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I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
I come from a country that was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday.
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.
Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.
On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.
Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
I Am Malala is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
About the author
Malala Yousafzai
19 books5,168 followersMalala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. She is known for human rights advocacy, especially education of women in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. Her advocacy has since grown into an international movement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 25,809 reviews
October 12, 2014
Reading this book reminded me of how much I take for granted every day: Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The freedom to go to the store without needing a male escort. And the ability to get an education, regardless of gender.
"I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children."
Malala, who is now 16, is an outspoken advocate for girls to have the same right to go to school as boys. In her native Pakistan, she lost that ability when the Taliban took over: "I was 10 when the Taliban came to our valley ... It seemed to us that the Taliban arrived in the night just like vampires. They appeared in groups, armed with knives and Kalashnikovs ... They looked so dark and dirty and that my father's friend described them as 'people deprived of baths and barbers.'"
The Taliban started bombing schools and decreed that girls couldn't get an education. Malala's father was a school principal and encouraged her to speak out. She was only 15 at the time, but threats were made against her and her family. And in October 2012, when she was riding the school bus with her friends, a man with a gun climbed aboard the vehicle and shot Malala in the head.
Amazingly, Malala survived the bullet and was able to recover. She and her family currently live in England, but Malala writes about how much she misses her home country and wishes she could return to be with her friends. Her graciousness was such that she did not wish revenge on her attacker, and instead prays for peace.
"I thank Allah for the hardworking doctors, for my recovery and for sending us to this world where we may struggle for our survival. Some people choose good ways and some choose bad ways. One person's bullet hit me. It swelled my brain, stole my hearing and cut the nerve of my left face in the space of a second. And after that one second there were millions of people praying for my life and talented doctors who gave me my body back. I was a good girl. In my heart I had only the desire to help people."
Malala's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I admire her courage and her tenacity, and also hope that her country will one day find peace. "Why are we Muslims fighting with each other? ... We should focus on practical issues. We have so many people in our country who are illiterate, and many women have no education at all. We live in a place where schools are blown up. We have no reliable electricity supply. Not a single day passes without the killing of at least one Pakistani."
The book is lovingly written, and I also appreciated her stories about the history of Pakistan and her people, the Pashtuns. While reading the book I realized that I knew more about the history of other countries in the region, such as Afghanistan, Iran and India, than I did about Pakistan, and it was very informative. I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in women's rights, current events, history or inspirational memoirs.
"Today we all know education is our basic right. Not just in the West; Islam too has given us this right. Islam says every girl and every boy should go to school. In the Quran it is written, God wants us to have knowledge. He wants us to know why the sky is blue and about oceans and stars ... The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they couldn't stop our minds from thinking."
Update October 2014:
I was thrilled to hear that Malala had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work. I have recommended this book to numerous people in the past year, and am still amazed by her courage. Three cheers for Malala!
"I was a girl in a land where rifles are fired in celebration of a son, while daughters are hidden away behind a curtain, their role in life simply to prepare food and give birth to children."
Malala, who is now 16, is an outspoken advocate for girls to have the same right to go to school as boys. In her native Pakistan, she lost that ability when the Taliban took over: "I was 10 when the Taliban came to our valley ... It seemed to us that the Taliban arrived in the night just like vampires. They appeared in groups, armed with knives and Kalashnikovs ... They looked so dark and dirty and that my father's friend described them as 'people deprived of baths and barbers.'"
The Taliban started bombing schools and decreed that girls couldn't get an education. Malala's father was a school principal and encouraged her to speak out. She was only 15 at the time, but threats were made against her and her family. And in October 2012, when she was riding the school bus with her friends, a man with a gun climbed aboard the vehicle and shot Malala in the head.
Amazingly, Malala survived the bullet and was able to recover. She and her family currently live in England, but Malala writes about how much she misses her home country and wishes she could return to be with her friends. Her graciousness was such that she did not wish revenge on her attacker, and instead prays for peace.
"I thank Allah for the hardworking doctors, for my recovery and for sending us to this world where we may struggle for our survival. Some people choose good ways and some choose bad ways. One person's bullet hit me. It swelled my brain, stole my hearing and cut the nerve of my left face in the space of a second. And after that one second there were millions of people praying for my life and talented doctors who gave me my body back. I was a good girl. In my heart I had only the desire to help people."
Malala's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I admire her courage and her tenacity, and also hope that her country will one day find peace. "Why are we Muslims fighting with each other? ... We should focus on practical issues. We have so many people in our country who are illiterate, and many women have no education at all. We live in a place where schools are blown up. We have no reliable electricity supply. Not a single day passes without the killing of at least one Pakistani."
The book is lovingly written, and I also appreciated her stories about the history of Pakistan and her people, the Pashtuns. While reading the book I realized that I knew more about the history of other countries in the region, such as Afghanistan, Iran and India, than I did about Pakistan, and it was very informative. I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in women's rights, current events, history or inspirational memoirs.
"Today we all know education is our basic right. Not just in the West; Islam too has given us this right. Islam says every girl and every boy should go to school. In the Quran it is written, God wants us to have knowledge. He wants us to know why the sky is blue and about oceans and stars ... The Taliban could take our pens and books, but they couldn't stop our minds from thinking."
Update October 2014:
I was thrilled to hear that Malala had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work. I have recommended this book to numerous people in the past year, and am still amazed by her courage. Three cheers for Malala!
November 1, 2013
Just to be clear, the rating is for the book not the person Malala herself. I read this quickly whilst on holidays and was keen to find out more about her story after seeing a short tv piece just before leaving home. I think her story is amazing and her courage remarkable, her plight and vision inspiring but the book itself I found to be an odd mix of political and historical fact and personal reflections that didn't quite gel for me. Still a worthy read and I really appreciated the insight into the young girls life with her family. I can see that the historical documentation that was added, presumably by the other author, is there to inform people like me who have a flimsy grasp on the political events and motivations of power brokers in that region of the world, however I found Malala's personal account to be much more interesting and think the book would have done better with a different angle that focused on just her story or even told the political through her eyes or words...I found myself wondering sometimes "who am I listening to here?" and feeling a little as if I was being coerced into forming a political opinion based on the interpretations being offered in the factual accounts.
December 21, 2013
I really wanted to love this book. I don't think anyone can deny the difficulties this girl has faced or the impact she has had on the world. However, the book reads like an odd jumble of Pakistani history, politics, and personal experience that never quite comes together into a cohesive narrative. The first few chapters are very inconsistent and meander all over the place with no clear destination; it sounds more like a collection of memories or family stories interspersed with factual information about Pakistan and the history of the Swat valley, and I had a very difficult time staying engaged and keeping track of the many people mentioned. The story becomes a little more streamlined as Yousafzai starts to recount her older childhood years leading up to the banning of education for girls, but I still had issues with the writing. This is one of the more egregious examples, but I think it captures the serious need for editing: "The new girls had horrible stories. Ayesha told us how one day on the way home from Sangota she had seen a Taliban holding up the severed head of a policeman by its hair, blood dripping from the neck. The Sangota girls were also very bright, which meant more competition. One of them, Rida, was excellent at making speeches." (p.144). It is certainly inspirational to hear Yousafzai's and her father's stories about speaking up in defiance of politicians, local mullahs, and the Taliban, but I think many readers might lose interest trying to follow the disjointed narrative. The book feels like it was really rushed, which is a serious shame. Someone this brave and interesting deserves a better book.
December 9, 2020
Criticism be damned, I loved this book.
We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.
Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl, was just fifteen years old when the Taliban decided she needed to be taken out.
That she was too dangerous to be alive.
That she was radical, sacrilegious and so much more.
And what did she do? What was the heinous, terrible actions that necessitated her being shot?
Education is education. We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow." Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.She spoke up for education - particularly for girls - and was doing such an inspirational job, that she became a 'problem'.
Her father, a schoolmaster, founded many schools throughout her childhood and he always gave Malala the option to speak up for her right to education.
And speak up she did. She corresponded with newspapers, campaigned on the radio and even appeared on television.
One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.She gave a voice to the ever-silenced children, especially the girls, who were forced to cover up and stay at home. To give up their education because it was "improper".
Malala expressed her love for God, for her people and for the right to education - time and time again.
When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.And when the Taliban heard of her, they decided that she, a fifteen year old girl, needed to be killed.
And so they tried. They shot her in the head on her way to school on October 9th, 2012.
But something happened that they had not calculated - she survived.
And the attempted murder (assassination? I think she's important enough to bump this to attempted assassination) didn't cow her or put her in her place.
She survived and she is ready to continue the fight.
We were scared, but our fear was not as strong as our courage.In short - amazing. Truly amazing.
This book felt like a honest chat between the author and the world - she unashamedly details the poverty, the cruelty and the losses that her family, and the families around her, suffered.
But at the same time, she speaks so honestly and fervently about her love for God, her country and even for those who attacked out of fear or misguidance.
Normally, when there is a second author, the book begins to feel false - as in there's too much influence from the more professional writer, and that erases all of the personal voice. But that was not the case in this one.
Malala's felt so incredibly real, the way she spoke about her life in Pakistan - from her humble beginnings to the success of her father's school - and heartbreaking, especially when she talked about her freedom being taken away slowly.
This is a book that should be read by everyone - especially the those who oppose her - because if you can feel one ounce of love that Malala feels for her country and education, then I honestly don't see why anyone would keep fighting it.
If one man can destroy everything, why can't one girl change it?The Finer Books Club - 2018 Reading Challenge - an audiobook read by the author
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August 11, 2020
Being a fellow Muslim, I was indeed intrigued and awed by the courage of this young girl who is brave enough to speak up about what is wrong with her country and strive for education to be available for all.
Coming from a country where education is a main priority and females overpopulated the men in schools, colleges and universities, I was indeed aghast to discovered that in certain parts of the world, women are being treated as second class citizens. It brought a tear to my eyes, how Malala and her friends struggled to continue their education despite the horrors of war, earthquake and the ongoing power struggle between the military and the Islamic militants in Pakistan. Certainly, Malala owed much of her courage from her own father who is an education activist and is the owner of a private school. Their family background and details about the Swat Valley is described vividly in the book and readers get to know more about the places that she has lived and been to.
This book should be given out to every teen so that they would realise how important an education is and not to think of schooling so lightly. I felt so grateful to be able to live in a country where although the majority are Muslims, the women are not banned from attending schools and told to stay at homes to serve the men. Thank you, Malala for bringing attention to your plight. Isn't it ironic that instead of silencing Malala with the gunshot, the Taliban instead have given her an even bigger voice that has been heard the world over?
Coming from a country where education is a main priority and females overpopulated the men in schools, colleges and universities, I was indeed aghast to discovered that in certain parts of the world, women are being treated as second class citizens. It brought a tear to my eyes, how Malala and her friends struggled to continue their education despite the horrors of war, earthquake and the ongoing power struggle between the military and the Islamic militants in Pakistan. Certainly, Malala owed much of her courage from her own father who is an education activist and is the owner of a private school. Their family background and details about the Swat Valley is described vividly in the book and readers get to know more about the places that she has lived and been to.
This book should be given out to every teen so that they would realise how important an education is and not to think of schooling so lightly. I felt so grateful to be able to live in a country where although the majority are Muslims, the women are not banned from attending schools and told to stay at homes to serve the men. Thank you, Malala for bringing attention to your plight. Isn't it ironic that instead of silencing Malala with the gunshot, the Taliban instead have given her an even bigger voice that has been heard the world over?
April 25, 2018
These days it seems like our world is a giant game of telephone. Any news story or online gossip you hear is hard to believe because it has been skewed so much since it left the source. It is refreshing and enlightening to hear a story straight from the source - especially on the topic of life in the Middle East which is always quickly demonized in America. By experiencing Malala's story, it gives a true face to the people of Pakistan who are mostly wanting peace and prosperity, not oppression and terror.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who only has views of the world from the news and social media. Seeing how the war on terror in the Middle East was experienced by a child on the front lines is pretty amazing. I thought my teenage drama was hard here in the United States, but what Malala and her countrymen and women went through is humbling. In fact, I think the story of this book can be of value to anyone living today who feels like they are far away from the terror or that they are better than people from other countries. For every terrorist, there are hundreds of people just like us.
5 stars all the way - let's just hope other books like this stop having to be written because people are being terrorized and having their rights threatened. The more people that read this and don't take it with a grain of salt, the closer we will all be to a better world.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who only has views of the world from the news and social media. Seeing how the war on terror in the Middle East was experienced by a child on the front lines is pretty amazing. I thought my teenage drama was hard here in the United States, but what Malala and her countrymen and women went through is humbling. In fact, I think the story of this book can be of value to anyone living today who feels like they are far away from the terror or that they are better than people from other countries. For every terrorist, there are hundreds of people just like us.
