When the Moon is Low

by Nadia Hashimi

Mahmoud's passion for his wife Fereiba, a schoolteacher, is greater than any love she's ever known. But their happy, middle-class world—a life of education, work, and comfort—implodes when their country is engulfed in war, and the Taliban rises to power.In Kabul, we meet Fereiba, a schoolteacher who puts her troubled childhood behind her when she finds love in an arranged marriage. But Fereiba's comfortable life implodes when the Taliban rises to power and her family becomes a target of the new fundamentalist regime. Forced to flee with her three children, Fereiba has one hope for to seek refuge with her sister's family in London. Traveling with forged papers and depending on the kindness of strangers, Fereiba and the children make a dangerous crossing into Iran under cover of darkness, the start of a harrowing journey that reduces her from a respected wife and mother to a desperate refugee. Eventually they fall into the shadowy underground network of the undocumented who haunt the streets of Europe's cities. And then, in a busy market square in Athens, their fate takes a frightening turn when Fereiba's teenage son, Saleem, becomes separated from the rest of the family. Without his mother, Saleem is forced, abruptly and unforgivingly, to come of age in a world of human trafficking and squalid refugee camps. Heartbroken, Fereiba has no choice but to continue on with only her daughter and baby. Mother and son cross border after perilous border, risking their lives in the hope of finding a place where they can be reunited.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Audiobook, Middle East, Historical

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

Reader, Mom, Pediatrician, Author, Advocate, Dog Walker (only my own, no solicitations please.)

Loves dark chocolate, coffee, and many other clichéd indulgences.

Reviews

[Meagan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 🌟

“One day we will have a place to call home. I will carry these children- my husband children- as far as I can and pray that we will reach that place where, in the quiet of their slumber, I, too, will rest.”

My heart breaks for the Mothers in the world who are in a terrible situation and all they want is a better life and opportunities for their children. My heart breaks for the Mothers that leave their terrible situation with their young ones just to find a long hard journey in front of them. ❤️‍🩹

”But being without a mother is like being stripped naked and thrown into the snow.”

The Plot- When The Moon Is Low- you follow Fereiba from childhood to marriage and into motherhood. During the rise of the Taliban in Kabul, Fereiba husband is killed by the Taliban for not following “the rules”. Leaving a pregnant Fereiba and her two children alone. After giving birth to her youngest, Fereiba chooses to flee their home with her 3 children to seek asylum in England. Traveling across the Middle East into Europe, Fereiba and her children undergo heartbreaking trials and tribulations. Durning the travel Fereiba is separated from her 15- year old son Saleem. Unfortunately she has to continue her journey to England with her two other kids, hoping that one day she will be reunited with her son.

“While war had turn some Afghans into lions, it had turned a good number of us into mice as well”

Writing & Pace- The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. I really enjoyed growing with Fereiba I felt like I knew her on a personal level. This story is being told from the POV of Fereiba and her oldest son Saleem. The pace dragged a little towards the end.

“Refugees didn’t just escape a place. They had to escape a thousand memories until they’d put enough time and distance between them and their misery to wake to a better day”

My Thoughts- I really enjoyed this book. The characters were compelling and heartbreakingly realistic. I really enjoyed reading about Fereiba's life story, and the love she had for her children. The emotions of a displaced family fleeing Afghanistan, the vulnerability of an adolescent boy, her other two children constantly holding to hope with their mom is written beautifully. The reason why I’m rating this book a 3.8 stars is because towards the end the story was falling flat. Also i hated how I followed this family’s journey from the very beginning just for the story to end abruptly. Like talk about a cliff hanger with no sequel. I could compare the books ending to The Sopranos lol. If you know, you know.

🗣️I would definitely recommend this book. It’s a heartbreaking read but it’s also important. This is my first book from Nadia Hashimi and I’m excited to read her other books. She is a brilliant writer. As the reader I felt a range of emotions, fear, loathing, anger, desperation, loss, and hope.

✨I don’t have a full playlist this for this book. But I have a few songs that I think captured the mood of motherhood in this story.

Songs
🎶You’ll Be In My Heart- Phil Collins
🎶A Mothers Prayer- Celine Dion
🎶Sweetest Devotion- Adele

“It takes a lifetime to learn your parents. For children’s, parents are larger than life. They are strong arms that carry little ones, warm laps for sleepy heads, sources of food and wisdom. It’s as if parent were born on the same day as their children, having not existed a moment before. “



please shatter my heart into a million pieces 😭❤️‍🩹✨

Thank you Sabrina for helping me choose my next read.

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening and Incredibly Hard to Put Down

What is this book about?

Fereiba is an Afghani woman whose husband was killed in a brutal act of violence by the Taliban. Fearing for the safety of her children, she makes a desperate trek to England where the rest of her family has successfully found asylum. Fereiba's family will meet many challenges along the way.. will they make it to England?

Saleem, Fereiba’s son, feels the need to become the man of the family and protect his mother and siblings from imminent danger. On this dangerous and desperate quest to England, Fereiba’s family begins to run out of funds and options. In an attempt to solve this problem, Saleem separates from his family. Saleem did not know that this separation would be the last time he would see his family for a long, long time..

This book tackles some hot button issues that are prevalent right now. Especially with what is happening in the White House and the Trump administration. I found it absolutely invigorating and intellectually stimulating on many levels. Human trafficking, immigration, and refugee camps are just some of the issues that were the foci of this book. This book shattered my soul. It was brilliant. Nadia Hashimi writes with a deft hand and effortless prose. She is a pediatrician in Washington, D.C. and she is running for congress. This woman is unstoppable! I have already read two of her books, and I am absolutely going to be reading her third. One million percent recommended!

