is heartbreaking.
DeleteA heartbreaking and a powerful story, too. This isn't my usual read but thanks for sharing this book with us, Lark. Great review!
ReplyDeleteIt's very compelling nonfiction.
DeleteSometimes it's the true stories that are really heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI think true stories are always the saddest...even yours from your childhood!
DeleteSuch a terrifying and horrible situation.
ReplyDeleteIt really was. And still is for all the people who got left behind.
DeleteWow I didn't even know about this book. The withdrawal from Afghanistan was awful and so upsetting on various levels. It's a disaster there today. I read Qaderi's book Dancing in the Mosque and she is a courageous woman and human rights fighter. I'm glad she got out! Here are my thoughts on that book: https://www.thecuecard.com/books/california-days/
ReplyDeleteI just checked out your review of Dancing in the Mosque; Qaderi is a really amazing woman. I hope she gets to go back home someday.
DeleteA powerful read for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt really is.
DeleteIt makes me sad and angry, too, about the way things went down in leaving Afghanistan. I still don't understand how or why it happened the way it did. So sad! And infuriating. This sounds like such a powerful read. I'll be adding it to my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't have happened the way it did; we never should have set a deadline for our withdrawal, or left so many people behind.
DeleteGreat review Lark and this is such an important book. The planning for the withdrawal needed to be better so that we could get as many Afghan civilians to safety as possible, people who were on Talaban lists, interpreters, women's rights activists,, anyone who had helped us who were now in danger.. I fear that many didn't get out. I plan to read The Secret Gate.
ReplyDeleteThe planning should have been much better! And they should never have given up Bagram airbase to the Taliban, or left all those people behind who helped America for so many years. It breaks my heart thinking about it. And this book is amazing. I hope you do get a chance to read it. :D
DeleteThis does indeed sound like a "must read."
ReplyDeleteIt's so good!
DeleteI don't think I'd be able to read this book! I feel like it would make me too sad. Glad you enjoyed it though.
ReplyDeleteMy June Recap and July TBR
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It is a sad one! But important to know about, too.
DeleteThe whole situation in Afghanistan is too sad. But it is important. This sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteI think it's one everyone should read just so they have a better understanding of what's going on in Afghanistan right now.
DeleteThis sounds absolutely heartbreaking but powerfully done. I really have a limited understanding about what's going on in Afghanistan so I will have to pick this one up.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good one...and will give you a lot of insight into the situation in Afghanistan and the plight of the people there under the Taliban.
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