5 stars all the way - let's just hope other books like this stop having to be written because people are being terrorized and having their rights threatened. The more people that read this and don't take it with a grain of salt, the closer we will all be to a better world.
July 16, 2021
June 2021
I bought Vogue for the first time, just to read the interview. At 23, she comes across as very much the same person, but nuanced. Her best friend from Oxford is quoted as saying:
“She came into university as an adult, and left it as a young adult.”
Review continues below photo...
Image: Malala on Vogue’s cover (Source.)
University gave her choices and time for herself, including time to - nearly - miss essay deadlines. She deserves a pedestal, but in many ways, she wants to be, and is, delightfully normal.
Having graduated in the first summer of the Covid pandemic, she’s still not quite sure what to do next, but campaigning for girls’ education is still core to her mission, and she hasn’t ruled out politics. The power of storytelling is part of that, hence her deal with Apple TV+ to produce animations, dramas, and children’s shows. She prefers consensus to confrontation and thinks activism by tweet is not enough.
Her modesty, charm, and giggles still shine through: she didn’t mention her Nobel prize on her application to Oxford (but of course, they’d know). When Kate Phelan tentatively asked her if she’d had a boyfriend at Oxford, Malala’s reaction made her (the journalist) “feel like I’m torturing a kitten”. But later, Malala picks up the subject, though unsure if she will ever get married, or even wants to. At 23, that seems sensible.
She may not know where she wants to go next, but she did manage to visit Pakistan in 2018. The beautiful Swat Valley she loves, and to see her grandmother and aunt before they died.
You can read the Vogue interview HERE.
June 2020
Malala graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy, Economics). The Oxford course has a remarkable number of famous politicians and public figures among its alumni, listed HERE. When the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic subsides, may the world be her oyster.
Image: Malala celebrating graduating, in traditional Oxford style (Source.)
Review from 2016 of 2013 book
This is a powerful story about a child, but with topical, global relevance.
The media is full of alarming reports of extremists of all religions, across the globe. Finding perspective can be hard, especially for non-believers, and it’s important to balance valid criticism and condemnation with avoiding the suggestion that all followers of a faith are mad, bad, or dangerous to know.
So it’s good to read a positive portrayal not just of a religious person, but a Muslim one. The fact she is young, female, and influential is all the better.
Who Is Malala?
People around the world know her by her first name. They know she campaigned for the right of girls to attend school, initially via an anonymous blog on BBC Urdu (aged 11). That she was shot in the head by the Taliban and eventually airlifted to hospital in Birmingham, UK - a city where she and her family currently live. That she has a very close relationship with her father. That she spoke at the UN on her 16th birthday. That she was the youngest Nobel laureate when, aged 17, she was joint winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. That she’s a devout Muslim. That she’s a giggler.
That, I knew. I read this to understand, especially why Ziauddin (her father) is so enlightened about women and their education; how and why Malala became a campaigner so young; the role and opinion of Tor Pekai (her mother, who was illiterate); and her two younger brothers, Kushal and Atal, raised in a culture that favours boys and men, but perpetually in the shadow of their sister.
I learned the chronology, and a fair bit about Pashtun culture, the natural beauty of Swat, recent Pakistani political history, Taliban tactics, and the difficulty of living as a displaced person at home and abroad.
I discovered that Malala loves Cheesy Wotsits, Justin Bieber, Ugly Betty, styling her hair, Twilight, halal KFC, gently teasing her father, high(ish) heels, pink, and squabbling with the elder of her younger brothers. She’s proud of her academic prizes because she earned them, but has mixed feelings about the others, because they remind her of how much still needs to change.
She comes across as a charming mixture of serious and light-hearted, mature and child-like, loyal to her heritage, but open to other ideas and influences. The perfect example was doing henna hand tattoos using symbols from chemistry and calculus, rather than the traditional flowers and butterflies.
But I still don’t feel I really understand the family themselves.
Who are Tor Pekai and Ziauddin?
Theirs was, unusually, a love match, rather than an arranged marriage.
Tor Pekai may be uneducated and in the background, but “My mother comes from a family of strong women” and Ziauddin always shares information and decisions with her. He’s the dreamer; she’s the practical one. After Malala had been airlifted to the UK and the family were battling bureaucracy to join her, it was Tor Pekai’s threatened hunger strike that got things slowly moving.
Ziauddin apparently overcame a childhood stammer by determination and public speaking. He was conscious of his preferential treatment for being a boy, particularly in terms of education, and felt that was wrong. He was briefly radicalised in his youth, but going away to college when Benazir Bhutto was PM, he discovered “women who had greater freedom and were not hidden away as in in his own village”. That seems insufficient explanation for founding a chain of schools against extraordinary odds, and speaking out against governments and terrorists. “It was my grandmother’s faith in my father that gave him the courage to find his own proud path.” Hmm.
One answer to my questions is the fact that Ziauddin carries a version of Martin Niemöller’s famous poem in his pocket, First they came for....
Whose Voice, Whose Truth?
The more significant biographies will be written decades hence, but until then, this is an important and readable book, and I don’t want to diminish that. It is by Malala in conjunction with journalist, Christina Lamb. The writing can be a little uneven and plodding, I sometimes lost track of how old Malala was, and it’s not always clear to what extent her thoughts and words are really hers, or have been modulated, moderated or embroidered.
Maybe it doesn’t matter. When the Islamic studies teacher couldn’t be trusted, her father advised, “Learn the literal meaning of the [Arabic] words; don’t follow his explanations and interpretations. Only learn what God says. His words are divine messages, which you are free to interpret.”
There’s a fair bit of mythologizing. “My father always said ‘Malala will be free as a bird’ but I wondered how free a daughter could ever be.” She was always special: the family’s luck changed after her birth, omens abound etc. “All children are special to their parents, but to my father I was his universe” – he had a wife and two other children!
But given Malala’s life and stature on the word stage, mythologizing is perhaps inevitable and even appropriate. But.
Controversy
Although feted around the world, Malala remains a controversial figure in the country she loves, and to which she repeatedly and firmly says she wants to return.
The extremists think her a puppet of the west, and too liberal in her interpretation of Islam. Even moderates dislike her for symbolising bad aspects of their country, and think her hypocritical for living in greater comfort abroad (as if it were her choice).
The Pakistani government created the role of Educational Attaché in the UK for Ziauddin so the family would have income and diplomatic passports - and, crucially, not be eligible to claim asylum in the UK (which would make Pakistan look bad).
What Next?
“We might be the world’s best-treated refugees.” The Yousafzai family may live in greater material comfort now, but the pain and loneliness of their new lives, especially for Tor Pekai, is made plain.
It’s not safe for Malala and her family to return to Swat at the moment. Meanwhile, she received an excellent education at an academically-selective private girls’ school in Birmingham - a city with a large population of Pakistani heritage. She’s two years older than the other girls in her class, but did well, after the initial shock of no longer being effortlessly at the top of the class. I assume her brothers are receiving a similar education.
After that, there was speculation she might go to the US for university; the only certainty was that it wouldn’t be Pakistan. In the end, she went to Oxford to study the famous PPE (Politics, Philosophy, Economics) course. While still at school, she reiterated the decision made aged 13 that she wants to be a politician, so Oxford's PPE, followed by many British and overseas political figures, makes sense. How and where she applies it remains to be seen. She’s certainly fearless and determined: she only agreed to meet President Obama on condition they could talk, rather than just have a photo opportunity, and when she was awarded Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize, she accepted it and then gave the PM a list of demands!
Just as importantly, Tor Pekai is attending classes in English, reading and writing.
Image: Malala celebrating graduating, with her family (Source.)
Religion in My Life
I was raised as an Anglican (Church of England), at home and at school. A somewhat passive (non-evangelical) sort of faith, with dramatic architecture, good music, and beautiful words.
In my late teens and early twenties, I earnestly sought a personal experience of God. There were times it felt close, but I never quite got there.
Eventually, I gave up the quest, and was happier facing my truth. I dabbled in Dawkins and agnosticism, and am now at the stage where I am somewhat bored with the debate, and actively dislike organised religion and many of the beliefs that go with it.
Nevertheless, I retain a visceral affection for the beauty of some religious practices (only some), and respect for good and sincere believers, including those among my family and friends.
I don’t share Malala’s faith, but I admire her sincerity, courage, commitment, and passion for worthy causes. She has paid a high price. I hope she continues to think it's worth it.
Good and Evil; God and the Godless
History is full of people who have done evil things in the name of religion (including those who shot Malala) and non-religious people who have done great and altruistic things. But we should not forget the opposite.
Malala cites the Koran as saying “God wants us to have knowledge”. Her explicit religious faith may sustain and drive her, but she evangelises for girls, women, and education, rather than God. Even unbelievers and followers of other faiths can support her in that.
She thanks God for saving her – but she’s keen to thank people, too. It also strengthened her campaigning resolve, “I was spared for a reason – to use my life helping people”.
Maybe the truth is that the world has good and bad people in it, and that their religion is no more relevant than whether or not they like Justin Bieber.
Quotes
· “My life has changed, but I have not.”
· “For us girls, that doorway was like a magical entrance to our own special world. As we skipped through, we cast off our headscarves like winds puffing away clouds to make way for the sun then ran helter-skelter up the steps.”
· The Taliban take control of the valley, commit atrocities: “All this happened and nobody did a thing.”
· “Some people are afraid of ghosts, some of spiders or snakes – in those days we were afraid of our fellow human beings.”
· “They can stop us going to school but they can’t stop us learning.”
· “The Taliban is not an organised force… It’s a mentality.” In the film, when Ziauddin is asked who shot Malala, he says it wasn't a person, but an ideology.
· “I love physics because it’s about the truth, a world determined by principles and laws – no messing around or twisting things like in politics.”
· “I am Malala. My world has changed but I have not.”
Book versus Film
A couple of weeks after reading the book, I saw the film, He Named me Malala.
It’s a good complement to the book: each has things the other does not, so I recommend both. I don’t think it matters which is first.
The film uses charming animated sequences to illustrate the legend of Malalai and scenes from the life of Malala’s parents.
On screen, you see more of brothers and mother, a little more of Malala's personality – especially her famous giggle, get a feel for being on the receiving end of hordes of journalists at international events, and see some of the education projects the Malala Fund is sponsoring. However, it’s no more enlightening on the relationship between Malala and her parents than the book is.
The book has more (gentle) mention of Malala’s own faith, more background in Pakistani culture and politics, more about Ziauddin’s motivation and the schools he founded, and covers the family’s difficulties in joining Malala in the UK.
I bought Vogue for the first time, just to read the interview. At 23, she comes across as very much the same person, but nuanced. Her best friend from Oxford is quoted as saying:
“She came into university as an adult, and left it as a young adult.”
Review continues below photo...
Image: Malala on Vogue’s cover (Source.)
University gave her choices and time for herself, including time to - nearly - miss essay deadlines. She deserves a pedestal, but in many ways, she wants to be, and is, delightfully normal.
Having graduated in the first summer of the Covid pandemic, she’s still not quite sure what to do next, but campaigning for girls’ education is still core to her mission, and she hasn’t ruled out politics. The power of storytelling is part of that, hence her deal with Apple TV+ to produce animations, dramas, and children’s shows. She prefers consensus to confrontation and thinks activism by tweet is not enough.
Her modesty, charm, and giggles still shine through: she didn’t mention her Nobel prize on her application to Oxford (but of course, they’d know). When Kate Phelan tentatively asked her if she’d had a boyfriend at Oxford, Malala’s reaction made her (the journalist) “feel like I’m torturing a kitten”. But later, Malala picks up the subject, though unsure if she will ever get married, or even wants to. At 23, that seems sensible.
She may not know where she wants to go next, but she did manage to visit Pakistan in 2018. The beautiful Swat Valley she loves, and to see her grandmother and aunt before they died.
You can read the Vogue interview HERE.
June 2020
Malala graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy, Economics). The Oxford course has a remarkable number of famous politicians and public figures among its alumni, listed HERE. When the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic subsides, may the world be her oyster.
Image: Malala celebrating graduating, in traditional Oxford style (Source.)
Review from 2016 of 2013 book
This is a powerful story about a child, but with topical, global relevance.
The media is full of alarming reports of extremists of all religions, across the globe. Finding perspective can be hard, especially for non-believers, and it’s important to balance valid criticism and condemnation with avoiding the suggestion that all followers of a faith are mad, bad, or dangerous to know.
So it’s good to read a positive portrayal not just of a religious person, but a Muslim one. The fact she is young, female, and influential is all the better.
Who Is Malala?
People around the world know her by her first name. They know she campaigned for the right of girls to attend school, initially via an anonymous blog on BBC Urdu (aged 11). That she was shot in the head by the Taliban and eventually airlifted to hospital in Birmingham, UK - a city where she and her family currently live. That she has a very close relationship with her father. That she spoke at the UN on her 16th birthday. That she was the youngest Nobel laureate when, aged 17, she was joint winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. That she’s a devout Muslim. That she’s a giggler.