If you would like more information on this author, please visit:
Nadia Hashimi

[Dalia Nourelden · Rating 4 out of 5]

" كان هناك ولم يكن هناك تحت الشمس الحارقة ... وبالعبارة المعادلة ل (كان يا ما كان) لبدء الحكي بالأفغانية "

حين يقترب القمر هو اللقاء الثاني لي مع الكاتبة نادية الهاشمي بعد رواية اللؤلؤة التي كسرت محارتها التي أعجبتنى حين قرأتها وأحببت أسلوب سرد الكاتبة ، لذلك حين رأيت ان تم ترجمة عمل آخر لها تشوقت لقرائته . لأنتقل معها مرة أخرى لمأساة جديدة من مآسى أفغانستان . هذه المرة مع عائلة فريبا .

" إن أفغانستان أرضُ الأرامل واليتامى والفقدان. فقدان ساق أو يد أو طفل أو أمّ. فقد الجميع شيئاً ما، كأن حفرةً سوداء انفتحت في منتصف البلد ، لتسحب قطعاً وأجزاء من الجميع في هوتها الواسعة ."



نتعرف في البداية على فريبا منذ يوم ولادتها " ختم قدري بالدماء يوم ميلادي ، فيما كنت أكافح للدخول إلى هذا العالم ، كانت أمي تتركه، لتمِّحي معها فرصي في أن أكون ابنة حقيقية" .



كانت وحيدة رغم من حولها ، كانت تلجأ للبستان الذى كان صديقها ، حُرمت لسنوات من التعليم ، كانت ترى وتسمع أخواتها وهم يتحدثون عن الدراسة وعن المعلمين . يرددون الحروف والكلمات وهى جاهلة بكل هذا مما كان يسبب نغصة في قلبها ويزداد شعورها باليتم .

" لم أكن يتيمة ، لدي والدان وأخوة، وبيت دافئ وطعام كاف. كان لي أن أشعر بالكمال. لكن غياب الأم يشبه الوقوف عاريا في الجليد "



تمر الأيام والسنوات لتجد ان فقدانها لأمها قد يعني أن لا ترغب العائلات في تزويجها لأبنائهم .. ان فقدانها لأمها يجعلها مصدر شؤم .. يجعل الأمهات يبتعدن عنها ..
لكن ...
رغم أنف الجميع ، يكتب الله لها ان تستعد لحياة جديدة مع زوج رائع يحبها وحماة رأتها في الحلم قبل ان تراها في الحقيقية . لتتغير حياة فريبا للأفضل أخيراً . لتجد ما حرمت منه ، لتعوض كثيرا مما فاتها ..
لكن ...
نعم هناك لكن مرة اخرى لأن الحياة دوماً في تغير . لان أحيانا حين نظن أن أيامنا وحياتنا ستصبح أفضل وأننا اخيرا سنلتقط أنفاسنا وسنوُدع حياتنا الماضية لحياة أفضل ..تأخذنا الحياة في منحنى آخر تماما لنجد أنفسنا نصارع من أجل النجاة .. وهذه المرة كانت الظروف أكبر من فريبا وعائلتها .. ظروف مدمرة لحياة الكثيرين .. هذه المرة تدخلت طالبان لتتغير الحياة ليس فقط لحياة فريبا بل لحياة الجميع ..

." لقد نالني ما يكفي من الخوف والقلق والفقدان. سئمت الشعور بالحصار. أستيقظ كل صباح لأجد أن لا شئ تغير، فأشعر بأنني انتهيت "

فريبا كانت تتمنى أن تربي ابنائها في جو من الحب والأمان ،ان تكون طفولتهم سعيدة، ان يتعلموا جيداً . كانت تتمنى أن تعطيهم كل ما افتقدته ، أن تجعل حاضرهم ومستقبلهم أفضل . لكن القدر قد كتب لهم شيئا آخر . في ظل ظروف سياسية واجتماعية أجبرتهم أن تتخذ حياتهم منحني اخر ، بعيد كل البعد عما كانت تتمناه .

" أردت لأطفالي أن يعيشوا طفولتهم، أن يضحكوا ويلعبوا ويتعلموا، أردت لهم ما حُرمت منه في طفولتي، إلى أين يجب أن نذهب؟ بأى سرعة يجب أن نركض؟"



هناك من يترك عائلته وبلده بحثاً عن معيشة ووظيفة أفضل ، وهناك من يترك بلده هروبا من أحوال سياسية سيئة وخوفا من الظلم والسجن .
هناك من يترك بلده لفترة وينوى العودة وهناك من يتركها ولا يرغب بالعودة لها يوماً.
تتعدد الأسباب والظروف والأحوال . وهناك فرقا أيضا بين من يسافر بشكل رسمي واضح ومن يسافر هرباً فيتعرض لمخاوف أكثر .
أن تلفظك بلادك ، ان تجبرك على الهروب في الظلام ويملأ قلبك الخوف والقلق . تهرب ولا تعرف ماذا سيحدث معك وكيف ستتدبر احوالك ، تهرب من الجوع والخوف لأحضان الخوف والجوع والقلق . فلا مجال ولا مكان للشعور بالأمان ... تهرب وانت تتلفت حولك خوفاً من أن يوقفك أحدهم ويعيدك إلى بلادك مرة أخرى لتواجه اسوأ مخاوفك ليس من السهل أبداً أن يترك المرء وطنه، خصوصاً حين تنغلق جميع الأبواب الأخرى في وجهك والمشكلة والرعب الأكبر أنك لست فقط مسؤولا عن نفسك فقط لكنك مسئول عن عائلتك وتخاف عليها اكثر من خوفك على نفسك . وللأسف هذا حال واقعي ، ليس حال أسرة فريبا فقط لكن هذه هى حال الكثير من الأسر وليس فقط في أفغانستان .

