Read The World - Tajikistan - Beyond The Oxus

 Book: Beyond The Oxus

Author: Monica Whitlock

Pages: 304

Book takes place in the country: YES

Author is from the country: NO

I have visited: NO

This is my 15th read for the year

Here is what Amazon said about this book:

Along the banks of the reiver once called Oxus lie the heartlands of Central Asia:  Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.  Catapulted into the news by events in Afghanistan, just across the water, these strategically importan, intriguing and beautiful countries remain almost completely unknown to the outside world.  One diligent seminary student in the holy city of Bukhara was exhiled to Siberia as a shepherd in the 1917 revolution and then conscripted into the Red Army.  Tens of thousands of Poles walked and rode through Central Asia on their way to a new life in Iran.  In this region, the extraordinary is commonplace and there is not a family without a remarkable story to tell.  Here Monica goes far beyond the headlines.  Using eyewitness accounts, unpublished letters and first-hand reporting,she enteres into the lives of the Central Asians and reveals a dramatic and moving story unfolding over three generations.  

This is a well written book.  I was able to gain quite a bit of knowledge about this part of the world - an area I know virtually nothing about.  The story isn't dry and absolutely fascinating.  You cn tell how passionate the author is about this area.  She does her best to weave in human interest stories.  I had no idea how woven Uzbekistan and Tajikistan really were, so I am glad I found this book.

Stars: 4