by Manuel Gonzalez

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The book, A Fort of Nine Towers, by Qais Akbar Omar shows us life in a raw manner without fiction, which distorts reality. Through his words, Qais recreates the years in Afghanistan from when he was a kid until he became an adult. In his book, Qais shows us different scenarios such as the way of life before war, the pain during war, and the rebuilding of his life during the time of the Taliban, before he left for America.

In the book, Qais shows us his family’s life before war, which was filled with love, unity, and peace, moments in which Qais and his cousins shared memorable experiences. For example, they used to fly kites in the afternoons on the roofs of houses when the wind was strong. Qais learned from his grandfather how to use intelligence with patience, and he learned to wait for the precise moment to act.

Then, sadness came to Afghanistan when war began. Qais wrote his words with pain because he could see how his world, family, and friends were being destroyed. The description Qais gave of Wakeel’s death reflected his sentiments of pain because he felt admiration for Wakeel, who was his cousin and his best friend. Qais described the last minutes of Wakeel’s life with specific details, even though he was not there.

Qais lived in many places because it was not safe to stay in Kabul. He and his family wanted to pursue freedom in other countries, but it was not possible. While traveling, they found diverse situations and adventures in which Qais used the lessons of his grandfather. “Never be afraid of anything; let others be afraid of you,” he once said.

Qais’ grandfather was an intelligent and prudent man, who gave Qais several books for his education. Despite the fact that he was Muslim, he taught Qais about other cultures and religions. Qais described his life beside his grandfather and the lessons he gave him.

Qais was a smart young man, and he began a new life as a businessman: he took over his father’s carpet business. Then, he wrote this book in which he reflected on the situations that he lived in his country and also because he wanted to show the world the real situation, the reality in Afghanistan. In addition, this book gave Qais the opportunity to come and live in America. He now lives in Los Angeles, California.