سمع أن المهرب قد يبيع أمه مقابل المزيد من المال وقصصاً أسوأ من ذلك من آخرين. العالم السفلي بلا قوانين ولا أخلاقيات ولا شبكات أمان. البعض يمر منه بنجاح. وآخرون يفشلون تماماً. لا أحد يعرف شيئا عما يحدث حقاً في العالم المظلم للتهريب خلف القصص الطافية على السطح



كنا نازحين إلى أراض لا نعرفها وخائفين في كل خطوة نخطوها من أن نُرسل مرة أخرى من حيث جئنا، قدر لا يمكنني تخيله حتى"

ثم ننتقل لرؤية الأمور وسماعها من جهة سليم في الغالب وقليلا من جهة فريبا . لنتعرف على كيفية مواجهتهم للظروف التى اجبرتهم الحياة على مواجهتها .

" لن يمكنه معرفة كل ما يجول في خاطرها بأفضل مما يمكنها هي تخمين ما بداخله. هناك أشياء يقولها أحدهما للآخر بصوت عال، وأشياء يهمسون بها بوجه يختلج ، وأشياء يسكتان عنها تماماً. الأم والابن منفصلان على أساس السن والدور والرغبة في حماية أحدهما الآخر. لكن الهدف من سكوتهما ، مع أنهما لن يعترفا بهذا أبداً، كان لحماية نفسيهما وعلاقتهما. أشياء لايرغب أحدهما في معرفتها عن الآخر حتى وإن أمكنه ذلك. "

سليم الذي كان بالأمس يذهب لمدرسته ويت��خر عن المنزل ليلهو ويضحك ويلعب مع أصدقائه. تغيرت أحواله تماماً . أصبح فجأة مطلوب منه أن يكون رجل العائلة، أن يصبح مسؤولا عن امه واخته وأخيه الرضيع . كيف سيتدبر سليم أمور حياتهم ؟ هل سيستطيع مع امه وأخوت�� ان يصلوا لبر الأمان ؟ أن يصلوا إلى أنجلترا كما كان يخطط أبوه ؟

" يمكننا صنع حياة لأنفسنا في أى بلد، كل ما نحتاج إليه فرصة فقط، مكاناً ما في العالم، لابد أن في العالم مكاناً يرحبون بنا فيه كأقارب طالت غيبتهم، ولا يرجموننا بالحجارة كثعابين في الحديقة "

رواية كعادة كل ما قرأته يتحدث عن الشعب الأفغاني كئيب ، ومأساوى ومحزن . ترى هل سيكتب لهم يوماً السعادة ؟؟
أسلوب سرد الكاتبة نادية جميل وسهل وممتع ، لا تشعر معها بالصفحات . وسأنتظر ترجمات أخرى لها .
مأخذي الوحيد على الرواية هى النهاية المفتوحة .. كنت أشعر انى أركض ، فكنت أريد أن أصل لنهاية ملموسة ..
‏لكنها تركتها لنا لنغزلها بأيدينا . ربما اعطتنا من خلال الأحداث ما يجعلنا نصل بخيالنا لنهاية سعيدة.. او ربما لم تريد ان تحبطنا بنهاية تعيسة فتركت لنا الإختيار..
‏
‏ ورغم انى شخصية في الغالب تشاؤمية وقلقة وأرى نهاية الأشياء منذ بدايتها وأجد ان الحياة عبثية للغاية و انها تجعلنا نرى المياة أمامنا ونفرح اننا اخيرا سنروى عطشنا لنجد ان المياة التي نراها مجرد سراب او قبل ان نمسك الكوب ينكسر ويضيع الماء هباء ...
‏لكن ولأنها ليست نهاية قصتي وليست حكايتي سأختار أن اتخيل نهاية سعيدة من أجل فريبا وسليم وسميرة وعزيز .. لن يقع الماء ولن يكون سراب .. من أجلهم سأتخيل ان الماء وصل اليهم و أروى عطشهم .. من أجلهم ومن أجل الحكايات التي تشبه حكاياتهم .. من أجل كل اللاجئين الذين تم إجبارهم على الهروب من بلادهم للنجاة بحياتهم وتعرضوا للأهوال الكثيرة .. من أجلهم سأكون لهم متفائلة و اتمنى وأدعو لهم بالسعادة والأمان .. سأدعو الله ان ينتهي الظلم والبطش والعدوان ... ان يعود كل شخص لموطنه الأصلى .. يعود اليه في أمان واطمئنان .. يعود اليه لإحياءه .. ولا أتحدث هنا عن أفغانستان فقط ..
‏يوما ما .. ستعود الأرض لأصحابها .. وسيعود أصحابها اليها لإعمارها ..

١٦ / ٦ /٢٠٢٢

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Afghanistan is a land of widows and widowers, orphans and the missing. Missing a right leg, a left hand, a child, or a mother. Everyone was missing something, as if a black hole had opened in the center of the country, sucking in bits and pieces of everyone into its hard belly. Somewhere under our khaki earth is everything we’ve ever lost.” —Fereiba Waziri

Indiebound.org put Hashimi on my radar, and while I knew that her books were about the Middle East, I didn’t really know much about them. I started reading When the Moon is Low on a whim because it passed my first sentence rule, a tactic I employ when I’m exceedingly listless and can’t decide on what to read next. The first line was pretty compelling. I was intrigued.