That, I knew. I read this to understand, especially why Ziauddin (her father) is so enlightened about women and their education; how and why Malala became a campaigner so young; the role and opinion of Tor Pekai (her mother, who was illiterate); and her two younger brothers, Kushal and Atal, raised in a culture that favours boys and men, but perpetually in the shadow of their sister.
I learned the chronology, and a fair bit about Pashtun culture, the natural beauty of Swat, recent Pakistani political history, Taliban tactics, and the difficulty of living as a displaced person at home and abroad.
I discovered that Malala loves Cheesy Wotsits, Justin Bieber, Ugly Betty, styling her hair, Twilight, halal KFC, gently teasing her father, high(ish) heels, pink, and squabbling with the elder of her younger brothers. She’s proud of her academic prizes because she earned them, but has mixed feelings about the others, because they remind her of how much still needs to change.
She comes across as a charming mixture of serious and light-hearted, mature and child-like, loyal to her heritage, but open to other ideas and influences. The perfect example was doing henna hand tattoos using symbols from chemistry and calculus, rather than the traditional flowers and butterflies.
But I still don’t feel I really understand the family themselves.
Who are Tor Pekai and Ziauddin?
Theirs was, unusually, a love match, rather than an arranged marriage.
Tor Pekai may be uneducated and in the background, but “My mother comes from a family of strong women” and Ziauddin always shares information and decisions with her. He’s the dreamer; she’s the practical one. After Malala had been airlifted to the UK and the family were battling bureaucracy to join her, it was Tor Pekai’s threatened hunger strike that got things slowly moving.
Ziauddin apparently overcame a childhood stammer by determination and public speaking. He was conscious of his preferential treatment for being a boy, particularly in terms of education, and felt that was wrong. He was briefly radicalised in his youth, but going away to college when Benazir Bhutto was PM, he discovered “women who had greater freedom and were not hidden away as in in his own village”. That seems insufficient explanation for founding a chain of schools against extraordinary odds, and speaking out against governments and terrorists. “It was my grandmother’s faith in my father that gave him the courage to find his own proud path.” Hmm.
One answer to my questions is the fact that Ziauddin carries a version of Martin Niemöller’s famous poem in his pocket, First they came for....
Whose Voice, Whose Truth?
The more significant biographies will be written decades hence, but until then, this is an important and readable book, and I don’t want to diminish that. It is by Malala in conjunction with journalist, Christina Lamb. The writing can be a little uneven and plodding, I sometimes lost track of how old Malala was, and it’s not always clear to what extent her thoughts and words are really hers, or have been modulated, moderated or embroidered.
Maybe it doesn’t matter. When the Islamic studies teacher couldn’t be trusted, her father advised, “Learn the literal meaning of the [Arabic] words; don’t follow his explanations and interpretations. Only learn what God says. His words are divine messages, which you are free to interpret.”
There’s a fair bit of mythologizing. “My father always said ‘Malala will be free as a bird’ but I wondered how free a daughter could ever be.” She was always special: the family’s luck changed after her birth, omens abound etc. “All children are special to their parents, but to my father I was his universe” – he had a wife and two other children!
But given Malala’s life and stature on the word stage, mythologizing is perhaps inevitable and even appropriate. But.
Controversy
Although feted around the world, Malala remains a controversial figure in the country she loves, and to which she repeatedly and firmly says she wants to return.
The extremists think her a puppet of the west, and too liberal in her interpretation of Islam. Even moderates dislike her for symbolising bad aspects of their country, and think her hypocritical for living in greater comfort abroad (as if it were her choice).
The Pakistani government created the role of Educational Attaché in the UK for Ziauddin so the family would have income and diplomatic passports - and, crucially, not be eligible to claim asylum in the UK (which would make Pakistan look bad).
What Next?
“We might be the world’s best-treated refugees.” The Yousafzai family may live in greater material comfort now, but the pain and loneliness of their new lives, especially for Tor Pekai, is made plain.
It’s not safe for Malala and her family to return to Swat at the moment. Meanwhile, she received an excellent education at an academically-selective private girls’ school in Birmingham - a city with a large population of Pakistani heritage. She’s two years older than the other girls in her class, but did well, after the initial shock of no longer being effortlessly at the top of the class. I assume her brothers are receiving a similar education.
After that, there was speculation she might go to the US for university; the only certainty was that it wouldn’t be Pakistan. In the end, she went to Oxford to study the famous PPE (Politics, Philosophy, Economics) course. While still at school, she reiterated the decision made aged 13 that she wants to be a politician, so Oxford's PPE, followed by many British and overseas political figures, makes sense. How and where she applies it remains to be seen. She’s certainly fearless and determined: she only agreed to meet President Obama on condition they could talk, rather than just have a photo opportunity, and when she was awarded Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize, she accepted it and then gave the PM a list of demands!
Just as importantly, Tor Pekai is attending classes in English, reading and writing.
Image: Malala celebrating graduating, with her family (Source.)
Religion in My Life
I was raised as an Anglican (Church of England), at home and at school. A somewhat passive (non-evangelical) sort of faith, with dramatic architecture, good music, and beautiful words.
In my late teens and early twenties, I earnestly sought a personal experience of God. There were times it felt close, but I never quite got there.
Eventually, I gave up the quest, and was happier facing my truth. I dabbled in Dawkins and agnosticism, and am now at the stage where I am somewhat bored with the debate, and actively dislike organised religion and many of the beliefs that go with it.
Nevertheless, I retain a visceral affection for the beauty of some religious practices (only some), and respect for good and sincere believers, including those among my family and friends.
I don’t share Malala’s faith, but I admire her sincerity, courage, commitment, and passion for worthy causes. She has paid a high price. I hope she continues to think it's worth it.
Good and Evil; God and the Godless
History is full of people who have done evil things in the name of religion (including those who shot Malala) and non-religious people who have done great and altruistic things. But we should not forget the opposite.
Malala cites the Koran as saying “God wants us to have knowledge”. Her explicit religious faith may sustain and drive her, but she evangelises for girls, women, and education, rather than God. Even unbelievers and followers of other faiths can support her in that.
She thanks God for saving her – but she’s keen to thank people, too. It also strengthened her campaigning resolve, “I was spared for a reason – to use my life helping people”.
Maybe the truth is that the world has good and bad people in it, and that their religion is no more relevant than whether or not they like Justin Bieber.
Quotes
· “My life has changed, but I have not.”
· “For us girls, that doorway was like a magical entrance to our own special world. As we skipped through, we cast off our headscarves like winds puffing away clouds to make way for the sun then ran helter-skelter up the steps.”
· The Taliban take control of the valley, commit atrocities: “All this happened and nobody did a thing.”
· “Some people are afraid of ghosts, some of spiders or snakes – in those days we were afraid of our fellow human beings.”
· “They can stop us going to school but they can’t stop us learning.”
· “The Taliban is not an organised force… It’s a mentality.” In the film, when Ziauddin is asked who shot Malala, he says it wasn't a person, but an ideology.
· “I love physics because it’s about the truth, a world determined by principles and laws – no messing around or twisting things like in politics.”
· “I am Malala. My world has changed but I have not.”
Book versus Film
A couple of weeks after reading the book, I saw the film, He Named me Malala.
It’s a good complement to the book: each has things the other does not, so I recommend both. I don’t think it matters which is first.
The film uses charming animated sequences to illustrate the legend of Malalai and scenes from the life of Malala’s parents.
On screen, you see more of brothers and mother, a little more of Malala's personality – especially her famous giggle, get a feel for being on the receiving end of hordes of journalists at international events, and see some of the education projects the Malala Fund is sponsoring. However, it’s no more enlightening on the relationship between Malala and her parents than the book is.
The book has more (gentle) mention of Malala’s own faith, more background in Pakistani culture and politics, more about Ziauddin’s motivation and the schools he founded, and covers the family’s difficulties in joining Malala in the UK.
May 7, 2021
ملاله دختری که در مورد محدودیت تحصیل مصاحبه کرد، توسط طالبان مورد سوء قصد قرار گرفت. در سازمان ملل صحبت کرد. جایزه صلح نوبل گرفت. این کتاب پرفروش رو چاپ کرد
اما بیاید کمی واضح تر نگاه کنیم. ورای این تصویرکه به ما داده شده
از لحظه ای که این کتاب رو شروع کردم چیزی در موردش اذیتم می کرد. دقیقا نمی دونستم که مشکل کجاست چون واقعاً "می خواستم" که این کتاب رو دوست داشته باشم. می خواستم ملاله از انسان های مهم و تاثیرگذاری باشه که در موردشون خوندم. این حس من رو به ریویو های گودریدز و مقاله های موجود در اینترنت کشوند. بعد از خوندن تعداد زیادی نقد مثبت و تعداد اندکی منفی، مشکل رو متوجه شدم. شاید کمی از حقیقت ملاله و این کتاب پرفروش برای من روشن شد
یک : ملاله در زمان نوشتن این کتاب یک دختر پانزده ساله ست. کودکی ملاله در زر ورق پدر و ویراستارش پوشانده شده، ولی در آخر دیده میشه و فکر نپخته اش خودش رو نشان میده
دو: قسمت زیادی به نقل قول و تاریخ جانب دارانه می گذره و آیا این تاریخ رو این دختر 15 ساله دیده؟ یا یک جستجوی معمولی شده و به ما تحویل داده شده؟ یا فکر فرد دیگه ای؟ نقل قول های بسیار از پدرش نشون میده که ما داریم تاریخ پاکستان رو از زبان مردی می خوانیم که مخالف بسیاری از مسائل هست، از کجا بفهمیم این تاریخ نزدیک به واقعیت هست؟ جستجو های من نشون داد که خیلی از جاها نیست. چرا این نسخه از واقعیت به ما نشان داده میشه؟
چرا پاکستانی هایی که دقیقا در محل زندگی سابق ملاله زندگی می کنند، اصرار دارند که واقعیت چیز دیگری هست؟
سه : به عنوان کسی که در ایران زندگی می کنه به شدت درک می کنم اینکه در سطح جهانی تصویر عقب مانده ای از کشورت نمایش داده بشه چقدر آزار دهنده است و چطور توسط کشورهای دیگر برای پیشبرد منافعشون استفاده میشه. در روستاهای ایران هم ما مشکل آموزش و عقب ماندگی زن ها رو داریم
ولی آیا می تونیم این رو به همه ی ایران نسبت بدیم؟
ملاله تمام زندگیش رو در نقطه دور روستایی ای گذرونده که حتی مدتی شامل پاکستان هم نبوده. چرا اصرار داره که این تصویر تمام زن های پاکستان هست؟ کشوری که نخست وزیر زن داشته و تعداد زیادی زن بسیار تحصیل کرده!
منظور چشم بستن به روی مشکلات حقوق زنان و تحصیل یا انکارشون نیست. ولی نحوه ی مقابله با این مشکله که بحث برانگیزه
چهار: و چرا ملاله؟ چرا این دختر لایق این همه میکروفون و درمان و توجه بود ولی دخترهایی که همزمان با ملاله قربانی این حمله شدند نه. چون ملاله خوب صحبت می کنه؟ به خاطر این ملاله لایق توجه دنیا بود و بچه های افغانی که در حملات هوایی آمریکا کشته شدند نه؟
این رو پذیرفتم که هر هدفی نیاز به فردی داره که در نقش "پوستر" باشه. آیا ملاله کار واقعی ای بیشتر از پوستر بودن انجام داده؟ آیا مدارس جدیدی در سوات ساخته شده؟ صحبت های پاکستانی ها نشان میده که نه
پنچ: میزان تمجید از خود در این زندگی نامه آزار دهندست. "ملاله مادر ترزای شرق " ، " ملاله دختر همه ی ماست" و...
