Afsun Beyond the Vineyard

Afsun Beyond the Vineyard is at once a poignant coming-of-age story and an indictment of religious extremism. Presented as the diary of a resilient, outspoken teenager, this novel offers authentic insights into the subtleties of Afghanistan’s Uzbek culture. Having emigrated from Afghanistan at the age of two, Afsun grows up in Russia but yearns to see the mountains of her birthplace. When her father announces they’ll be vacationing in her parents’ hometown, her excitement is palpable. But the summer adventure soon turns into an unending nightmare. Even as her world begins to collapse around her, Afsun struggles to maintain her dignity and support her young siblings in a society where women and girls have no status, no freedom, and no voice.