“I am no longer a new bride or a young woman. I am a mother, farther from Kabul than I have ever been. My children and I have crossed mountains, deserts, and oceans to reach this dank hotel room, utterly unsophisticated and unfragrant.”

When the Moon is Low is the story of an Afghani family that is forced to leave their homeland when the violence and madness of a new regime put the family welfare in jeopardy. Now among the countless refugees seeking asylum in sympathetic European countries, Hashimi splits the narrative between Fereiba, the matriarch of the family, and Saleem, the eldest son. Hashimi is a poet; I underlined countless beautiful passages that made me contemplate my own situation, and how our comfortable lives can change at the drop of a dime.

What did confuse me was the objective of the book, which caused me to wonder: where is this going? Is this a story about getting out of Afghanistan and how wonderful things were before madness ensued, or is it about a journey to find safety? The author’s afterword tied everything in, and more than made up for the ambiguous ending (which FYI many people hated but I did not because it was reality). I leave you with her parting words. I cannot stress enough how timely this book is. Definitely not perfect, but a must-read for our day in time.

“The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that roughly half of all refugees are under the age of eighteen. Alarmingly, the crisis has continued to grow while the world’s sympathies have ebbed and flowed. We cry when we see a photograph of three-year-old Alan Kurdi’s lifeless body, his family’s hopes for a new life taken by the rough waters they were trying to cross to safety. We make dinner while the news anchor reports another fifty men, women, and children were lost in the Mediterranean to a capsized boat. We change the channel, afraid our first grader’s innocence will be spoiled by graphic images. We breathe a sigh of relief when pictures of rescue volunteers handing out warm blankets appear on our Facebook scroll. Our minds are on work deadlines while NPR reports on the violence in Afghanistan, Syria, and Somalia that continues to drive desperate people to risk their lives. It feels hopeless. It feels like this is no longer ‘news.’ At some point, the ongoing desperation of millions has become background noise.”—Nadia Hashimi

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahh.....I was so very enjoying reading this book and was ready for a five star rating....until the end. I am a person that needs beginnings and endings to my stories. I don't want to create my own version of an ending and I don't like sequels. I feel like I am left blindfolded at the edge of a cliff.

[Lori Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another heart wrenching novel from Hashimi. I've not read a book that has explored so closely the flight of individuals from war torn countries. Really startling how emotionally and physically difficult this is for them to do... first, they have to leave their beloved homes behind then they have to endure disdain from the countries they are fleeing to. Very, very sad... yet another harrowing example of the strength of the human spirit. I didn't feel as connected to these characters as in The Pearl That Broke Its Shell, but still a very emotionally riveting novel.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Moon Is Low is about a mother who flees Afghanistan. Her husband is a civil engineer who is taken from their home and killed after the rise of the Taliban. Following this tragic event, Fereiba chooses to flee their home with their 3 children to seek asylum in England which is quite an undertaking.

This book really humanizes the plight of refugees leaving war-torn countries in search of a safe place to live. Their painstaking journey takes them through Turkey, Greece, Italy and France. It is told from Fereiba's point of view and also from the perspective of her oldest son, Saleem. The stress of the journey was clearly written as were their struggles. After the slow build up of their journey, my biggest issue was the ending which was both abrupt and ambiguous. I actually thought my Kindle glitched thinking that couldn't be the ending.

This is my second Nadia Hashimi novel and while I didn't love it as much as The Pearl That Broke Its Shell , I am still a big fan of her story telling and writing style which is beautiful in its simplicity. The beginning for me was a 5 star read, but then the 2nd half didn't feel as cohesive and was 3 stars, so I am going in the middle with 4.

I was fortunate to receive a Kindle Edition in a Goodreads giveaway (my first win). This book was published July 21, 2015 by William Morrow.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadia Hashimi is a very gifted writer. I loved her first novel, The Pearl That Broke It's Shell.
This is a story of a brave young mother, who flees her home in Afganistan with her 3 children after her husband is killed. The story is told from her point of view, and her son, Saleem's. As I sit comfortably in my safe, American home, my heart breaks for Mothers in the world who want better lives and oppurtunities for their children, and are willing to do anything for the chance. That road is unbelievably hard, and scary. Living on the streets with no food, no medicine, cold, afraid, and not knowing who to trust, is one I cannot imagine.
Hope is found however, and the kindness of strangers, aid them in their journey.
If you have read any of Khaled Hossani's books and enjoyed them, I think you'll like Nadia Hashimi's as well. I highly recommend this book.

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

It starts well with the story of a motherless Afghan girl,dealing with the attentions of an unwanted suitor and her life in Kabul.

Marriage doesn't quite happen the way she would like,but it still works,and then calamity strikes.

This girl,now a mother of three has to flee Afghanistan during the Taliban era,to save her family's lives.

The themes explored are displacement and the plight of refugees,who are not really welcome anywhere they go.

The refugee family travels through multiple countries,hoping to find a safe haven in England with their relatives.Along the way,the elder son gets separated from the family.

Lots of displaced people go through all kinds of ordeals in foreign lands.The book highlights this issue.In her acknowledgement,Nadia Hashimi says that she drew upon the stories of her family members who actually made such journeys.

But the storytelling in this part of the book is not too compelling.I started skimming and even then it felt too lengthy.

2.5 stars,rounded up.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much that I wanted to say about this book but I will try to stay on point and be brief. Sort of.

This is the first I’ve read of Nadia Hashimi and I found it to be simply but elegantly written. In certain places the emotion leaps right off the page and manages to pack a bigger a punch with fewer words. Descriptions of countries and living conditions are succinct and clear. I find this to be more a more engaging style for me than something with long, flowery prose or extensive descriptions of the landscape.

