Hot, Violent Afghanistan

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In the first chapter, a woman is stoned to death because she is believed to be a prostitute. I thought it was kind of weird that it was not militia men, but militia women, that escorted this woman out of the prison. I didn't know that women could have a part in their army, since they are looked down on over there. I also couldn't believe that after she was obviously dead, the people just kept stoning her, and that they looked for her blood where they hit her with the rocks. This sounds like a terrible place to live. It is described as nothing but battlefields, cemeteries, and sand. These people also seem to have no consideration for others, as they just walk around in the market with a whip to get through, or drive their truck through a mob of people without slowing down.

In this chapter, Atiq is described as the jail keeper. He is very depressed, and he seems like he is just done living his life. He spends his days in the small, dark, and spider web-covered cubbyhole he calls his office. The atmosphere of the jail is eating away at him, along with the thought of having to go home and care for his dying wife. She has a disease in her blood, and the doctors have given up hope for her to live through it. Atiq is starting to question mullah because is his wife's sickness. Atiq decides to leave the jail and go for a walk. While walking along the street, a horse and cart comes speeding by, and he almost gets run over. At the very last second, he jumps out of the way and lands by Mizra Shah's store, who was an friend that he grew up with. Mizra says that Atiq looks depressed and Atiq tells him about his wife. Mizra says that Atiq should just divorce her, but Atiq feels that he cannot because she saved his life. I cannot believe the way...

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...ry religious, it would seem, because he owns a huge copy of the Qur'an which he keeps safe in a fancy box covered in velvet. Atiq doesn't like his job, he doesn't feel that it is respectable, and the more he thinks about it the angrier he gets. He also feels that the war will never end. Atiq is losing health, sleep, and weight in this desolate environment. Kabul is even more depressing while he watches a young poor practice for his future by killing animals in the street. Atiq doesn't want to go home to face his sick wife and messy home. Atiq prays for his wife's death while looking for a remedy for her disease of the blood. He meets with Mirza Shah who tells him to divorce her. Atiq refuses, he speaks of her loss of family and the fact that she saved his life, but maybe he just loves her. Mirza has a bleak outlook on women, they are suspicious propery and slaves.

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