Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan

"A powerful collection of testimonies that depict the struggles and hopes of Afghan women. An often emotional and at times painful read, this book is ultimately a poignant celebration of human resilience under unimaginable duress. " --KHALED HOSSEINI, New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner

"I am deeply touched by these stories...Dear Zari should be read by anyone who cares and wants to know about Asia and Asian women." --XINRAN

"All the stories in Dear Zari illustrate the suffering caused by deeply ingrained Afghan traditions. But the women's} bravery and resilience shines through and Kargar touchingly reveals how hearing others' life stories finally gave her the courage to share her own. " --The Independent

Moving, enlightening, and heartbreaking, Dear Zari gives voice to the secret lives of Afghan women. For the first time, Dear Zari allows these women to tell their stories in their own words: from the child bride given as payment to end of a family feud, to a life spent in a dark, dusty room weaving carpets, from a young girl being brought up as a boy, to a woman living as a widow shunned by society.

Intimate, emotional, painful and uplifting, these stories uncover the suffering and strength of women in this deeply religious and intensely traditional society, and show how their courage is an inspiration to women everywhere.