This story is about a woman who is fleeing Afghanistan with her three children, trying to escape the war-torn country and the inhumane rule of the Taliban. Hashimi gives us an eye-opening view into the lives of this family, once happy, turned refugee. The picture she paints is not one of nameless refugees but real human beings who are no different than the rest of us except that their home suddenly became their prison under the threat of death. Families broken apart. Lives turned upside down. Nowhere else to go. Sadly, they are often treated no better than vermin in the countries where they seek refuge.

I can’t help but feel that this book came to me at a significant time when there is currently so much debate over the how the U.S. and rest of the world should “deal with these Syrian refugees.” To me, it’s not complicated. They need our help. Period.

I enjoyed this book and I learned from it. I’ll be looking for more from this author and more books on this subject.

[Ramzy Alhg · Rating 4 out of 5]

"الأم يمكنها أن تحل محل كل الآخرين ، وكل الآخرين لآ يمكن لأحد منهم أن يحل محلها"
جاسبار ميرميلور

مرّة أخرى تنتصر نادية الهاشمي بملحمتها البطولية عن تلك الأم التي فقزت كل الحواجز لتبحث عن وطن.

"ما أتعس أن يكون لك وطن ، لكنك رُغم ذلك تقفزُ بين الحواجز لاجئاً تبحث عن وطن" .

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a 4.5 stars. What a current & relevant story this is. There are so many opinions on anything to do with refugees & immigrants ( illlegal or not), whether it is here in the US & closing our borders or in many other foreign countries where people are fleeing for many reasons- war, poverty, religious freedom, etc.
This story starts with a young Afghan girl, named Ferebia. We follow her life as a young girl & teenager into her married life. She & her husband are educated, professional people but times have changed & their lives in Kabul take a dramatic turn.
The rest of the book focuses on the journey a family must make to stay alive, to be fed, to be safe.
At times I had to stop & think- what would I have done, what would I have done for my children & our safety.
This is just one of many refugee/immigrant stories out there & even though this was a tale of fiction, I am sure we could find many true, compelling stories each & every day.....
I would highly recommend this book. Very moving.

[Ming · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok, this book is very solidly written.

The emotions, however, were flat. I wasn't moved or touched. I felt that a distance remained for me as a reader and I didn't want that remoteness.

The book had too many tropes. The mean stepmother and the evil Taliban figured prominently. But thank goodness for the kindly neighbors and the few compassionate figures along the way. They included the kind man and his wife who took in the lodgers, the caring, pretty aid worker, the cocky Afghani male compatriots, etc.

The story is intriguing and picks up especially once the family escapes from Afghanistan. And I think the most wrenching pieces are the based-on-reality depictions of fleeing refugees and migrants trying to survive in Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, etc. They are en route or stuck, scratching out an existence as their initial dreams of a better life fade.

I must add here that the repeated or common themes specific to Afghanistan's recent history may be due to my reading too much (if that's possible) about the country. Those stories must be told, I feel, but I struggle with how to view them after a certain point.

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is once again a soulfoul book. The first part of the book in Afghanistan read like The Pearl That Broke Its Shell - the debut novel of this author. Absolutely brilliant. Pearl was one of the best books I have ever read. When I started out with this book I got hyper excited again. The quality of writing was just phenominal.

When the Moon is Low lost me around two thirds into the book. The magic was lost. Too much emotional extortion, a weak predictable plot and a change to a cramped memoir of a journey from Afghanistan to England. The ending was left to the reader's imagination, which is exciting, but sometimes bland. It is quite clear that the intention was to document this family's unimaginable journey and introduce the plight of refugees to the outside world. A documentary in novel form.

Nevertheless, the rich cultural experience for the reader made up for anything else that bothered me. The vulnerability of Fereiba Waziri and her children was heartwrenching. I got lost in the poetic prose in motion. The atmosphere gripped me.

The last third of the book changed into something else. I want to rate this book 3.5 stars, but will go for 4. Nadia Hashimi is a fantastic author with a talent for music in her prose. Quotes from the book:

"Fereiba-jan. In the darkness, when you cannot see the ground under your feet and when your fingers touch nothing but night, you are not alone. I will stay with you as moonlight stays on water.”

“Even your brother has found his way, without obligation to anyone. I do not know who is to blame. He has the body of a horse but the mind of an ass.”

KokoGul’s heart was a fixed space, a container with finite dimensions, and every inch of it had been spoken for by my sisters and my father. I stared at her and through her. Once again and even more unexpectedly this time, I was motherless.

Fereiba: I imagined my home without me—my sisters laughing in the hallways, my brother at my father’s side, and KokoGul, hands on her hips, proudly presiding over it all.
Why did my mother have to die?
Nothing exceptional happened on this afternoon. It was a few words, not much different from any other day but it was a private, cataclysmic moment when I saw the woman before me through unclouded eyes.
“They’re coming back sooner than I expected,” KokoGul said, thinking out loud. “But I’ll find a way to keep them baited.”
KokoGul made her own mouth water.
I saw the peaks of a hundred mountains rising before me.

Mother. All my life I had called KokoGul by this radiant and hopeful name, wishing for the touch of lamb’s wool on my cheek and too often getting nothing but a cool draft.

History has so many tales to tell. This one should be heard. And Nadia Hashimi should keep on writing. Historical fiction is her forté, I would say.

