This book was not an easy read - not because it was poorly written, indeed the author did a masterful job. But this book brings history to life in a very personal way, and so many things were really hard to read about. It is astonishing how Afghanistan went, in a relatively short period of time, from free to Communism, to civil war, to religious oppression, and now, hopefully, back to freedom. The things these women went through is incredible.