زندگی نامه تو باید به من ثابت کنه که تو فوقالعاده ای نه اینکه "بگی که هستی". من چیزی که باید می دیدم رو ندیدم
شش: به عنوان یک زن مسلمان در مجامع بین الملل حاضر میشه و تصویری که از اسلام زیرکانه در این کتاب نشان داده میشه چیزیه که سال هاست به دنیا گفته شده. به فکر نمی افتید از این شباهت تفکر؟ اشتباه نکنید اینجا بحث بر سر به حق بودن یا نبودن اسلام نیست. بحث این تناقضه. بحث این تشابه عجیب. مسئله من دین نیست. مسئله من تزریق فکره و ویژگی کلیدی یک الگو، یک قهرمان کسیه که از خودش فکر متفاوت داشته
دلایل دیگری هم وجود دارند که فکر می کنم از حوصله این نوشته خارجه. مثل نقش شک برانگیز پدر ملاله در این بین و مهاجرت راحت خانواده اش
اگر چیزی باید از این کتاب یاد گرفت اینه که فراتر چیزی که به ما گفته میشه خوب یا بد هست رو نگاه کنیم. نقش ملاله در ایجاد توجه به سمت مسئله تحصیل زنان مهمه ولی روش و وسیله رو نباید ندیده گرفت
ملاله یک نوجوان سخنور. بازیچه رسانه و هالیوود و مشهوریت و برنامه های بزرگ غرب
زمانی که "واقعا" کاری انجام داد حاضرم نظرم رو عوض کنم. زمانی که جز حرف زدن و مصاحبه با الن دجنرس و دیدار با اوباما و تحسین شدن از طرف هالییود و مردم غرب که همواره به دنبال قهرمان سازی هستند، برای مردم خودش کاری کرد. خوشحال میشم که کسی بهم ثابت کنه که اشتباه می کنم. چون به نظرم دنیا به قهرمان های واقعی نیاز داره و دلم نمی خواست یکی از این بین در ذهنم حذف بشه
ساختن نماد و پوستر تا کی؟ تا کی خودمون رو راضی کنیم که تا وقتی در مورد مشکلی "حرف" می زنیم کافیه؟
٢٣ آبان ٩۵
اما بیاید کمی واضح تر نگاه کنیم. ورای این تصویرکه به ما داده شده
از لحظه ای که این کتاب رو شروع کردم چیزی در موردش اذیتم می کرد. دقیقا نمی دونستم که مشکل کجاست چون واقعاً "می خواستم" که این کتاب رو دوست داشته باشم. می خواستم ملاله از انسان های مهم و تاثیرگذاری باشه که در موردشون خوندم. این حس من رو به ریویو های گودریدز و مقاله های موجود در اینترنت کشوند. بعد از خوندن تعداد زیادی نقد مثبت و تعداد اندکی منفی، مشکل رو متوجه شدم. شاید کمی از حقیقت ملاله و این کتاب پرفروش برای من روشن شد
یک : ملاله در زمان نوشتن این کتاب یک دختر پانزده ساله ست. کودکی ملاله در زر ورق پدر و ویراستارش پوشانده شده، ولی در آخر دیده میشه و فکر نپخته اش خودش رو نشان میده
دو: قسمت زیادی به نقل قول و تاریخ جانب دارانه می گذره و آیا این تاریخ رو این دختر 15 ساله دیده؟ یا یک جستجوی معمولی شده و به ما تحویل داده شده؟ یا فکر فرد دیگه ای؟ نقل قول های بسیار از پدرش نشون میده که ما داریم تاریخ پاکستان رو از زبان مردی می خوانیم که مخالف بسیاری از مسائل هست، از کجا بفهمیم این تاریخ نزدیک به واقعیت هست؟ جستجو های من نشون داد که خیلی از جاها نیست. چرا این نسخه از واقعیت به ما نشان داده میشه؟
چرا پاکستانی هایی که دقیقا در محل زندگی سابق ملاله زندگی می کنند، اصرار دارند که واقعیت چیز دیگری هست؟
سه : به عنوان کسی که در ایران زندگی می کنه به شدت درک می کنم اینکه در سطح جهانی تصویر عقب مانده ای از کشورت نمایش داده بشه چقدر آزار دهنده است و چطور توسط کشورهای دیگر برای پیشبرد منافعشون استفاده میشه. در روستاهای ایران هم ما مشکل آموزش و عقب ماندگی زن ها رو داریم
ولی آیا می تونیم این رو به همه ی ایران نسبت بدیم؟
ملاله تمام زندگیش رو در نقطه دور روستایی ای گذرونده که حتی مدتی شامل پاکستان هم نبوده. چرا اصرار داره که این تصویر تمام زن های پاکستان هست؟ کشوری که نخست وزیر زن داشته و تعداد زیادی زن بسیار تحصیل کرده!
منظور چشم بستن به روی مشکلات حقوق زنان و تحصیل یا انکارشون نیست. ولی نحوه ی مقابله با این مشکله که بحث برانگیزه
چهار: و چرا ملاله؟ چرا این دختر لایق این همه میکروفون و درمان و توجه بود ولی دخترهایی که همزمان با ملاله قربانی این حمله شدند نه. چون ملاله خوب صحبت می کنه؟ به خاطر این ملاله لایق توجه دنیا بود و بچه های افغانی که در حملات هوایی آمریکا کشته شدند نه؟
این رو پذیرفتم که هر هدفی نیاز به فردی داره که در نقش "پوستر" باشه. آیا ملاله کار واقعی ای بیشتر از پوستر بودن انجام داده؟ آیا مدارس جدیدی در سوات ساخته شده؟ صحبت های پاکستانی ها نشان میده که نه
پنچ: میزان تمجید از خود در این زندگی نامه آزار دهندست. "ملاله مادر ترزای شرق " ، " ملاله دختر همه ی ماست" و...
زندگی نامه تو باید به من ثابت کنه که تو فوقالعاده ای نه اینکه "بگی که هستی". من چیزی که باید می دیدم رو ندیدم
شش: به عنوان یک زن مسلمان در مجامع بین الملل حاضر میشه و تصویری که از اسلام زیرکانه در این کتاب نشان داده میشه چیزیه که سال هاست به دنیا گفته شده. به فکر نمی افتید از این شباهت تفکر؟ اشتباه نکنید اینجا بحث بر سر به حق بودن یا نبودن اسلام نیست. بحث این تناقضه. بحث این تشابه عجیب. مسئله من دین نیست. مسئله من تزریق فکره و ویژگی کلیدی یک الگو، یک قهرمان کسیه که از خودش فکر متفاوت داشته
دلایل دیگری هم وجود دارند که فکر می کنم از حوصله این نوشته خارجه. مثل نقش شک برانگیز پدر ملاله در این بین و مهاجرت راحت خانواده اش
اگر چیزی باید از این کتاب یاد گرفت اینه که فراتر چیزی که به ما گفته میشه خوب یا بد هست رو نگاه کنیم. نقش ملاله در ایجاد توجه به سمت مسئله تحصیل زنان مهمه ولی روش و وسیله رو نباید ندیده گرفت
ملاله یک نوجوان سخنور. بازیچه رسانه و هالیوود و مشهوریت و برنامه های بزرگ غرب
زمانی که "واقعا" کاری انجام داد حاضرم نظرم رو عوض کنم. زمانی که جز حرف زدن و مصاحبه با الن دجنرس و دیدار با اوباما و تحسین شدن از طرف هالییود و مردم غرب که همواره به دنبال قهرمان سازی هستند، برای مردم خودش کاری کرد. خوشحال میشم که کسی بهم ثابت کنه که اشتباه می کنم. چون به نظرم دنیا به قهرمان های واقعی نیاز داره و دلم نمی خواست یکی از این بین در ذهنم حذف بشه
ساختن نماد و پوستر تا کی؟ تا کی خودمون رو راضی کنیم که تا وقتی در مورد مشکلی "حرف" می زنیم کافیه؟
٢٣ آبان ٩۵
September 14, 2014
Being resident of the area, Valley of Swat, where she lived (basically she is from the adjoining District Shangla whence her father came to Swat and established private school), I find the authenticity of the most of events described and actions claimed hard to believe (as do almost all the residents).
First there is the question of Local Talibans forcing girls from going to schools. That is not true. I was, as everyone else, a regular listener of the Taliban's daily half an hour or so long FM radio broadcast and they only verbally 'forced' girls to wear proper veils when going to school, which was hardly an enforcement as the local culture is already extremely conscious of the 'veil' (Mala herself wears a scarf). However, to my knowledge they 'encouraged' girls to leave 'western' schools but they 'claimed' that after installing an Islamic government here in the area, they would set up proper 'exemplary' girls schools. In fact, in the local tribal society it is unthinkable to 'force' a woman or girl from doing or not doing something as it is tantamount to man-handling them, which is, frankly speaking, a sure way to get killed or beaten not only by relatives (distant or near) of the woman/girl but anyone who is nearby. Anyone here can testify to fact that on various occasions many 'individual' talibans were mercilessly beaten up by locals when they spoke to shopping women reproachfully. Additionally, the Talibans were locals (later they were joined by savages from central Asian region and Afghanistan but they kept to themselves) and they never held absolute power here.. As opposed to the official stance, the people of Swat never left their homes when Talibans were in control, as a matter of fact, they were 'forced' to leave when army started the operation by the army.
Secondly, Talibans were never in control of the city where Malala resided for so long as to impose their alleged rule. They entered the city in early May ( I was there buying DVDs with friends) by then the impending military operation had already caused educational institutions to close indefinitely. A week or ten days after the 'invasion' of the city (they, despite the hype, actually numbered not more than two or two and a half dozen who 'occupied' few private buildings and hotels) army entered the city. In any case, people started to leave the city after Taliban 'invasion' for fear of artillery and aerial bombardment by the army. Therefore, it highly unlikely that there were any female students still going to schools. This 'timing' problems also exist in her 'diary', dated January & February, which records the 'incidents' on her way to school. Valley Swat is officially a 'Winter Zone' and all educational institutions are closed for winter vacation on the 25th of December to 1st of March.
Thirdly, no one is aware of anyone raising their voice for the general cause of girls education at any point during the uprising in any way or on any forum (since there was nothing as such called for). However, I personally am aware of two occasions where a relative(s), affiliated with the Talibans, tried to stop daughters or sisters of close relatives from going to school and were physically forced to abstain from any such acts in the future.
I personally do not wish to malign anyone's reputation, especially not that of the adorable yet unfortunate Malala whose courage and personality I admire. However, as the history is been written, I would disapprove of any one who may, innocently, inadvertently or deliberately, represent truth in a distorted form. We were unfortunate enough to have had Talibans forced upon us, let us not be burdened with half-truths and tarnished representation.
I am not alone in these perception, everyone share them here. That was the reason that the students of prime Girls College in the city here refused their college to be named after Mala.. In fact, the allegedly' repressed young girls vociferously protested out the college any such decision that forced the army and official authorities to relent.
I am led to understand that there is a 'Malala Fund' with millions of dollars with the aim to spread girls education in my area.. May I respectfully ask when would a dollar from that money be spent here for the cause?
First there is the question of Local Talibans forcing girls from going to schools. That is not true. I was, as everyone else, a regular listener of the Taliban's daily half an hour or so long FM radio broadcast and they only verbally 'forced' girls to wear proper veils when going to school, which was hardly an enforcement as the local culture is already extremely conscious of the 'veil' (Mala herself wears a scarf). However, to my knowledge they 'encouraged' girls to leave 'western' schools but they 'claimed' that after installing an Islamic government here in the area, they would set up proper 'exemplary' girls schools. In fact, in the local tribal society it is unthinkable to 'force' a woman or girl from doing or not doing something as it is tantamount to man-handling them, which is, frankly speaking, a sure way to get killed or beaten not only by relatives (distant or near) of the woman/girl but anyone who is nearby. Anyone here can testify to fact that on various occasions many 'individual' talibans were mercilessly beaten up by locals when they spoke to shopping women reproachfully. Additionally, the Talibans were locals (later they were joined by savages from central Asian region and Afghanistan but they kept to themselves) and they never held absolute power here.. As opposed to the official stance, the people of Swat never left their homes when Talibans were in control, as a matter of fact, they were 'forced' to leave when army started the operation by the army.
Secondly, Talibans were never in control of the city where Malala resided for so long as to impose their alleged rule. They entered the city in early May ( I was there buying DVDs with friends) by then the impending military operation had already caused educational institutions to close indefinitely. A week or ten days after the 'invasion' of the city (they, despite the hype, actually numbered not more than two or two and a half dozen who 'occupied' few private buildings and hotels) army entered the city. In any case, people started to leave the city after Taliban 'invasion' for fear of artillery and aerial bombardment by the army. Therefore, it highly unlikely that there were any female students still going to schools. This 'timing' problems also exist in her 'diary', dated January & February, which records the 'incidents' on her way to school. Valley Swat is officially a 'Winter Zone' and all educational institutions are closed for winter vacation on the 25th of December to 1st of March.
Thirdly, no one is aware of anyone raising their voice for the general cause of girls education at any point during the uprising in any way or on any forum (since there was nothing as such called for). However, I personally am aware of two occasions where a relative(s), affiliated with the Talibans, tried to stop daughters or sisters of close relatives from going to school and were physically forced to abstain from any such acts in the future.
I personally do not wish to malign anyone's reputation, especially not that of the adorable yet unfortunate Malala whose courage and personality I admire. However, as the history is been written, I would disapprove of any one who may, innocently, inadvertently or deliberately, represent truth in a distorted form. We were unfortunate enough to have had Talibans forced upon us, let us not be burdened with half-truths and tarnished representation.
