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A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi (first published in 2016 by HarperCollins)
As her husband lies dying in the yard behind their house, Zeba is found with blood on her hands. Accused of his murder, she is arrested and thrown into Kabul’s Chil Mahtab prison alongside other women awaiting trial or sentenced.
As each woman starts to share her story with her cellmates, it becomes clear that whatever political change is happening in Afghanistan, these women still face tremendous challenges.
Unmarried and pregnant Mezghan can only be released if the father of her child marries her. Runaway Latifa embraces the jail as a comfortable haven.
Each has a story of strife and hardship leading to arrest and imprisonment. For Zeba herself it is a painful adjustment to be separated from her children as she contemplates the looming prospect of a lifetime behind bars.
Behind the scenes, Zeba’s mother Gulnaz is working to secure her release, manipulating the judicial system in every way she can – even possibly employing a little special magic in her daughter’s cause.
Also working to achieve justice for Zeba is her American lawyer Yusuf, back in the country of his birth with idealistic dreams.
Whether or not she will be found guilty is in the hands of the judge, who himself has secrets from the past.
Born of Afghan emigrants to America, author Nadia Hashimi has embraced the country and its complex family and gender politics to create highly readable fiction with fascinating characters who will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
Keen on reading this book? Purchase a copy from Takealot.com.
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