Tali Girls

Tali Girls provides an intimate look at the lives, loves, horrors, and dreams of girls and women in an Afghan mountain village under Taliban rule.

This is a heartbreaking tragedy reminiscent of The Kite Runner, authored by a major English-speaking Afghan figure renowned for his books and extended career in politics.

Siamak Herawi brings Afghan women centre stage and delves into the heart of his motherland to reveal the stark realities they face under the Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islam. Based on true stories, this narrative presents a sobering and harrowing tale of a nation occupied by one power or another for more than half a century.

Told in direct, conversational prose, a chorus of voices paints a vivid picture of the continuous suffering endured by girls and women under Taliban authority, highlighting the imbalance of power and opportunity.

The central figures of the story illuminate the power of love, friendship, and generosity amid poverty and oppression. We become deeply attached to characters like Kowsar, Geesu, and Simin, whose experiences and dilemmas exhibit a visceral power. These narratives are testaments to resilience, hope, and courage, contrasted with visceral fear, and fleeting opportunities that offer a way out.

In Sara Khalili's vibrant and nuanced translation from Persian, Tali Girls unveils the treacherous realities women face in modern-day, war-torn Afghanistan, tearing down the curtain on their struggles.