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a family who flees Afghanistan in the wake of the violence of the Taliban. The beginning chapters are told from the first-person perspective of Fereiba, depicting her early life in Kabul, marriage, children, and a tragedy that leads to the decision to leave. The middle chapters are focused on the family’s journey out of Afghanistan to Iran to Turkey to Greece to western Europe. The later chapters are told in the third person, focusing on Saleem, the eldest son. They hope to reach England, where Fereiba’s stepsister and her husband have settled. The two storylines serve as an effective way to portray the refugees’ dilemmas and the challenges they face. It moves along at a good pace. There are several harrowing scenes (per the author’s note, these scenes are adapted from real experiences), and though it is sad it also contains threads of hope. It is a well-crafted narrative that calls attention to the human cost of oppression.

[ولاء شكري · Rating 5 out of 5]

"اللاجئون لا يهربون من مكان واحد فقط، عليهم أيضاً الهرب من أنفسهم، ومن آلاف الذكريات مراراً وتكراراً، حتى يمضي وقت كافي، ويقطعون مسافة كافية بينهم وبين بؤسهم، حينها يمكنهم الاستيقاظ على يوم أفضل"

قد تتغير حياة كاملة خلال ظهيرة واحدة، ويواصل بقيه العالم سيره غير عابئ بمصيبة فردية تحدث على مقربة أقدام قليلة .. مصيبة تُغير تعريفك من مواطن إلى لاجئ.

رواية تحمل جرعة مكثفة من المشاعر التى يصعب صياغتها فى كلمات...
تجد فيها الحب الذى ينمو ويشتد حين يمنحنا الآخر مساحة وسبباً لنحبه ..
تجد الوطن الذى يلفظ أبنائه ويجبرهم على الرحيل ..
تشاهد الطرائق المختلفه في الوداع خصوصاً حين يكون إلى الأبد ..
الشعور بالتيه الذى يتملك اللاجئين ويظل ملازماً لهم كجلودهم ..
وهناك دائماً مفترق طرق يجبرك على الاختيار بين السيئ والأسوء منه ..

"ربما كان الموت على أرضنا أفضل من مطاردتنا أينما ذهبنا كالكلاب الضالة"

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book held my attention from beginning to end!

Being an American, I am aware that the Taliban severely punishes and even executes people they believe have disobeyed or spoken against their laws, but reading this book allowed me to more fully understand their situation.

This is a novel of a family whose life was torn apart by the Taliban. Literally none of the misfortunes they endured would have happened if there had been no Taliban. It made me so angry and sad to read what they experienced.

I felt terrible for the MC’s and what they went through. I found myself trying to put myself in their place. How would it be to have to unwillingly leave your homeland? To be in a strange land where everything is foreign to you. The language, food, climate, religion and customs. And on top of that have to go from place to place because no one wants you?

I also understand why some countries are wary of refugees from the Middle East. They wonder if they could be terrorist and want to keep their own country safe. But what can be done to find a middle ground.

This book opened my eyes. I know it’s a story as old as time but it’s a sad one. I wish we humans could be better to one another.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this three weak and and flimsy stars. It could easily have been two.

Typically, my privilege and I love stories about people who endure immense suffering and come out better in the end. I know why I like these tales, I know it makes me a horrible person but also a normal person. I'm sure not loving this book also makes me a horrible person but, in this case, not a normal person.

I've shelved this story under YA because it pulls its punches, like it's made for the delicate sensibilities of fragile not-yet-adult readers. Horrors and atrocities are not voiced but are, instead, glossed-over or are examined in hindsight. The feelings I should have felt were conspicuously absent or perhaps they were being carefully spared.
I never felt involved with the characters, rather, I was annoyed with Fereiba and her neverending mother obsession. Her mother died giving birth to her and her stepmother wasn’t affectionate. She loved her mother-in-law and was bitter when the woman died because the mother she’d just finally found was taken away. She became a mother, herself, and that made her miss her unknown mother and her mother-in-law even more. Mothers, mothers, mothers. Fereiba knows mothers!
With all that had happened in her life, why was that what defined her? Why was she never able to put that to rest, not even at the end where she's shown putting it to rest?

Then there's her son, Saleem. What a good, upstanding, perfect human being. The mistakes he makes are made with the strongest ethical reasoning. He's the pinnacle of humanity and that is why he is able to survive all the hardships. Except, no. He's refugee-survivor and more hopping from safehaven to safehaven out of sheer good luck.
And those safehavens! Those people who rescued and helped him along the way, the family in Turkey, the aid worker in Greece, his contemporaries in the camps, Mimi the prostitute, they all exist to further his story. They're not interesting in and of themselves, they're only there so Saleem can hop to another sound rock in the stream where he can make deep and soulful judgements about people and move on from them never to look back.

I felt like I was reading a book that wanted to be adapted into a movie, like it was just waiting for the right actors to give these characters life and depth, something they lack in the book.
And that's a shame because I should have found this to be a powerful and moving story of a displaced Afghan family fleeing their country in the hope of finding a better life.

[Candleflame23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

.
.
أعترف أن الأدب الأفغاني الذي قرأته حتى هذه الساعة لا يمكن اعتباره بأي شكلٍ من الأشكال أدبًا سعيدًا، بل إن لحظات السعادة التي ينثرها المؤلفون في النص تكاد تتلاشى كالسراب أمام كم الهموم والأحزان الجاثمة فوق تلك الأرض العنيدة.
وهذه هي المرة الثانية التي أقرأ بها لقلم نادية الهامشي بعد أن قرأت رائعتها السابقة ( اللؤلؤة التي كسرت محارتها)، رواية اليوم تتحدث عن كل الأماني والأحلام التي يركض خلفها أبناء أفغانستان، تبدأ الحكاية من الطفلة " فريبا" التي فقدت والدتها، وكبرت في كنف زوجة الأب، تمر بها الحياة بكل تفاصيلها بداية من لحظات الحب العذري الأول نهاية بقلب الأم المكسور! فريبا كانت الحالة الكاملة التي يمكن أن أرمز للوطن بها، لم مجرد إمرأة بل كانت هي الوطن.
تعرض الهاشمي هنا قضايا إنسانية عديدة خُلقت من رحم المشاكل السياسية والأزمات التي تعاقبت على أفغانستان، ولعل سليم في هذه القصة كان بمثابة الحلم الذي يلاحقه الجميع ونادرًا من يصل إليه!
اركض … اركض فحسب ….

