The Patience Stone

Reviews

“This story from an Afghan-born author is a powerful one, giving voice to the historically downtrodden Afghan woman…truly an expansive work of literature.”

“With a veiled face and stolen words, a woman keeps silent about her forbidden pain in an Afghanistan marred by men’s foolishness. But when she rediscovers her voice, she overcomes the chaos. Atiq Rahimi tells the story of this woman’s heartbreaking lamentation to awaken our consciences.”

“[A] clever novel…readers get a glimpse of daily life in a country terrorized by conflict and religious fundamentalism. Rahimi paints this picture with nuance and subtlety…[His] sparse prose complements his simple yet powerful storytelling prowess. This unique story is both enthralling and disturbing.”

“The Patience Stone is perfectly written: spare, close to the bone, sometimes bloody, with a constant echo, like a single mistake that repeats itself over and over and over.”

“Artfully represents the everyday realities of life for women living under the Taliban regime in present-day Afghanistan…This 2008 Prix Goncourt–winning tale, which includes an introduction by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner), is poetic and powerful. Expressing the full range of human emotion in her heart-wrenching performance, narrator Carolyn Seymour (An Education) literally gives voice to a woman representing a nation of women. Strongly recommended especially for those with an interest in literary fiction and women’s studies.”

“Rahimi’s lyric prose is simple and poetic, and McLean’s translation is superb. With an introduction by Khaled Hosseini, this Prix Goncourt–winning book should have a profound impact on the literature of Afghanistan for its brave portrayal of, among other things, an Afghan woman as a sexual being.”

“In his brilliantly written novel, Afghan author Atiq Rahimi holds the reader transfixed with a gripping account of the appalling conditions in his country, wracked by war, atrocity and under-development…[He] captivates the reader with his crystal-clear prose. Every word counts in short sentences redolent with symbolism and in a plot whose tight arc holds the reader spellbound from beginning to end. The frugal and incisive language is just as significant here as the distanced viewpoint of the narrator, who follows the events from outside at a consistent distance.”

“Only pick-up this book if you have time to read it in one sitting, because once you start reading you won’t be able to put it down until you have read the last sentence. This is a remarkable story that captures your attention from beginning to end. There is never a dull moment.”

“Winner of Le Prix Goncourt 2008, considered France’s highest literary honor, this disturbingly powerful slim volume gives voice to the too-many silenced women living ‘somewhere in Afghanistan or elsewhere.’ Written almost like a dramatic play script complete with what read like stage directions—not surprising since Atiq Rahimi also happens to be an award-winning filmmaker—The Patience Stone would surely make for a powerful production. For now, you’ll have to settle for the haunting 142 pages, but mark my words…it’s coming to a stage or screen near you.”

“The Patience Stone is a short but emotionally intense tale…The voice of the woman is almost painful to read. Atiq Rahimi does an excellent job at maintaining her voice throughout the short but powerful tale. As a woman, I found her plight both chilling and disturbing. The terseness of the tales only serves to heighten those feelings. The Patience Stone is a book that should be read by everyone, if only to ensure that the voiceless women of Afghanistan are finally heard.”

“A slender, devastating exploration of one woman’s tormented inner life, which won the 2008 Prix Goncourt…The novel, asserts [Khaled] Hosseini in his glowing introduction, finally gives a complex, nuanced, and savage voice to the grievances of millions.”

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