I am not alone in these perception, everyone share them here. That was the reason that the students of prime Girls College in the city here refused their college to be named after Mala.. In fact, the allegedly' repressed young girls vociferously protested out the college any such decision that forced the army and official authorities to relent.
I am led to understand that there is a 'Malala Fund' with millions of dollars with the aim to spread girls education in my area.. May I respectfully ask when would a dollar from that money be spent here for the cause?
December 4, 2021
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, Christina Lamb, Malala Yousafzai
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban is an autobiographical book by Malala Yousafzai, co-written with Christina Lamb.
The book details the early life of Yousafzai, her father's ownership of schools and activism, the rise and fall of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Swat Valley and the assassination attempt made against Yousafzai, when she was aged 15, following her activism for female education.
It has received a positive critical reception and won awards, though it has been banned in many schools in Pakistan.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و دوم ماه آگوست سال2015میلادی
عنوان: من ملاله هستم؛ نویسنده: کریستینا لمب، ملاله یوسفزای؛ مترجم: هانیه چوپانی؛ تهران، کوله پشتی، سال1393؛ در344ص؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان پاکستان - سده21م
دختر نوجوان «ملاله یوسفزی»، «پاکستانی» در سال2012میلادی، هنگامیکه از مدرسه به خانه باز میگشت، هدف گلوله ی تروریستها یا همان جنگجویان «طالبان» قرار گرفت؛ علت این ترور نافرجام، مخالفتهای «ملاله» با احکام «طالبان پاکستان» درباره زنان، و دختران عنوان شده بود؛ با زخمی شدن «ملاله»، توجه افکار عمومی جهان به «ملاله»، خانواده اش، و وضعیت زنان، در کشور «پاکستان» جلب شد؛ از آنجا که «طالبان» تهدید کرده بودند، که به محض بدست آوردن فرصت، دوباره به «ملاله» یورش خواهند برد، «ملاله» و خانواده اش، برای درمان به «انگلستان» رفتند، و «ملاله» در آنجا بود، که دوباره سلامت خود را بازیافت؛
کتاب، شرح زندگی این دختر نوجوان «پاکستانی» است، که به قلم خود ایشان، و با یاری نویسنده ی روزنامه «ساندی تایمز»، نگاشته شده است؛ «ملاله»، پس از بهبودی، کوشش خود را، به عنوان فعال حقوق بشر، ادامه داده، و با حضور در مجامع گوناگون جهان، تلاش کرده، تا توجه جهان را به مشکلات زنان، و دختران، در «پاکستان» جلب نماید
نقل از متن: (من در سپیده دم، در حالیکه آخرین ستاره چشمک میزد، متولد شدم؛ ما «پشتون»ها این نشانه را، بسیار خوشیمن میدانیم؛ پدرم برای مخارج بیمارستان، یا مامای خانگی، پول نداشت، بنابراین یکی از همسایه ها، به ما کمک کرد؛ نخستین فرزند پدر و مادرم، مرده به دنیا آمده بود، اما من در حالیکه فریاد میکشیدم، و لگد میزدم، بیرون آمدم؛ من دختر سرزمینی هستم، که تفنگها را، برای جشن تولد یک پسر، آتش میکنند، در حالیکه دختران، پشت پرده ای پنهان میشوند، و تنها نقش آنان، تهیه ی غذا، و مراقبت از فرزندان است؛ برای اغلب «پشتون»ها، روز تولد یک دختر، بسیار غم انگیز است؛ پسرعموی پدرم، «جهان شیرخان یوسفزی»، یکی از کسانی بود، که تولد مرا تبریک گفت، و حتی مبلغ قابل توجهی، به پدر هدیه داد؛ او شجره نامه ی بزرگ خاندان ما را، به همراه خود آورده بود؛ «دلوخیل یوسفزی»، جد پدری من، تنها شاخه ی مردان خاندان را، نشان میداد؛ «ضیاءالدین» پدرم، شبیه به هیچ یک از مردان «پشتون» نیست؛ او شجره نامه را گرفته، و یک خط، مانند آب نبات چوبی، از کنار نام خود ترسیم کرد، و در انتهای آن نوشت: «ملاله»؛ پسرعموی او، در حالیکه شگفت زده شده بود، خندید؛ اما پدر، به او توجهی نکرد؛ پدر میگوید، هنگامی که پس از تولدم، در چشمانم نگاه میکرده، شیفته ی من شده بود؛ آنگاه به مردم میگفت: من میدانم این دختر، با بچه های دیگر، فرق دارد؛ او حتی از دوستان و آشنایان خواست، که میوه های خشک، شیرینی، و سکه در گهواره ی من، بیاندازند، کاری که ما، تنها برای فرزندان پسر انجام میدهیم؛ نام من از «ملالی میوند»، شیرزن «افغانستان»، گرفته شد؛ «پشتون»ها قبایلی هستند، که میان «پاکستان» و «افغانستان»، تقسیم شده اند؛ ما قرنهاست با قانونی به ��ام «پشتونوالی» زندگی میکنیم که ما را وادار میکند، با همه ی مهمانان خوشرفتاری کنیم، و مهمترین ارزش در این قانون، ناموس است)؛ پایان نقل
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 28/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 12/09/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban is an autobiographical book by Malala Yousafzai, co-written with Christina Lamb.
The book details the early life of Yousafzai, her father's ownership of schools and activism, the rise and fall of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Swat Valley and the assassination attempt made against Yousafzai, when she was aged 15, following her activism for female education.
It has received a positive critical reception and won awards, though it has been banned in many schools in Pakistan.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و دوم ماه آگوست سال2015میلادی
عنوان: من ملاله هستم؛ نویسنده: کریستینا لمب، ملاله یوسفزای؛ مترجم: هانیه چوپانی؛ تهران، کوله پشتی، سال1393؛ در344ص؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان پاکستان - سده21م
دختر نوجوان «ملاله یوسفزی»، «پاکستانی» در سال2012میلادی، هنگامیکه از مدرسه به خانه باز میگشت، هدف گلوله ی تروریستها یا همان جنگجویان «طالبان» قرار گرفت؛ علت این ترور نافرجام، مخالفتهای «ملاله» با احکام «طالبان پاکستان» درباره زنان، و دختران عنوان شده بود؛ با زخمی شدن «ملاله»، توجه افکار عمومی جهان به «ملاله»، خانواده اش، و وضعیت زنان، در کشور «پاکستان» جلب شد؛ از آنجا که «طالبان» تهدید کرده بودند، که به محض بدست آوردن فرصت، دوباره به «ملاله» یورش خواهند برد، «ملاله» و خانواده اش، برای درمان به «انگلستان» رفتند، و «ملاله» در آنجا بود، که دوباره سلامت خود را بازیافت؛
کتاب، شرح زندگی این دختر نوجوان «پاکستانی» است، که به قلم خود ایشان، و با یاری نویسنده ی روزنامه «ساندی تایمز»، نگاشته شده است؛ «ملاله»، پس از بهبودی، کوشش خود را، به عنوان فعال حقوق بشر، ادامه داده، و با حضور در مجامع گوناگون جهان، تلاش کرده، تا توجه جهان را به مشکلات زنان، و دختران، در «پاکستان» جلب نماید
نقل از متن: (من در سپیده دم، در حالیکه آخرین ستاره چشمک میزد، متولد شدم؛ ما «پشتون»ها این نشانه را، بسیار خوشیمن میدانیم؛ پدرم برای مخارج بیمارستان، یا مامای خانگی، پول نداشت، بنابراین یکی از همسایه ها، به ما کمک کرد؛ نخستین فرزند پدر و مادرم، مرده به دنیا آمده بود، اما من در حالیکه فریاد میکشیدم، و لگد میزدم، بیرون آمدم؛ من دختر سرزمینی هستم، که تفنگها را، برای جشن تولد یک پسر، آتش میکنند، در حالیکه دختران، پشت پرده ای پنهان میشوند، و تنها نقش آنان، تهیه ی غذا، و مراقبت از فرزندان است؛ برای اغلب «پشتون»ها، روز تولد یک دختر، بسیار غم انگیز است؛ پسرعموی پدرم، «جهان شیرخان یوسفزی»، یکی از کسانی بود، که تولد مرا تبریک گفت، و حتی مبلغ قابل توجهی، به پدر هدیه داد؛ او شجره نامه ی بزرگ خاندان ما را، به همراه خود آورده بود؛ «دلوخیل یوسفزی»، جد پدری من، تنها شاخه ی مردان خاندان را، نشان میداد؛ «ضیاءالدین» پدرم، شبیه به هیچ یک از مردان «پشتون» نیست؛ او شجره نامه را گرفته، و یک خط، مانند آب نبات چوبی، از کنار نام خود ترسیم کرد، و در انتهای آن نوشت: «ملاله»؛ پسرعموی او، در حالیکه شگفت زده شده بود، خندید؛ اما پدر، به او توجهی نکرد؛ پدر میگوید، هنگامی که پس از تولدم، در چشمانم نگاه میکرده، شیفته ی من شده بود؛ آنگاه به مردم میگفت: من میدانم این دختر، با بچه های دیگر، فرق دارد؛ او حتی از دوستان و آشنایان خواست، که میوه های خشک، شیرینی، و سکه در گهواره ی من، بیاندازند، کاری که ما، تنها برای فرزندان پسر انجام میدهیم؛ نام من از «ملالی میوند»، شیرزن «افغانستان»، گرفته شد؛ «پشتون»ها قبایلی هستند، که میان «پاکستان» و «افغانستان»، تقسیم شده اند؛ ما قرنهاست با قانونی به ��ام «پشتونوالی» زندگی میکنیم که ما را وادار میکند، با همه ی مهمانان خوشرفتاری کنیم، و مهمترین ارزش در این قانون، ناموس است)؛ پایان نقل
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 28/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 12/09/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
July 28, 2020
لم أكن أتخيل للحظة أنني سأقع في غرام الكتاب
حسبت أنني سأتصفحه سريعا
فإذا بي أستمتع بكل كلمة كتبت فيه
وهو يتعدى الأربعمائة صفحة
!!
هل قلت وقعت في غرام الكتاب
الأصوب أنني وقعت في غرام هذه الفتاة القوية والشديدة اللطف
أحببت كل ما كتبته عن نفسها وحياتها
أحببت عقلها الذكي وروحها الطيبة
هناك ألوف مثل ملالا في كل أنحاء العالم
فتيات منعتهن ظروف بشتى أنواعها من السير في الطريق الذي اتخذته ملالا
حظت الفتاة بدعم وبحظ جيد لتوصل صوتها
من العدل أن نقول أن هناك الكثيرات غيرها
ممن لم يسمع صوتهن ولم تفتح منصات أمامهن للتعبير عما تعرضن له من ظلم
لكن هذا لا يغير حقيقة أن ملالا هي مثال رائع على الفتاة الشجاعة القوية الذكية
التي استطاعت في مجتمع منغلق يتعرض لكل هذا الظلم أن تستمر وتناضل بكل ما استطاعت
الكتاب وجدته متعة كبرى
ولم أمل من تفاصيله لحظة
إنه تذكرة رائعة لما تستطيع المرأة فعله
إن هي عقدت عزمها على شيء
December 3, 2021
Just ignore the review if you think I write negatively.
Edited to include what I have wrote earlier in my comments on 4 December '13:
I do feel that this autobiography should have waited for a few years for Malala to have a much more distinctive voice.
Unfortunately, this was muted by the co author.
2.5 stars..
OK shoot me!
I actually hated this book, because the co-author named Christina Lamb actually used 3/4 of the book and sensationalise everything. EVERYTHING! That is why I am giving 2 stars for the 3/4 of the first part of the book. And this co-author put on dates and tragedies and events and it was like, I am in war all over.
I actually enjoyed Malala Yousafzai retelling, on her father's dream, on her school, on her daily life. But when the other author start saying Pakistan is bad all over, oh hey, I got quite a few friends who are studying for their qualifications in the UK, and they turned out quite well. And they are men, and not Talibans.
I know Talibans are wrong because they stop the girls for going to school and be educated. But there are some people who are not bad. The way Christina Lamb painted that all Pakistanis are violent (that's the vibes here) makes me want to smack her. I am a Muslim, BTW, and this co-author who is living in London is trying to say Muslims are bad.. oh heck.
But for the second part, 1/4 of the book, it will be 3 stars. This is because Malala's voice has become more prominent later in the book. And I do love and enjoy her stories after she survived that Taliban shooting in her school bus.
OK if I can survive this auto biography, maybe I will survive other horrid books.
Edited to include what I have wrote earlier in my comments on 4 December '13:
I do feel that this autobiography should have waited for a few years for Malala to have a much more distinctive voice.
Unfortunately, this was muted by the co author.
2.5 stars..
OK shoot me!
I actually hated this book, because the co-author named Christina Lamb actually used 3/4 of the book and sensationalise everything. EVERYTHING! That is why I am giving 2 stars for the 3/4 of the first part of the book. And this co-author put on dates and tragedies and events and it was like, I am in war all over.
