This is an interesting and different novel with no continuous plot or character development, with the chapters being only loosely connected. Ahmad is a talented writer with a gift for poetry.
Each of these impactful stories are set in the Afghan/Pakistan area where the 80 year old author had a long civil service career. He captures the harsh conditions with love and tenderness and the elegance of a nomadic lifestyle.
This is a series of short stories interlinked by Tor Baz (as the young boy becomes known). The sparse writing and descriptions are sometimes reminiscent of Cormac MacCarthy. Beautifully told.
The only things I didn't like was the short story/disjointed feel of each chapter as even though there was the constant of Tor Baz, you had to resituate yourself to each new situation/story. The other complaint was that the book was so short as it was extremely well written. If you like short stories, I would think you would find this book extremely enjoyable.
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