A House Without Windows

A Novel

By: Nadia Hashimi

Narrated by: Ariana Delawari, Susan Nezami

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A vivid, unforgettable story of an unlikely sisterhood - an emotionally powerful and haunting tale of friendship that illuminates the plight of women in a traditional culture from the author of the best-selling The Pearl That Broke Its Shell and When the Moon Is Low.

For two decades Zeba was a loving wife, a patient mother, and a peaceful villager. But her quiet life is shattered when her husband, Kamal, is found brutally murdered with a hatchet in the courtyard of their home. Nearly catatonic with shock, Zeba is unable to account for her whereabouts at the time of his death. Her children swear their mother could not have committed such a heinous act. Kamal's family is sure she did and demands justice.

Barely escaping a vengeful mob, Zeba is arrested and jailed. As Zeba awaits trial, she meets a group of women whose own misfortunes have also led them to these bleak cells: 30-year-old Nafisa, imprisoned to protect her from an honor killing; 25-year-old Latifa, who ran away from home with her teenage sister but now stays in the prison because it is safe shelter; and 19-year-old Mezhgan, pregnant and unmarried, waiting for her lover's family to ask for her hand in marriage. Is Zeba a cold-blooded killer, these young women wonder, or has she been imprisoned, as they have been, for breaking some social rule? For these women the prison is both a haven and a punishment. Removed from the harsh and unforgiving world outside, they form a lively and indelible sisterhood.

Into this closed world comes Yusuf, Zeba's Afghan-born, American-raised lawyer, whose commitment to human rights and desire to help his motherland have brought him back. With the fate of this seemingly ordinary housewife in his hands, Yusuf discovers that, like Afghanistan itself, his client may not be at all what he imagines.

A moving look at the lives of modern Afghan women, A House Without Windows is astonishing, frightening, and triumphant.

©2016 Nadia Hashimi (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

Another great one from Hashimi

Buckle up! Get ready for a story of an incredibly brave woman, and many other brave women who live in post Taliban Afghanistan. Lots of twists and turns, and lots of feels!

Riveting story

Beautifully written and portrayed. I appreciated the glimpse into Afghan culture and learning about women’s role in the society.

An outstanding book

A murder trial with fascinating characters, complex relationships and a background rich in social, political, historical and religious issues. Stunningly beautiful and tragic.

This is the third of Nadia Hashimi's books I've read and they have all been excellent.

Blown away

Hashimi draws you into the lives of the characters in a way that makes them real to you. Heartbreaking and yet you can’t give up rooting for Zeba. I have to read everything she has written.

True

So beautiful presents the culture & women's rights in Afghanistan, an ugly TRUTH.
Excellent !
Enjoy every seconds of it!

Great story. Couldn’t put down from the moment I started reading it until the end,

Great story. Couldn’t put down from the moment I started reading it until the end,

Interesting

The unjust of how women are portrayed and received is appalling. Women behind bars because men mistreat them or make up lies is sad.

The narrator was good but her way of narration lends best to fireside stories. Maybe even for children stories.

Story was drawn out...

There were a lot of details that did not need to be included imo. I enjoyed the story but because there were so many characters and their stories that were introduced, it felt like it took away from the premise of the book. I understand a story like this needs to be explained as there are many cultural differences many might not be familiar with but I didn't think new characters needed to be developed in order to accomplish this.

Un Mundo Silenciado

Me encantó este libro. Abre a quien lo escucha el mudo mundo de la vida de las mujeres en Afganistán. A pesar de que es sabido de forma general la vida que lleva la mujer en el Islam. Diferente es seguir a través de una protagonista, mujer apasionante, los infortunios a que se ve sometida por su condición femenina.
El hecho de tratarse de un audiolibro, me dificultó el poder distinguir los nombres de los diferentes personajes, cosa que prácticamente conseguí a finales de este libro. Felicitaciones!!!

Very Important Story

This story highlights the limitations of a culture that demonise and punish women who suffer abuse by the hands of men. It is a tale of a fight for justice and hope. Unfortunately this cause has completely gone backward in the last few years. I cannot say anything positive about the narration. The narrator had the voice of a 14 year old, no distinction between the varied voices, no accents. It was the power of the story that kept me persevering. Otherwise I would have abandoned it because of the grating narration.