City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi
Published:
July 28, 2026 by William Morrow
Genre:
Historical Fiction, Middle East
In February 2020 the US began to withdraw troops from
Afghanistan after nearly twenty years of occupation. A whole generation of
Afghan women had been born during that time—women who had grown up in relative
peace, gone to school, entered the professions, even served in the army and
Parliament. The women of Afghanistan watched as the Taliban filled the
streets again. They knew everything was about to change.
In the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Kabul, women are TV
newscasters, shop owners, doctors, teachers, lawyers, even soldiers. They
include Marjan, who fought with the Afghan army, and will risk everything to
keep her daughter Hawa safe. In her earlier days Marjan was called Rahima
and had lived the life of a bacha posh—a girl raised as a boy until
she came of age. Forced into an early marriage, Rahima took the name Marjan
when she fled her warlord husband. She’s created a whole new life for herself,
one she will not give up easily.
So has Soraya, who defiantly wore red lipstick as she led
the army’s all-female combat force over the objections of her upper-class
family. Soraya’s now a wanted woman whose brother may choose not to shelter her
from the Taliban. What will become of her? Or Mina, a journalist and
broadcaster whose beautiful face is known to everyone in Kabul—including the
new regime?
Fight or flight? Or find a third way? One thing is for
certain: none of these women will meekly accept her fate.
An epic saga of fear, resistance, change, and
reinvention, City of Widows gives voices to the unforgettable
Afghan women at a crossroads of history.
My Thoughts: I
have heard a lot about the Middle East in the news but I never really gave it
much thought to how what is happening there effects the women living
there. What is expected of them? What are the allowed to do?
City of Widows is an eye opening look at life in the Middle East as a woman. The struggles are so real, so hard, but the
women in this book are strong, unwilling to bend to the men. I cheered for those fighting against the
Taliban and working to make life better for all. There were times of amazement at all that
the women had to go through just to be able to work, raise their children, or
not be abused. These are all things
that I take for granted but are not given in the Middle East.
I really enjoyed learning about the history, the customs,
and the life styles of those living in the Middle East. I was amazed, heartbroken, and in awe of all
they go through just to be alive.
Thank you William Morrow for a copy of the book in exchange
for my honest review.
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About the author: Nadia Hashimi is a pediatrician turned international bestselling novelist and daughter of Afghan immigrants. She is the author of four books for adults: The Pearl that Broke Its Shell, A House Without Windows, When the Moon Is Low, and Sparks Like Stars, as well as the middle grade novels One Half from the East and The Sky at Our Feet. She lives with her family in the Washington, DC, suburbs.
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