Jill McGivering

An excellent insight into life in this time and place not only for an Indian girl, but for a British one. Was very informative and clearly very well researched, and did not pull back on any punches, plot-wise, to convey how difficult it was for some. At some points, it felt like the author did value conveying research and information over writing believable emotions or loveable characters, and the writing was a little corny at times. I found it hard to connect with the main gals. Also, Isabel's not helping the young boy (suffering from Jonathan), infurtiated me! But again, beautiful descriptions, even if the phrase 'worn from too many washes', was itself, worn from too many uses.… (altro)

How little we actually know about what is going on in Afghanistan. McGivering does an impressive job in this her first novel, using two strong willed women on different sides of the conflict in giving the reader a firm picture of our differences as well as our commonalities. One is a Afghanie mother who will do anything to keep her son safe and the other is a war journalist who reports on the conflict and is determined to find out how and who killed her translator. Also shows how far apart our cultures are and how difficult it is for both sides and how far apart of understanding is. Interesting and informative read.… (altro)

FAR FROM MY FATHER’S HOUSE tells the story of the start of the war in Afghanistan from the view of the writer, an experienced foreign correspondent and expert on the South Asia region; from the perspective of Layla, a thirteen-year old girl and her family: and from the point of view of Frank, working for a humanitarian aid organisation in the extreme and impossible circumstances of a refugee camp where who knows whether one is an enemy or a friend.

We begin in the Swat valley in the Himalayas, in the ancestral home of a close-knit Pakistani family - daughter Layla, father Ibrahim and sweet and gentle Mama, her handicapped sister Marva and Aunty Jamila, Uncle Hamid and his simple-minded son Adnan, handsome Saeed, old grandma and pretty little granddaughter Syma. All are forced to leave with the advent of the Taliban and their brutal invasion and destruction of this quiet valley. Days of agonising suffering lead them to the squalor and filth of a refugee camp - the only place of safety in that terrible ravaged land.

Here we meet Jill (Ellen), the journalist, and Frank; hospital/aid workers Britta and Fatima; together with Taliban fighters; and the pseudo-benefactor and social-climbing Mr Khan and his aides. Here among the dirt, misery and hopelessness of the camp Jill weaves together the two stories - drawing on her experience not just to give a moving account of pity and despair but also a gripping and spellbinding tale of mystery and suspense which involves every character and keeps the reader avidly page turning to the very end.

If you want an education in the intricacies of the Afghan war from several different and interesting standpoints; if you enjoy drama and suspense; if you love a good read with convincing and well-drawn individuals … you will be disappointed should you miss this excellent offering from Jill McGivering.… (altro)