The Places In Between by Rory Stewart
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Book Reviews of The Places In Between
Book Review: An incredible journey...
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted to read more about Afghanistan after reading a number of books about this country, so I picked up Rory Stewart's The Places In Between. This is an incredible tale about his journey, walking across Afghanistan from Herat to Kabul in 2002.
Afghanistan was not Stewart's first journey on foot. The amazing part of his trek is not that he traveled between these two cities, but that he did it through the mountains during the winter. In this respect, he was traveling in the footsteps of the Emperor Babur of Mughal India, from whose journals he liberally quotes. Stewart wanted to stay away from "roads. Journalists, aid workers and tourists." The sights that he saw were not much different from what Babur saw in the 1500s. The other reason Stewart chose to walk through Afghanistan is that he considered it the "missing section of my walk, the place in between the deserts and the Himalayas, between Persian, Hellenic, and Hindu culture, between Islam and Buddhism, between mystical and militant Islam. I wanted to see where these cultures merged into one another and touched the global world."
During Stewart's journey, he depended on the generosity of strangers to provide him with food and shelter. Most of them lived a very poor existence with homes made of mud bricks, with dirt floors and no electricity or running water. Many times, food was simply tea and bread. But throughout, Stewart heard their fascinating stories. Many of them fought the Russians, the Taliban, or each other. He was also able to discover how so many civilizations converged in this beautiful but desolate country along what were the Spice Road and the Silk Road.
Stewart took a drawing pad with him, and The Places In Between is filled with interesting drawings of the places he visited, the people he met and some of the objects he saw. It is also filled with photographs of his travels as well as maps of each leg of his journey. Many people thought that Rory Stewart was bold, brave, and/or downright crazy to make this trip. But for whatever reason, his readers are richer for his efforts.
Book Review: THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR JOURNEY MR STEWART
Summary: 5 Stars
"Someone in Kabul told me a crazy Scotsman walked from Herat to Kabul right after the fall of the Taliban"
Thanks for the book. For it was indeed a journey of great spirit and determination. Mr. Stewart was well prepared for this trip with vitamins and various medications he knew would be necessary to successfully complete this challenge; ibuprofen, antibiotics, just name it and he had it; sharing with the villagers he met on his way when they saw what he had and begged him.
Well written, well told. I was truly impressed with how hospitable the people of Afghanistan were; those whom he encountered and offered him rest and meals and at times water to wash with, at their various humble abodes where he was invited to stay for the night. Even through they understood little English, Mr. Stewart was able to communicate to them by speaking Persian. I love reading about anything in the Eastern and Asian side of the world, so I was with him all the way. I felt like I was alongside him as he climbed those steep slopes and when he walked on the flat valleys. I drank tea with Mr. Stewart from glass cups, ate stale bread with him and soup, and enjoyed the rest at the end of the day, sleeping on a carpet or just on the floor.
The attention given to him was enormous as he persevered onwards. My main concern was just before he got to Kabul when he had to travel through the deep powdery snow which was known to cause frostbite, making it necessary to amputate limbs for some in the past. I held my breath as he and his dog companion Babur made it out of the snow covered mountains, and alas into another bright day. God bless you Rory Stewart. I will soon be starting Prince of the Marshes, which sounds like another winner; but to those of you out there looking for a Christmas gift or other, buy The Places In Between first, for you won't be disappointed. An excellent gift, especially for travellers!!!
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE 25/11/06)
Book Review: A Scotsman, a mastif and a feudal nation
Summary: 5 Stars
When the United States first invaded Afghansistan one of my friends wondered aloud if we intended on keeping it as a colony. I quipped that we already owned a mountainous desert area full of people that have a religion that we don't understand - we call it Utah. (with apologies to my Mormon friends out there)
After reading this book I truly realize the depth of our misunderstanding of the situation in Afghanistan. I keep up on the news better than most. I've spoken with veterans who have returned from Afghanistan. Yet, as I read Stewart's account of his walk across Afghanistan just weeks after the fall of the Taliban, I realized that this truly is a foreign culture - as alien to me as any on the planet. I am amazed that the mission in Afghanistan has been as successful as it has been.
