Fort of Nine Towers

This book is, I must say, one of the best books I have ever read. What an incredible story. The author shares his intimate encounters with the horrors of a war-torn Kabul, but as he does so he also brings us into the life and beauty of his family, and takes us on their journey of survival throughout Afghanistan. The author’s writing style is straightforward yet poetic, detailed (but not to the point of boredom), heart-wrenching and hopeful, soul-searching and soul-stirring. I can’t recommend this book enough.

The very first thing I did when I finished reading A Fort of Nine Towers was boot up my computer and order eight more copies to pass out to family and friends. This is one of those books that makes you think, “Everyone should read this book.” I hesitate to review it, because I don’t know if I’m a strong enough writer to do it justice, but I’m going to try, because I think it’s a flat out masterpiece—for so many reasons, and on so many levels. A book that comes to mind that I put in a similar category is Angela’s Ashes. Like Angela’s Ashes, A Fort of Nine Towers tells a terrible story, but beautifully, and in a way that teaches profound lessons about what it means to be human on much of this planet.Fundamentally, it’s the autobiography of a young man who grew up in Afghanistan during the years running up to the time, following 9/11, when the United States declared war on the Taliban. To say that these years were hellish for the people of Afghanistan is an understatement. Some of the experiences that the author’s family lived through—being caught in the middle of a civil war, and then ultimately falling under the control of the Taliban—are so ghastly that they’re painful to read. But the author tells the story so beautifully, and with so much love and tenderness towards his extended family, and the people who helped his family when they were desperate, that you can’t help but fall in love not only with the author, but with all the decent Afghani people who were trapped in a storm of almost unfathomable chaos and cruelty. If ever there was a book that drives home the terrible cost of modern warfare on ordinary people, this is it—both in terms of what people suffer, and what some people become.In A Fort of Nine Towers, Qais Akbar Omar describes man’s inhumanity to man in such a personal way that it cuts to your core. But he also describes his love for his family and the generosity of many of his countrymen in ways that many of us in the West will find extraordinary. In short, this book is both heartbreaking and beautiful, describing what it is to be human from one extreme to the other—from total love and altruism, to the most terrible cruelty imaginable. It is a fascinating, beautiful, painful, profound journey across the landscape of humanity, and an important insight into a place and people we all read about in the news, but do not even remotely know or understand. For anyone who is interested in gaining some understanding, I suggest you read this book. If you do, I can almost guarantee that you will never be the same.

"A Fort of Nine Towers" will knock the wind right out of you and fill you with awe. This is an enormous, powerful story, rich in textures, colors and parables; an epic of explosive intensity conveyed with an earnest calm; a measured wisdom.I could feel the air, the joy, the tension, the mystery, the confusion, the anger, the loyalty, the love, the loss, and, as so masterfully conveyed -- the POSSIBILITY!I could imagine the dancing, the music, the comfort and pleasure of gatherings around the tablecloth, and the freedom and competition inspired by kites flown from the rooftops.I itched with the fleas. I knew hunger and thirst. I marveled at the scene far below as I peered from behind the mighty Buddha's eyes, and I yearned for a teacher - omniscient - who speaks only with her eyes - her gestures; other worldly.I found myself taut and weary from frightful scenes and horrific assaults. I wept and I ached to imagine all of those horrors so beyond my realm - unspeakable.My leg stung from the bite of the dogs guarding the pomegranates. My knees and thighs were drenched by rising gray waters and mud - and I knew fear.By book's end my nostrils were filled with flour, my clothes smelled of sweat and dust and campfire smoke and of peach, almond, apricot, and apple blossoms and the sweet aroma of onions that give a sense of everything that is good in the world.I marvel at this boy's resilience and wisdom and at this man's uncanny genius for story telling where behind every experience - whether brutal or liberating, whether comical or horrific, is a lesson offered and revered with calm understanding.This book is tight.It moves like lightening.It is impossible to put it down.It is impossible to walk away from this "A Fort of Nine Towers".It is epic!

This compelling book has made my heart ache. A searing account of the trials and suffering of so many innocent Afghanistani people throughout the years but also an unforgettable memoir that lovingly recounts the unwavering warmth, loyalty and support of a wonderful family unit where everyone showed enormous fortitude and resilience. It also gives a comprehensive insight into how the unwavering power struggle has unfolded over the last number of decades which sadly is particularly relevant given recent happenings in Afghanistan. I really wish the author and all of his loved ones good health, safety and happiness. Thank you for sharing your story.

This book was harrowing enlightening loving and heartbreaking and I could not stop reading each chapter as the description of the beauty, landscape culture and relationships of this family country and city were so tenderly captured against the background of horror brutality trauma and loss. It ended with a message of hope but since this books completion I wonder if the country is still moving forward or if once again oppression and violence has returned. Fabulous and distressing but a wonderful narration.

I have been reading this fascinating book when the Taliban have again taken over Afghanistan (August 2021) and can only imagine how life and freedom is in jeopardy once again based on the authors story of events 20 to 30 years ago. My hope is that the current regime are less cruel in the way they govern the country. The author and his family struggled to make a better life not only for themselves but for others in their community. I would certainly recommend his book to those that want to know what life was like all those years ago in Afghanistan.

Compelling if chilling at times, story of one man's life growing up in Afghanistan in the latter 1900's . He has such an engaging way of relating both happy times and the horrific times,you feel as if he is sitting with you. He describes his lovely family so well ,I would love to meet them in person. He is frank,pulling no punches when telling of his shocking experiences with the Taliban. Not for the squeamish in some parts but never the less, it's good for us here in UK to know what horrific times everyone in Kabul must have gone through during the Taliban takeover. I say it is chilling in places as I speculate could it ever happen in UK? Lovely insight to family life of how Afghans lived in happy times. I was pleased to read at the end his account of what happened to his family members and friends later on when things had returned more or less to normal but alas wonder what has happened now when things have gone sour again.God Bless them and give them peace.

An incredible story of a young boy growing up in war torn Afghanistan- helps put a human perspective on the news stories and the people behind the awful atrocities that happen in war. A lesson for the future.