Review of "Broken Tether"
Posted: 30 May 2022, 04:28
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of ""Broken Tether"" by Linda Clifford.]
Broken Tether by Linda Clifford is a historical fiction that looks at life in Afghanistan with the Taliban in control of the government. The setback from modern times for the Afghani women was devastating. In addition to giving up their jobs, the women had to don burqas again and follow Sharia law. Fahima has lived and worked in Kabul since graduating from college and getting married. Suddenly she was being forced back into the life she hated. She and her husband, Rahmat, and their children returned to the village where they grew up. Rahmat and their son joined the militia, and Fahima was forced back into submission under strict Sharia law. There was a constant fear of the Taliban coming into the village and taking the young girls for sex trafficking or their pleasure. The boys were taken from village schools and sent to a boys' school at a young age. There they learned hatred and killing before joining the militia.
After several years of being separated from her husband and son, Fahima could endure no more. She devised a plan to escape. She organized a group of women and their children, and they fled from the village on a quest to find freedom and a better life. Will this group of women and children successfully escape their life of captivity? Or will they be captured by the Taliban? The women knew they were embarking on a dangerous mission, but they were willing to face the risks and accept the consequences if the Taliban or the militia caught them.
Linda Clifford tells a riveting story of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. After having a taste of freedom, they must be devastated to return to a life they fought so hard to leave behind. What I liked most about this book was the strength of Fahima and the other women who were willing to put their lives on the line for freedom. They had no way to let their spouses or other family members know where they would end up. They believed Allah would guide them and also let their families find them. Their courage is an example to all women regardless of the country in which we live.
There wasn't anything I disliked about this book. There were some unsettling descriptions of the treatment of young girls that might be disturbing to some readers. For example, a young girl stepped on a land mine behind the school and lost her leg. And another young girl was raped and killed and dumped at the doorstep of Fahima. These were instances of the reality they had to endure.
The author's writing style was easy to understand and flowed smoothly throughout the book. The dialog felt natural, and the storyline was engaging and realistic. The book appears to have been professionally edited, as there were very few errors. For all of the reasons mentioned above, I am rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found no reason to remove any stars from the rating.
I recommend the book to historical fiction fans and adults interested in different cultures. Due to the graphic descriptions of the two young girls harmed, it may be better to seek parental guidance for anyone under sixteen years of age.
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"Broken Tether"
View: on Bookshelves
Broken Tether by Linda Clifford is a historical fiction that looks at life in Afghanistan with the Taliban in control of the government. The setback from modern times for the Afghani women was devastating. In addition to giving up their jobs, the women had to don burqas again and follow Sharia law. Fahima has lived and worked in Kabul since graduating from college and getting married. Suddenly she was being forced back into the life she hated. She and her husband, Rahmat, and their children returned to the village where they grew up. Rahmat and their son joined the militia, and Fahima was forced back into submission under strict Sharia law. There was a constant fear of the Taliban coming into the village and taking the young girls for sex trafficking or their pleasure. The boys were taken from village schools and sent to a boys' school at a young age. There they learned hatred and killing before joining the militia.
After several years of being separated from her husband and son, Fahima could endure no more. She devised a plan to escape. She organized a group of women and their children, and they fled from the village on a quest to find freedom and a better life. Will this group of women and children successfully escape their life of captivity? Or will they be captured by the Taliban? The women knew they were embarking on a dangerous mission, but they were willing to face the risks and accept the consequences if the Taliban or the militia caught them.
Linda Clifford tells a riveting story of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. After having a taste of freedom, they must be devastated to return to a life they fought so hard to leave behind. What I liked most about this book was the strength of Fahima and the other women who were willing to put their lives on the line for freedom. They had no way to let their spouses or other family members know where they would end up. They believed Allah would guide them and also let their families find them. Their courage is an example to all women regardless of the country in which we live.
There wasn't anything I disliked about this book. There were some unsettling descriptions of the treatment of young girls that might be disturbing to some readers. For example, a young girl stepped on a land mine behind the school and lost her leg. And another young girl was raped and killed and dumped at the doorstep of Fahima. These were instances of the reality they had to endure.
The author's writing style was easy to understand and flowed smoothly throughout the book. The dialog felt natural, and the storyline was engaging and realistic. The book appears to have been professionally edited, as there were very few errors. For all of the reasons mentioned above, I am rating this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found no reason to remove any stars from the rating.
I recommend the book to historical fiction fans and adults interested in different cultures. Due to the graphic descriptions of the two young girls harmed, it may be better to seek parental guidance for anyone under sixteen years of age.
******
"Broken Tether"
View: on Bookshelves