Stewart introduces us to the variety of cultures that Afghanistan possesses. He also makes us see that the very concept of an "Afghanistan" is nebulous at best. His commentaries on the United Nations are biting and ring of truth. While the news has commented that Afghanistan is a feudal society, I always took their word "feudal" to be code for technologically backward. Stewart experienced that it truly and literally is feudal and for some parts of Afghanistan, life is like stepping into a time machine and going back in time to the Middle Ages - both politically and technologically.
Stewart's book is a joy to read. While I wonder at the sense in walking by yourself across a war-torn nation during the dead of winter (with the exception of some companions who were forced upon him by concerned governments from time to time and an adopted mastif dog he picked up along the way), I am pleased that he did. His impressions of what he witnessed and experienced were wonderfully conveyed. Stewart is truly a gifted writer.
This book is truly a wonderful experience. I cannot recommend it highly enough. What a great read to finish up the year with!
My final grade: A+
Book Review: A Classic Of A Different Sort
Summary: 5 Stars
Travel/adventure books are read for many reasons; excitement, curiosity, the desire to be along on an adventure one can never make for oneself. But rarely, rarely do you expect to be deeply moved. Rory Stewart's ability (and simple courage) to get on the ground in Afganistan and literally put his life at risk day after day sets him apart from most writers of this genre. What takes this book to a whole different level though is his ability to allow us to connect and gain some glimmering of understanding for people drastically different from us. The problem many readers will have with this book is the adventure Stewart goes through is very grim. I don't refer here to the horrible weather conditions he experiences in crossing the Afghan mountains in the middle of winter, but to the people and social conditions he experiences on his trek. Misery and suffering are everywhere. Violence is casual,arbitrary, and sudden. Ethnic, tribal, and village societies are complex. Common, everyday interactions are intricate and frequently leaden with potential danger. Tragedy and physical destruction abound. His description of poverty stricken villagers destroying an archaelogical site of immense importance in order to sell artifacts at ridiculously low prices to distant antique dealers is heart breaking. Stewart survives with his wits and luck, barely. He recounts human greatness and depravity, simple life-saving kindness and sadistic cruelty. This is the best writing I have come across on Afghanistan. I can't recall another travel/adventure type book which has affected me as deeply. You are to be pitied if you can't be moved by this book. Yes, Stewart was crazy to do this, but the book justifies him. This is a classic but not one with the ingredients for widespread popularity. I will put this alongside Newby's "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush", the two books reflecting the tragedy and comedy of the human condition in Afganistan and in all of us.Book Review: Outstanding Must Read book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an extraordinary book. How many people do you know who would set off alone on foot across Afghanistan just after 9/11 armed with a stick? I had just read Three Cups of Tea so it was not unlikely for me to gravitate to this book, after seeing Rory on a CNN interview. What I did not expect was the sheer grit of the book and the man. This is not a comfortable book to read. It's a highly uncomfortable book to read. This is no walk in the park. This is a journey with a very brave determined soul to delve into the culture of Afghanistan at a critical time in its history (though, honestly, when did Afghanistan not have a critical time in its history?) who does not take the easy way through. Indeed, he opts for a seldom seen path from west to east during winter. The overarching takeaway from this book is the stunning realization of how fractured and compartmentalized and decentralized Afghanistan is as a nation. Juxtapose our current American "plan" to make sense of the country and one realizes the abject absurdity of the endeavor. What has taken years to split apart (indeed, was it ever a cohesive body, ever? I doubt it) will take generations to bring together. There is no there there. Sad reality. Instead we see citizens fighting and hating each other, killing each other, randomly switching sides depending on who is paying them this month. It's a heartbreaking tragedy, a nightmare reality. And dangerous as all get out. The rare kindnesses shown one savors. The rest is a rigid suffering unlike anything I personally have ever read. The biggest heart might well belong to the mastiff and even that ends badly. In spite of this I believe anyone interested in the international affairs of the US of A owes it to themselves to read this book and ensure anyone in policy-making positions reads it as well. It's a wake up call from someone who paid the price to educate us. Thanks, Rory. I'm sorry about Babur.