I actually enjoyed Malala Yousafzai retelling, on her father's dream, on her school, on her daily life. But when the other author start saying Pakistan is bad all over, oh hey, I got quite a few friends who are studying for their qualifications in the UK, and they turned out quite well. And they are men, and not Talibans.
I know Talibans are wrong because they stop the girls for going to school and be educated. But there are some people who are not bad. The way Christina Lamb painted that all Pakistanis are violent (that's the vibes here) makes me want to smack her. I am a Muslim, BTW, and this co-author who is living in London is trying to say Muslims are bad.. oh heck.
But for the second part, 1/4 of the book, it will be 3 stars. This is because Malala's voice has become more prominent later in the book. And I do love and enjoy her stories after she survived that Taliban shooting in her school bus.
OK if I can survive this auto biography, maybe I will survive other horrid books.
July 7, 2020
انها ملالا....ملالا الفتاة التي ناضلت من اجل حق التعليم
ملالا الفتاة التي لا تعرف المستحيل,ولا تخاف من اي شيئ سوى الله .
ملالا الفتاة الشجاعة التي لم تخاف حتى من طالبان دافعت عن حقها كفتاة
ملالا الفتاة التي وقفت في وجه اعداء العلم والدين الذين يريدوننا ان نعود الى العصر الحجري
ملالا الفتاة التي تعرضت الى محاولة قتل اثناء ذهابها الى المدرسة . ولكن الله كتب لها عمر جديد.ولم تنتهي حياتها بالرصاصة
رائعة هي قصة ملالا ,تعلمنا ملالا الصبر وقوة العزمية وعدم اليأس
ففي الفصل الاول تحكي ملالا يوسفزاي الحياة الجميلة والهادئة في مسقط رأسها مينغورا ,كبرى مدن وادي سوات قبل قدوم طالبان .تستعرض حياة والديها وجانب من علاقتها بعائلتها والتقاليد التي تميزت بها منطقتها
أما الفصل الثانى والذى يحمل عنوان "ظل فوق وادينا"، خصص للحديث عن التغيرات التى نجمت عن ظهور طالبان، وخاصة معارضة تعليم البنات، وتهديد العائلات التى ترسل فتياتها إلى المدارس
الفصل الثالث، يسرد قصة بداية ملالا فى طريقها للدفاع عن حق بنات جيلها فى التعليم، عندما كتبت العديد من المقالات والخطابات التى عبرت عن احساسها ومشاعرها تجاه حملات منع الفتيات من التعليم وحرق مدارسهم،
بينما يحكى الفصل الرابع من الكتاب حكاية وتفاصيل محاولة اغتيال وقتل ملالا، ويوضح الفصل أنه قبل تنفيذ عملية الاغتيال، كانت تصل إليها عدد كبير من رسائل التهديد إليها ولغيرها من الفتيات اللواتى كن يتعلمن فى مدرسة خوشال،
وفي النهاية الفصل الخامس يتحدث عن رحلة ملالا في العلاج ، وماعانته . وتروى فيه التغيرات النفسية والفكرية التى مرت بها نتيجة اضطرارها لمغادرة وطنها والعيش فى المملكة المتحدة، حيث مازالت تقيم هناك اليوم
ملالا الفتاة التي لا تعرف المستحيل,ولا تخاف من اي شيئ سوى الله .
ملالا الفتاة الشجاعة التي لم تخاف حتى من طالبان دافعت عن حقها كفتاة
ملالا الفتاة التي وقفت في وجه اعداء العلم والدين الذين يريدوننا ان نعود الى العصر الحجري
ملالا الفتاة التي تعرضت الى محاولة قتل اثناء ذهابها الى المدرسة . ولكن الله كتب لها عمر جديد.ولم تنتهي حياتها بالرصاصة
رائعة هي قصة ملالا ,تعلمنا ملالا الصبر وقوة العزمية وعدم اليأس
ففي الفصل الاول تحكي ملالا يوسفزاي الحياة الجميلة والهادئة في مسقط رأسها مينغورا ,كبرى مدن وادي سوات قبل قدوم طالبان .تستعرض حياة والديها وجانب من علاقتها بعائلتها والتقاليد التي تميزت بها منطقتها
أما الفصل الثانى والذى يحمل عنوان "ظل فوق وادينا"، خصص للحديث عن التغيرات التى نجمت عن ظهور طالبان، وخاصة معارضة تعليم البنات، وتهديد العائلات التى ترسل فتياتها إلى المدارس
الفصل الثالث، يسرد قصة بداية ملالا فى طريقها للدفاع عن حق بنات جيلها فى التعليم، عندما كتبت العديد من المقالات والخطابات التى عبرت عن احساسها ومشاعرها تجاه حملات منع الفتيات من التعليم وحرق مدارسهم،
بينما يحكى الفصل الرابع من الكتاب حكاية وتفاصيل محاولة اغتيال وقتل ملالا، ويوضح الفصل أنه قبل تنفيذ عملية الاغتيال، كانت تصل إليها عدد كبير من رسائل التهديد إليها ولغيرها من الفتيات اللواتى كن يتعلمن فى مدرسة خوشال،
وفي النهاية الفصل الخامس يتحدث عن رحلة ملالا في العلاج ، وماعانته . وتروى فيه التغيرات النفسية والفكرية التى مرت بها نتيجة اضطرارها لمغادرة وطنها والعيش فى المملكة المتحدة، حيث مازالت تقيم هناك اليوم
November 8, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. I have been following this story ever since Malala Yousafzai was shot and articles about her began to appear on CNN.com. I was always captivated by the way Malala spoke in interviews before she was attacked: I simply loved the sound of her voice and the sight of her face, which seemed to shine with her spirit. She might not think she is beautiful, but to me she is stunning. I adore the bright colors she wears and the liquid wonder of her eyes.
It was difficult to read about the shameful, cowardly attack on her, from her own POV. I empathized so much that it was painful to hear the details--some of which she could only describe as being what was told to her about the shooting.
On the other hand, I will always remember one statement she made. "A Talib fires three shots at point-blank range at three girls in a van and doesn’t kill any of them . . . I know God stopped me from going to the grave. It feels like this life is a second life. People prayed to God to spare me, and I was spared for a reason— to use my life for helping people."
It will always give me chills to think that it is amazing indeed that a Talib gunman fired three bullets, intending to kill one young girl--and that, unbelievably, he failed. I find it very hard to argue with the idea that Malala was, in fact, spared for a reason.
The parts I enjoyed most about this autobiography were the beginning and end, where Malala speaks about her home, the Swat Valley, and everything that she loved and was proud about there: from her amazing father who, unlike most Pashtuns, celebrated when his wife gave birth to a daughter, to her best friend Moniba, with whom she giggled and played with, and who was also her rival for top of the class at at Kahshul School.
When Malala described an ordinary day in her old life, fighting with her younger brothers, listening to the village women who would gather at her mother's in the afternoon, I was absolutely charmed. It seemed that there was no ghostwriter and that I could hear Malala's voice speaking the words aloud as clearly as I had heard her speak on videos about her mission to help all girls, everywhere, get an education. I was fascinated to read that Malala was named after the brave Malalai of Maiwand, the greatest heroine of Afghanistan, and startled and concerned to read about the Pashtunwali code, by which all Pashtuns live, which deals with honor, but which demands revenge in kind for any attack or killing and can lead to never-ending blood-feuds easily.
When it came to the terrifying attack and all that happened in its aftermath, I was glued to the book, reading page after page with breath-snatching speed. There was so much that I had never even imagined: the suffering of her parents after the shooting, the story of how they worried about ever seeing their daughter again once Malala was airlifted to England. I think that any reader from ten years on up could read and be just as captivated as I was. Although many parts of this story brought tears to my eyes I couldn't stop reading, and although I knew that Malala would make it I was white-knuckled while I learned about the details of her medical treatment.
The only part that seemed to bog down was the middle of the book, where Malala describes many political events in her homeland. In these it seemed that Malala’s voice was obscured and I rather quickly got lost in the details of which leader promised what and how this or that man became corrupt and never came through on their promises.
Even if you just skim through this part, the book is most definitely worth reading. I came to love Malala even more dearly than I could have imagined, and to admire and even envy the bond she had with her father, the man who was determined to open a school in which girls could be educated. I couldn't help but feel great affection for all Malala's family, her people, and everything in the beautiful valley she misses as she lives in exile.
I was hoping that Malala would win the Nobel Peace prize this year, not out of pity for someone who was a survivor of a hideous attack, but simply because I believe she has had an amazing effect on the world. She has brought together people from all over the globe in a way that I believe will have profound implications for the key to a better life for women in countries where it is currently against the law for girls to have a true education. I also thought that it would be stunning if the Nobel committee acknowledged that a teenager—a teenage girl—could have had so great a role in making people of different cultures understand each other.
But Malala has plenty of time, and I have no doubt that she will distinguish herself again and again with her moving speeches, her gentle, stubborn nature, and her unique view of life in years to come. I hope that there will be more books by Malala in the future about why education is so important for girls around the world.
Finally, I would like to say “Wah wah” to Malala about the entire autobiography. She says that this is what one says when a particular line or stanza of a poem pleases you, and is a bit like “Bravo.” Wah wah and Bravissima to Malala.
It was difficult to read about the shameful, cowardly attack on her, from her own POV. I empathized so much that it was painful to hear the details--some of which she could only describe as being what was told to her about the shooting.
On the other hand, I will always remember one statement she made. "A Talib fires three shots at point-blank range at three girls in a van and doesn’t kill any of them . . . I know God stopped me from going to the grave. It feels like this life is a second life. People prayed to God to spare me, and I was spared for a reason— to use my life for helping people."
It will always give me chills to think that it is amazing indeed that a Talib gunman fired three bullets, intending to kill one young girl--and that, unbelievably, he failed. I find it very hard to argue with the idea that Malala was, in fact, spared for a reason.
The parts I enjoyed most about this autobiography were the beginning and end, where Malala speaks about her home, the Swat Valley, and everything that she loved and was proud about there: from her amazing father who, unlike most Pashtuns, celebrated when his wife gave birth to a daughter, to her best friend Moniba, with whom she giggled and played with, and who was also her rival for top of the class at at Kahshul School.
When Malala described an ordinary day in her old life, fighting with her younger brothers, listening to the village women who would gather at her mother's in the afternoon, I was absolutely charmed. It seemed that there was no ghostwriter and that I could hear Malala's voice speaking the words aloud as clearly as I had heard her speak on videos about her mission to help all girls, everywhere, get an education. I was fascinated to read that Malala was named after the brave Malalai of Maiwand, the greatest heroine of Afghanistan, and startled and concerned to read about the Pashtunwali code, by which all Pashtuns live, which deals with honor, but which demands revenge in kind for any attack or killing and can lead to never-ending blood-feuds easily.
When it came to the terrifying attack and all that happened in its aftermath, I was glued to the book, reading page after page with breath-snatching speed. There was so much that I had never even imagined: the suffering of her parents after the shooting, the story of how they worried about ever seeing their daughter again once Malala was airlifted to England. I think that any reader from ten years on up could read and be just as captivated as I was. Although many parts of this story brought tears to my eyes I couldn't stop reading, and although I knew that Malala would make it I was white-knuckled while I learned about the details of her medical treatment.
The only part that seemed to bog down was the middle of the book, where Malala describes many political events in her homeland. In these it seemed that Malala’s voice was obscured and I rather quickly got lost in the details of which leader promised what and how this or that man became corrupt and never came through on their promises.
Even if you just skim through this part, the book is most definitely worth reading. I came to love Malala even more dearly than I could have imagined, and to admire and even envy the bond she had with her father, the man who was determined to open a school in which girls could be educated. I couldn't help but feel great affection for all Malala's family, her people, and everything in the beautiful valley she misses as she lives in exile.
I was hoping that Malala would win the Nobel Peace prize this year, not out of pity for someone who was a survivor of a hideous attack, but simply because I believe she has had an amazing effect on the world. She has brought together people from all over the globe in a way that I believe will have profound implications for the key to a better life for women in countries where it is currently against the law for girls to have a true education. I also thought that it would be stunning if the Nobel committee acknowledged that a teenager—a teenage girl—could have had so great a role in making people of different cultures understand each other.
But Malala has plenty of time, and I have no doubt that she will distinguish herself again and again with her moving speeches, her gentle, stubborn nature, and her unique view of life in years to come. I hope that there will be more books by Malala in the future about why education is so important for girls around the world.
Finally, I would like to say “Wah wah” to Malala about the entire autobiography. She says that this is what one says when a particular line or stanza of a poem pleases you, and is a bit like “Bravo.” Wah wah and Bravissima to Malala.
