Part II

I'm not very good at having time to read lately, so this is coming kind of late... but i got into the second part of the book. This section focuses on a young girl growing up during the Soviet takeover of Afganistan and then the eventual fall of the soviets into political turmoil. When the section starts, Laila is a young child attending school amidst the absence of her two older brothers who are fighting with the mujahideen. As the story progresses, her friends begin to discuss the prospect of marriage, again, at a very young age. Laila reminds me a lot of myself in the sense that she can't imagine why anyone would want to, or let alone actually go to get married before they are finished with school. I have several friends who were married shortly after high school. While i am so proud of them and happy that they are so happy, I can't imagine not finishing out school and pursueing a career before settling down so permanently.