ماذا بعد القراءة؟
و تبقى الأوطان في نفوس أبناءها حتى وإن تغربت الأجساد.

#أبجدية_فرح 5/5🌷📚
‏#candleflame23bookreviews
#حين_يقترب_القمر #نادية_الهاشمي
#مكتبة_كلمات
#غرد_بإقتباس
#مراجعة_كتاب

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two sad, moving books back to back for me was almost too much.

The subject of immigrants is such a hot bed right now here in our country. I think this book really gives you a glimpse of what life can be like for some. And they were just trying to get out and stay alive. So much in this book touched my heart.

Ferebia when thru so much - from her birth to the point she flees with her children. Saleem had to grow up so quickly and deal with things no child should have to deal with.

A great book!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could give this book to every person who has hateful internet posts regarding refugees, perhaps their hearts might start to feel. I felt sucked into this story from the very beginning-great characters,lots of obstacles, but hope was still at the heart of the novel.

[Marwa Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

ما أتعس أن يكون لك وطن، لكنك رغم ذلك تقفز بين الحواجز لاجئا تبحث عن وطن.

رواية الهروب، القلق، الخوف، الحواجز المنثورة بين البلدان، العائلة المشتتة بين هويات كثيرة مزوّرة وهوية حقيقية لا تسمن ولاتغني من جوع.

أفغانستان، يوم سقط بين أنياب الطالبان، يوم قُتل من قُتل من أهله ولاذ الآخرون يبحثون عن أرض أخرى تلملم شتاتهم.

"فريبا" الأم التي قتل زوجها من الطالبان، وتُركت وحدها مع بنت وولد ورضيع.. تبدأ رحلتها اللاشرعية بمنطق الوثائق، بحثا عن رقعة دافئة وآمنة لأطفالها..
خلال الرحلة ومن بلد إلى آخر تتعدد الأحداث وتتسارع لنصل إلى نهاية شبه مفتوحة لكنها مطمئِنة نوعا ما.

الأدب الأفغاني يصيبني بالكآبة، لم أجد حتى الآن رواية سعيدة، كل رواية تصور الواقع الحزين، وأتساءل معها هل الواقع يفوقها حزنا أم يتماهى معها..
لكنني أعود كل مرة وأقرأ ما يكتب عن أفغانستان.. البلد الذي مزقته الحروب، كبلدان كثيرة.. وترك في نفوسنا لوعة.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwrenching.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. The plight of refugees has been highlighted in the last few decades by many countries, volunteers, and charitable organizations. We have a fair amount in the area where I live, so I felt that this story was definitely current. I liked the characters in this. A family was caught in a sad little story trying to escape Kabul after the death of the husband by the government. I liked too, that even though there was a lot of tragedy here, it didn't feel like a tragedy parade. There were glimpses of kindness evenly placed throughout. I applaud that.

Two things kept this review from reaching 4 stars. The first one was the beginning. Here the MC is a young teen, jilted by a neighbor and the next thing, she is married with kids. I'm not sure the beginning really added anything for me, but it was a sweet story. It felt like a labor of love for the author. The second thing, which kind of includes the first one, is that it didn't feel as cohesive as I like. There was a lot going on, and with the different POVs and all the characters, it felt all over the place. So 3 stars.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel about a mother and her children who flee Afghanistan after the rise of the Taliban in the 1990s. The author was born in America but both of her parents are from Afghanistan.

In Kabul, we first meet Fereiba as a young girl growing up with an unloving stepmother and distant father. The story moves onto her thwarted love life, trying to avoid being married off to someone awful. She then settles down with Mahmoud and begins a family, she a teacher and he an engineer. Their life is turned upside down by the rise of the repressive Taliban regime, Mahmoud is killed, and Fereiba flees with her children, trying to seek asylum in England where she has some family. This perilous journey takes them through Iran, Turkey, Greece, and Italy and is fraught with hazard and difficulties at each step.

At this point Saleem, her teenage son, was introduced as a second narrator, a shift I did not enjoy as I had become more invested in Fereiba’s story. Saleem’s story focussed on his desire to be a man and I really did not take to him.

Overall the story sheds empathetic light on the plight of refugees. What the family went through is probably not a patch on the reality of what actually happens and somehow failed to make the emotional connections. This was a pleasant enough read but I think there are better refugee stories out there.