August 24, 2022
A few days prior to her 18th birthday, Malala Yousafzai has returned to Oslo, to attend the Oslo Education Summit, insisting that all children worldwide have a right to education. Her defiant slogan claims, "Books not Bullets!"
Malala claims, "I measure the world in hope, not doubt" and "Pens and books are the weapons that defeat terrorism". Last year in Oslo, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with another child rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi. They were honoured "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education". At 17, Malala was the youngest person ever to receive this award; Malala Yousafzai is indeed a determined and remarkable person. In this book, I am Malala: the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban, she tells her incredible story.
The book is an absorbing read, an amalgam of Malala's own memoir, plus a history of the troubled country of Pakistan. Most readers will have lived through some - if not all - of the times described, unlike the author, startlingly only 15 herself when she wrote it. To many of us this is not "history" but merely remembrance of current events happening elsewhere in the world during our lifetimes. Could she have a proper grasp of such complex issues of current affairs?
Malala is fluent in Pashto, English, and Urdu. She is articulate, brave, compassionate, informed, driven - and very focused. Growing up at the heart of an area targeted by the Taliban, she had a unique experience living under a developing regime of terror. When Osama Bin Laden was eventually discovered in hiding, it was, to everyone's shock, just a few miles away from where Malala herself lived. Along with the guidance and influence Malala's activist father has had on her, perhaps she was destined to become the person she is.
The book starts with a prologue, briefly describing the day when she was shot, from Malala's point of view. The name "Malala" means "grief-stricken". Malala was named after Malalai of Maiwand, a famous Pashtun poetess and warrior woman from southern Afghanistan. It was an unusual name, which many thought to be unlucky or inappropriate.
Reading her account, it is clear that her father knew from the start that there would be something different about this child. Malala was allowed to stay up at night and listen to all his political conversations with his friends, long after her two brothers had been sent to bed. She was encouraged to read and think; to have a mind of her own.
The Yousafzai family were part of a large Pashtun tribe in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Her family consisted of her father Ziauddin and her mother and two younger brothers. They were very poor, but part of a strong community in Mingora. There were comparatively few modern amenities such as running water and electricity; waste disposal and disease were a big problem, but the valley itself was lush and beautiful, and Malala thought her home was wonderful.
This first part of Malala's story is entitled "Before the Taliban". Malala describes her grandparents and parents' history, how events had shaped each generation in her family. There was her father, an outspoken poet and education activist, who overcame his chronic shyness to learn public speaking to impress his own father. There was her more traditional, uneducated mother, who too began school at the age of six - but stopped before the term was over. Malala includes many family anecdotes, explaining the varying cultural mores as she does so, and interspersing the account with the troubled political history.
The section has 8 chapters, and is over a third of the book. It takes the reader carefully though all the difficulties Pakistan has faced since its creation on 14th August 1947. Malala relates the views of her people, who regretted the loss of Swat's identity when it joined Pakistan. Additionally, the creation of a "home for Muslims" within Pakistan's boundaries was established too hastily, inevitably resulting in other faiths such as Hindus fleeing across the border to India. Economic chaos ensued, and peace has never yet come about.
Since then, Pakistan has suffered under various regimes. There have been three Indo-Pakistan wars, several military coups, and numerous unsuccessful attempts at a military coup. The regime has lurched between military rule and democracy, between dictatorships and brief periods when a Prime Minister such as Benazir Bhutto was in power. She served two terms, but was eventually killed, clearly assassinated, although Malala carefully chronicles the muddled events. Pakistan has had varying degrees of both political and police corruption and is in constant turmoil.
It is remarkable that any normal life can survive such conditions, but the life Malala describes is a happy one. Her father's greatest love apart from his family was the Khushal Public School which he established. The values of education ring clear and true throughout, having been instilled in Malala from a very early age. She also begins to develop her own opinions, drawing from her experience.
One shocking episode helped to crystallise her views. Malala came across some scavenger children, who lived inside a huge mountain of rubbish. They had matted filthy hair, were dirty, diseased and covered with sores and lice. Picking out cans, bottle tops, glass and paper from the rotting pile of rubbish, they would sell them to a garbage shop for a few rupees, barely enough to live on. Malala begged her father to take a couple of these starving children into his school without pay, and inwardly vowed that she would work as hard as she could towards a time when every one of those children would have an education by right. In the meantime she wrote a letter to God, and sent it down the Swat river.
Towards the end of this first section, it is apparent that the Taliban's influence had begun to be felt in the Swat valley. Across the border in Afghanistan, the Taliban had enforced a very strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. In horror folk learned of the massacres, the brutality towards women, the denial of food to ordinary people, the burning of homes, crops and land.
Malala explains that the majority of the Taliban were made up of Afghan Pashtun tribesmen, simple ignorant people who had always been looked down on by many educated people, including those poor themselves, such as Malala's family. Recruits were resentful of any who had advantages, such as good jobs, and easily influenced by a fundamentalist idea of Islam. Seeing an opportunity to seize power, with weapons in their hands, they took it. There were many variations of interpretation of Islam present in Pakistan, not to mention other religions, but Malala's people could see others fleeing for their very lives as the regime continued. They were equally suspicious of the US, thinking that they inflamed the situation, causing innocent casualties.
The local "Mufti", a religious leader, was making decisions for the whole community. He was very critical of Malala's father's school; the girls should not be seen, they must be segregated. They should not learn certain inappropriate subjects. He made increasingly outrageous statements, such as that Ziauddin was running a "harem" in his school. Purdah was insisted upon for younger girls, and more strictly. The Mufti was determined to enforce his own brand of Islam; individual interpretation was quashed.
The section ends in 2005, when a massive earthquake in Pakistan killed over 70,000 people. Fundamentalists seized on this as a sort of punishment, a seal of approval on all their edicts.
The second part is entitled, "The Valley of Death. Malala is now 10 years old, and she describes the arrival of the Taliban in her village. A self-proclaimed Taliban leader named Maulan Fazlullah had risen to power, through a popular local radio station in Swat, appealing mostly to the ignorant and uneducated. In his radio broadcasts he offered instruction on how to obey the Quran. He soon had many followers - including Malala's own mother. His demands became more strident and fanatical, calling for an end to televisions, DVDs, and other modern technology. The public humiliations began of anyone who didn't obey his interpretation of the law, including women who did any work outside the home.
The 7 chapters in this section are primarily about the suppression of the people of Swat, and the growth of Taliban influences. Some of the episodes referred to - the beatings, the beheadings - are harrowing, despite this being seen through the eyes of a young girl. Malala's education continues, but the reader is wondering for how long this can continue. Many girls have been taken away from the school and sometimes Malala is the only girl in her class. Very competitive, she has two close friends, equally clever.
As time passes it becomes increasingly difficult for Malala to study. Military tanks are in evidence everywhere. On one occasion, travelling in a relative's car, the driver panicked, asking her to hide a CD of music in her clothes. Malala often began to feel afraid when on the streets, imagining that every man she met was a member of the Taliban. She and her friends stopped wearing their school uniforms and hid their books as they travelled to and from school. The beatings and beheadings continued. A nearby school was bombed during a prayer service in honour of a fallen police officer.
When Malala is 11, she is approached by the BBC who feel that a child's viewpoint would be very significant. She is asked to write an anonymous blog about her life, and chooses the pseudonym "Gul Makai". People she knows, including some of the girls at school discover it but she wisely keeps it secret. The Taliban's powers are increasing. They have instructed families to send them the names of marriageable women, so that marriages can be arranged for them. They have announced a date in 2009, by which all girls' schools must be closed, yet Malala keeps hoping that something will prevent this. She becomes bolder and more confident, being taken in 2008 by her father to Peshawar to speak at the local press club. She has written a clear and passionate speech, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?"
Inevitably though, the final day of school arrives. Malala cannot believe it; her books are her proudest possessions. She is followed around by a camera crew from the New York Times, making a documentary. Her life seems empty without school, and increasingly the family are living in fear of their very lives. Malala compares their existence to a family of which she has just read, in "Anne Frank's Diary". Deciding they will have to leave their home, Malala's family, like many others, flee to relatives. Others flee to friends, even though this means that in some homes the males have to leave. The Pashtun tradition of hospitality conflicts with the belief that an unmarried female should not reside in the same home as a male who is not her relative, but they respect both principles. Malala goes to school again with a cousin. She is now 12 years old, although everybody is living in too much turmoil to mark her birthday in the way they always had.
The third part is entitled, "Three Bullets, Three Girls". We know what this section is going to be about, but now we also feel we know the girl herself; her history, and how her individual experience slots into the mess and bloodshed that is Pakistan's inheritance.
It is three months later, and Malala's family return home to find much of their village destroyed during the battles. The Taliban has gone, the Pakistani Prime Minister promises, but many people don't believe it. Some return and eventually school resumes, but many stay away. During these 5 chapters, Malala's beliefs become more fully formed. She wonders what it would be like to leave school at 13 to be married, just as one of her classmates has.
The climate of opinion changes. There are still tanks on every street corner, machine guns posted on rooftops, checkpoints all along a route, but now people blame the US. Why were they still there, 3 years later? There was even outrage at the American raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. The details were unclear. Why had the US conducted the raid on their own, without telling the Pakistanis or seeking help from them? Conspiracy theories abound. Had the Americans perhaps even actually killed bin Laden years earlier?
Clearly the Taliban are still present, carrying out atrocities very close to their home. On Malala's 14th birthday, when she is officially considered to be an adult, the family learn that one of Ziauddin's outspoken friends has been attacked. Malala agrees to follow her mother's advice, and even though the school is so close, she takes a rickshaw to school, and the bus home.
The section ends with the shooting which made world headlines. On 9th October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala through the head, neck, and shoulder as she rode home from school on the bus after taking an exam. Although Malala can remember very little about it, being preoccupied with her own thoughts, the masked gunman apparently shouted, "Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all". Her identity became obvious, at which point he shot at her. Two of her friends, Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan, were also wounded, but survived.
Part four is entitled, "Between Life and Death". It contains just 2 chapters, about a time of which Malala can remember very little. Immediately following the attack, she was rushed to Swat Central Hospital. There she remained unconscious, in a critical condition. The political machinations behind the scenes continued. The chapters give clinical details, and credit one doctor, "Dr Fiona", for preventing Malala's death when staff neglected to follow specialist procedures necessary for the brain and body to recover. She insisted that Malala be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK for intensive rehabilitation. Her parents were not able to travel to see their daughter, due to protocol. What comes across to the reader is the ignorance apparent at every level, but also a sense that it is possible for individuals to overcome this, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
The final, fifth part "A Second Life" also consists of 2 chapters. Malala now tells of her recovery more from her personal experience. By 17th October, she had come out of her coma and begun to repond. She was terribly worried about the cost of her treatment, thinking that her father would have to sell his land. She still had not been able to see her father. Eventually everything progressed to the point where the Pakistani government paid for her treatment, she was able to be visited by her family, and best of all, she had no lasting brain damage, only nerve damage.
On 3 January 2013, Malala was discharged from the hospital to continue rehabilitation at her family's temporary home. On 2nd February she had a five-hour operation to reconstruct her skull and restore her hearing. Since March 2013, she has been a pupil at the all-girls' Edgbaston High School in Birmingham. Although happy there, she evidently misses her old life, and would love to go home some day. She realises that her new classmates regard her as a children's rights activisit, but sometimes longs to just be the normal simple Pashtun girl of old, in Minora ...
The co-author of this book is Christina Lamb, a British journalist who is currently Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Times. Her credentials for helping to write this particular book are impeccable. She first interviewed Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in London in 1987. She then continued her work as foreign correspondent in Pakistan, journeying through Kashmir and along the frontiers of neighbouring Afghanistan. She has interviewed the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Always working in war-torn countries, she was even once deported back home. Commenting on the worsening devastation and destruction by the president Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front since she started reporting from Zimbabwe in 1994, she maintains that this has been her most harrowing experience.
In 2006, Lamb was reporting from Southern Afghanistan, meeting with town elders. The team were then supposedly directed to a safe route out, but soon after they had left, the British were attacked by Taliban fighters. Anyone who experienced running through irrigation trenches, with Kalashnikov rifles and mortar firing from all directions, for two and a half hours, is well qualified to co-author this book. Immediately after this book she wrote another about her many years in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She is critical of many missed opportunities by the US, to help resolve the long war, blaming the poor relationship US has with Pakistan for many of the continuing problems of terrorism.
Interestingly it is possible to see the seeds of that book within this one. Often the voice of Malala seems critical of the US, and their inability to be effective, even a mistrust of American troops. But whose is the underlying voice? It is impossible to really know.
Other parts of the book suggest the hand of an experienced foreign affairs correspondent. The indepth knowledge of both contemporary issues and the country's history and political situation, as well as of the many different tribes, languages and customs within each region, is so very extensive. The issues are complex and quite difficult for the general reader, only aware of the basic schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims, to assimilate.