[zahraa esmaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

#رحلات2022
#حين_يقترب_القمر
"الأدب الأفغاني...بين محاكاة الواقع والأمل البعيد"
من جديد مع الكاتبة"نادية هاشمي"، وحلة أخرى من المجتمع الأفغاني
وهنا كان الوصف والتحليل الدقيق للمجتمع الأفغاني قبل وبعد سيطرة حركة طالبان على الحكم
على لسان "فريبا" وعبر حكايتها كانت الحكاية كاملة
ف البنت التي تنشأ يتمية الأم، في ظل زوجة أب بدأت معها بداية لطيفة وانتهت بقسوة أغلب الوقت، تعيش معاناة كاملة، حتى أنها بدأت تعليمها المدرسي بعد دخول أصغر أخواتها المدرسة

لم تتوقف حياة"فريبا" على تفوقها اللافت، ولكن بدأت المعاناة بعد زواجها من مهندس ناجح وانجابها طفلين، وأثناء انتظارها الطفل الثالث كانت سيطرة الطلبان المفاجئة على الحكم، بدأت مرحلة جديدة بمعاناة للجميع، وكان أبرز الضحايا من النساء

نتعرف على صفحات الرواية على أهم الإختلافات في المجتمع الأفغاني خاصة فيما يخص المرأة والأسرة، نرى بعيون"فريبا" وأطفالها الحلول المتاحة للهروب من بلد البقاء فيه يحمل نهاية مؤكدة لكل من تسول له نفسه محاولة المقاومة أو التغيير

جاء قرار "فريبا" بالنجاة بأطفالها مهما كان الثمن، فكانت الرحلة عبر الدروب والبلاد، فتارة كانت الرحلة تحمل مخاطر مالية، وتارة تحمل مخاطر ومعاناة جسدية خاصة في ظل التنقل بثلاثة أطفال أصغرهم رضيع ومريض، وفي كل الأحوال كان الموت والفشل متربصاً بالجميع

أهوال عاشتها"فريبا" وأطفالها في رحلة لجوء غير مأمونة العواقب أو مضمونة النتائج، تحولات جذرية في شخصيات الجميع

جاء الوصف ف الرواية سلسلاً، تصوير المشاهد بديع لدرجة السينمائية، فعشت المعاناة كاملةً، وودت أحياناً لو لم يكن الوصف بهذه الدقة، ولكن الواقع يحمل المزيد من الألم

رحلة معاناة، نهاية مفتوحة ولكن مطمئنة إلى حد كبير
رواية رائعة، بترجمة شديدة الدقة والجمال ل "إيمان محرز"، تنضم الرواية إلى قائمة مفضلاتي بسهولة شديدة

رواية رائعة، تستحق الإنتظار بشدة، وفي إنتظار ترجمة باقي روايات الكاتبة"وأتمنى ان تكون ل ايمان محرز"

#الكتاب_رقم41
#كتب_العيد
#أدب_أفغاني
41/120
2-مايو

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher William Morrow via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 21st 2015**

I was pretty excited for this read. I had read Hashimi's previous novel The Pearl That Broke it's Shell (review here ) and loved it so my expectations were set high for this book. I can say I was not disappointed.

I won't re-hash the story as I feel the book synopsis does a good job describing the plot. As Hashimi's previous novel did, this story educated me more about a region that I honestly know little about. I am going to assume that some of the background information is historically accurate. I did not know that women in Afghanistan used to have the same liberties as I currently know. I had assumed that it had always been the way we know if now where woman are not treated as equal. When Fereiba described her outfit of a pencil skirt I was initially confused until the story described the transition of the Afghanistan of old to the new one.

I am not sure why stories that take place in this geography fascinate me so much. Maybe it is because it is so different from what I know, or maybe because it is almost always tragic, I don't know. I am really not going to analyze it to much.

Back to the plot...a little bit. I could not even imagine going through what this family went through in order to try to escape their reality. Does it ever put things in to perspective when I am sweating the small stuff. My reality is a dream compared to theirs.

I encourage anyone who likes to read about the plight of people in real places to pick up this book. Both books actually. They are eye opening, compelling, well written and simply entertaining. I look forward to discovering any future work by Hashimi.

In closing I have to say that I felt the ending to the story was completely appropriate. Symbolic in a way. For anyone who has read this I would love to know if you agree.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Nadia Hashimi drew me into the life of her characters portrayed in When The Moon is Low. Alternating chapters of Mother and Son give perspective and interpretation of the events surrounding the harsh journey they embark on to flee Afghanistan. Enjoyed every chapter!!

[shams hoter | · Rating 4 out of 5]

" خُتم قدري بالدماء يوم ميلادي ، فيما كنتُ أكافح للدخول إلى هذا العالم ، كانت أمي تتركه ، لتمّحي معها فرصي في أن أكون ابنة حقيقية ؛ قطعت القابلة الحبل السري وحررت أمي من آخر التزاماتها نحوي .. "

تتناول الرواية واقع ومأساة الشعب الأفغاني وخصوصًا "المرأة الأفغانية " وتضحياتهم وهجرتهم من بلادهم بعد حكم طالبان ، والمصاعب التي يواجهونها خلال خط هجرتهم ، كذلك تأثير الحروب
والنزاعات عليهم وذلك من خلال قصة امرأة أفغانية شجاعة حرمتها الحروب من كل ما تملك لتبدأ بنفسها رحلتها الشاقة المؤلمة في الهجرة الطويلة في محاولة منها لحماية أغلى ماتبقى لديها في هذهِ الحياة أطفالها ، حيث تختلط فيها مشاعر الحب والتضحية والإنتصار والشجاعة لتجسّد لنا جزء من تاريخ أفغانستان ومعاناة الشعب خلالها ..

" غياب الأم يُشبه الوقوف عاريًا في الجليد ."

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching insight into the life of a refugee trying to make it from Afghanistan to England. The characters were compelling and heartbreakingly realistic, and I was fascinated by how their comfortable, ordinary lives in Kabul were completely upended by the Taliban. I really enjoyed reading about Fereiba's life story, and the love she had for her children. This is the second book I've read by Nadia Hashimi, and I love the way she writes; a lot of historical fiction tends to be very descriptive, which can be difficult to get through, but her writing style is simple and focused. This was so close to being a 4 star read for me, but the abrupt ending left me feeling very unsatisfied.