The roots of the split are ancient, originating in a dispute soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims such as Malala's family follow the orthodox and traditionalist branch of Islam, which takes as its precedent the actions of the Prophet Muhammad. Shia Muslims are followers of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin, whom they claim as Muhammad's successor, believing that only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. But there are massively complex distinctions between all the different factions within both Sunni and Shia. Could the complicated issues explored all be Malala's work?
However Malala is an erudite speaker and writer. I have no doubt that the views, anecdotes, and probably the structure of the book are hers, and that the passion with which she explains her views is hers alone. It is well balanced, her own experience set within the ongoing political situation. But perhaps there is slightly too much input from history to make the memoir flow easily. Malala is a courageous, intelligent, indefatigable person. I would have loved to say this book merits 5 stars. It very nearly does, and I have a sneaky feeling that if she is ever inspired by events in her life to write a book again, it probably will.
The subtitle of the book is, the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Malala insists that surviving being shot in the head is not what she wants people to focus on, but the issues of children's rights, women's education and world peace. Surely that is what we should take away from reading this book.
"Our people have become misguided. They think their greatest concern is defending Islam and are being led astray by those like the Taliban who deliberately misinterpret the Quran ... We have so many people in our country who are illiterate. And many women have no education at all. We live in a place where schools are blown up. We have no reliable electricity supply. Not a single day passes without the killing of at least one Pakistani."
Malala claims, "I measure the world in hope, not doubt" and "Pens and books are the weapons that defeat terrorism". Last year in Oslo, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with another child rights activist, Kailash Satyarthi. They were honoured "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education". At 17, Malala was the youngest person ever to receive this award; Malala Yousafzai is indeed a determined and remarkable person. In this book, I am Malala: the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban, she tells her incredible story.
The book is an absorbing read, an amalgam of Malala's own memoir, plus a history of the troubled country of Pakistan. Most readers will have lived through some - if not all - of the times described, unlike the author, startlingly only 15 herself when she wrote it. To many of us this is not "history" but merely remembrance of current events happening elsewhere in the world during our lifetimes. Could she have a proper grasp of such complex issues of current affairs?
Malala is fluent in Pashto, English, and Urdu. She is articulate, brave, compassionate, informed, driven - and very focused. Growing up at the heart of an area targeted by the Taliban, she had a unique experience living under a developing regime of terror. When Osama Bin Laden was eventually discovered in hiding, it was, to everyone's shock, just a few miles away from where Malala herself lived. Along with the guidance and influence Malala's activist father has had on her, perhaps she was destined to become the person she is.
The book starts with a prologue, briefly describing the day when she was shot, from Malala's point of view. The name "Malala" means "grief-stricken". Malala was named after Malalai of Maiwand, a famous Pashtun poetess and warrior woman from southern Afghanistan. It was an unusual name, which many thought to be unlucky or inappropriate.
Reading her account, it is clear that her father knew from the start that there would be something different about this child. Malala was allowed to stay up at night and listen to all his political conversations with his friends, long after her two brothers had been sent to bed. She was encouraged to read and think; to have a mind of her own.
The Yousafzai family were part of a large Pashtun tribe in the Swat Valley in Pakistan. Her family consisted of her father Ziauddin and her mother and two younger brothers. They were very poor, but part of a strong community in Mingora. There were comparatively few modern amenities such as running water and electricity; waste disposal and disease were a big problem, but the valley itself was lush and beautiful, and Malala thought her home was wonderful.
This first part of Malala's story is entitled "Before the Taliban". Malala describes her grandparents and parents' history, how events had shaped each generation in her family. There was her father, an outspoken poet and education activist, who overcame his chronic shyness to learn public speaking to impress his own father. There was her more traditional, uneducated mother, who too began school at the age of six - but stopped before the term was over. Malala includes many family anecdotes, explaining the varying cultural mores as she does so, and interspersing the account with the troubled political history.
The section has 8 chapters, and is over a third of the book. It takes the reader carefully though all the difficulties Pakistan has faced since its creation on 14th August 1947. Malala relates the views of her people, who regretted the loss of Swat's identity when it joined Pakistan. Additionally, the creation of a "home for Muslims" within Pakistan's boundaries was established too hastily, inevitably resulting in other faiths such as Hindus fleeing across the border to India. Economic chaos ensued, and peace has never yet come about.
Since then, Pakistan has suffered under various regimes. There have been three Indo-Pakistan wars, several military coups, and numerous unsuccessful attempts at a military coup. The regime has lurched between military rule and democracy, between dictatorships and brief periods when a Prime Minister such as Benazir Bhutto was in power. She served two terms, but was eventually killed, clearly assassinated, although Malala carefully chronicles the muddled events. Pakistan has had varying degrees of both political and police corruption and is in constant turmoil.
It is remarkable that any normal life can survive such conditions, but the life Malala describes is a happy one. Her father's greatest love apart from his family was the Khushal Public School which he established. The values of education ring clear and true throughout, having been instilled in Malala from a very early age. She also begins to develop her own opinions, drawing from her experience.
One shocking episode helped to crystallise her views. Malala came across some scavenger children, who lived inside a huge mountain of rubbish. They had matted filthy hair, were dirty, diseased and covered with sores and lice. Picking out cans, bottle tops, glass and paper from the rotting pile of rubbish, they would sell them to a garbage shop for a few rupees, barely enough to live on. Malala begged her father to take a couple of these starving children into his school without pay, and inwardly vowed that she would work as hard as she could towards a time when every one of those children would have an education by right. In the meantime she wrote a letter to God, and sent it down the Swat river.
Towards the end of this first section, it is apparent that the Taliban's influence had begun to be felt in the Swat valley. Across the border in Afghanistan, the Taliban had enforced a very strict interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law. In horror folk learned of the massacres, the brutality towards women, the denial of food to ordinary people, the burning of homes, crops and land.
Malala explains that the majority of the Taliban were made up of Afghan Pashtun tribesmen, simple ignorant people who had always been looked down on by many educated people, including those poor themselves, such as Malala's family. Recruits were resentful of any who had advantages, such as good jobs, and easily influenced by a fundamentalist idea of Islam. Seeing an opportunity to seize power, with weapons in their hands, they took it. There were many variations of interpretation of Islam present in Pakistan, not to mention other religions, but Malala's people could see others fleeing for their very lives as the regime continued. They were equally suspicious of the US, thinking that they inflamed the situation, causing innocent casualties.
The local "Mufti", a religious leader, was making decisions for the whole community. He was very critical of Malala's father's school; the girls should not be seen, they must be segregated. They should not learn certain inappropriate subjects. He made increasingly outrageous statements, such as that Ziauddin was running a "harem" in his school. Purdah was insisted upon for younger girls, and more strictly. The Mufti was determined to enforce his own brand of Islam; individual interpretation was quashed.
The section ends in 2005, when a massive earthquake in Pakistan killed over 70,000 people. Fundamentalists seized on this as a sort of punishment, a seal of approval on all their edicts.
The second part is entitled, "The Valley of Death. Malala is now 10 years old, and she describes the arrival of the Taliban in her village. A self-proclaimed Taliban leader named Maulan Fazlullah had risen to power, through a popular local radio station in Swat, appealing mostly to the ignorant and uneducated. In his radio broadcasts he offered instruction on how to obey the Quran. He soon had many followers - including Malala's own mother. His demands became more strident and fanatical, calling for an end to televisions, DVDs, and other modern technology. The public humiliations began of anyone who didn't obey his interpretation of the law, including women who did any work outside the home.
The 7 chapters in this section are primarily about the suppression of the people of Swat, and the growth of Taliban influences. Some of the episodes referred to - the beatings, the beheadings - are harrowing, despite this being seen through the eyes of a young girl. Malala's education continues, but the reader is wondering for how long this can continue. Many girls have been taken away from the school and sometimes Malala is the only girl in her class. Very competitive, she has two close friends, equally clever.
As time passes it becomes increasingly difficult for Malala to study. Military tanks are in evidence everywhere. On one occasion, travelling in a relative's car, the driver panicked, asking her to hide a CD of music in her clothes. Malala often began to feel afraid when on the streets, imagining that every man she met was a member of the Taliban. She and her friends stopped wearing their school uniforms and hid their books as they travelled to and from school. The beatings and beheadings continued. A nearby school was bombed during a prayer service in honour of a fallen police officer.
When Malala is 11, she is approached by the BBC who feel that a child's viewpoint would be very significant. She is asked to write an anonymous blog about her life, and chooses the pseudonym "Gul Makai". People she knows, including some of the girls at school discover it but she wisely keeps it secret. The Taliban's powers are increasing. They have instructed families to send them the names of marriageable women, so that marriages can be arranged for them. They have announced a date in 2009, by which all girls' schools must be closed, yet Malala keeps hoping that something will prevent this. She becomes bolder and more confident, being taken in 2008 by her father to Peshawar to speak at the local press club. She has written a clear and passionate speech, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?"
Inevitably though, the final day of school arrives. Malala cannot believe it; her books are her proudest possessions. She is followed around by a camera crew from the New York Times, making a documentary. Her life seems empty without school, and increasingly the family are living in fear of their very lives. Malala compares their existence to a family of which she has just read, in "Anne Frank's Diary". Deciding they will have to leave their home, Malala's family, like many others, flee to relatives. Others flee to friends, even though this means that in some homes the males have to leave. The Pashtun tradition of hospitality conflicts with the belief that an unmarried female should not reside in the same home as a male who is not her relative, but they respect both principles. Malala goes to school again with a cousin. She is now 12 years old, although everybody is living in too much turmoil to mark her birthday in the way they always had.
The third part is entitled, "Three Bullets, Three Girls". We know what this section is going to be about, but now we also feel we know the girl herself; her history, and how her individual experience slots into the mess and bloodshed that is Pakistan's inheritance.
It is three months later, and Malala's family return home to find much of their village destroyed during the battles. The Taliban has gone, the Pakistani Prime Minister promises, but many people don't believe it. Some return and eventually school resumes, but many stay away. During these 5 chapters, Malala's beliefs become more fully formed. She wonders what it would be like to leave school at 13 to be married, just as one of her classmates has.
The climate of opinion changes. There are still tanks on every street corner, machine guns posted on rooftops, checkpoints all along a route, but now people blame the US. Why were they still there, 3 years later? There was even outrage at the American raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. The details were unclear. Why had the US conducted the raid on their own, without telling the Pakistanis or seeking help from them? Conspiracy theories abound. Had the Americans perhaps even actually killed bin Laden years earlier?
Clearly the Taliban are still present, carrying out atrocities very close to their home. On Malala's 14th birthday, when she is officially considered to be an adult, the family learn that one of Ziauddin's outspoken friends has been attacked. Malala agrees to follow her mother's advice, and even though the school is so close, she takes a rickshaw to school, and the bus home.
The section ends with the shooting which made world headlines. On 9th October 2012, a Taliban gunman shot Malala through the head, neck, and shoulder as she rode home from school on the bus after taking an exam. Although Malala can remember very little about it, being preoccupied with her own thoughts, the masked gunman apparently shouted, "Which one of you is Malala? Speak up, otherwise I will shoot you all". Her identity became obvious, at which point he shot at her. Two of her friends, Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan, were also wounded, but survived.
Part four is entitled, "Between Life and Death". It contains just 2 chapters, about a time of which Malala can remember very little. Immediately following the attack, she was rushed to Swat Central Hospital. There she remained unconscious, in a critical condition. The political machinations behind the scenes continued. The chapters give clinical details, and credit one doctor, "Dr Fiona", for preventing Malala's death when staff neglected to follow specialist procedures necessary for the brain and body to recover. She insisted that Malala be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK for intensive rehabilitation. Her parents were not able to travel to see their daughter, due to protocol. What comes across to the reader is the ignorance apparent at every level, but also a sense that it is possible for individuals to overcome this, even when the odds seem stacked against them.
The final, fifth part "A Second Life" also consists of 2 chapters. Malala now tells of her recovery more from her personal experience. By 17th October, she had come out of her coma and begun to repond. She was terribly worried about the cost of her treatment, thinking that her father would have to sell his land. She still had not been able to see her father. Eventually everything progressed to the point where the Pakistani government paid for her treatment, she was able to be visited by her family, and best of all, she had no lasting brain damage, only nerve damage.
On 3 January 2013, Malala was discharged from the hospital to continue rehabilitation at her family's temporary home. On 2nd February she had a five-hour operation to reconstruct her skull and restore her hearing. Since March 2013, she has been a pupil at the all-girls' Edgbaston High School in Birmingham. Although happy there, she evidently misses her old life, and would love to go home some day. She realises that her new classmates regard her as a children's rights activisit, but sometimes longs to just be the normal simple Pashtun girl of old, in Minora ...
The co-author of this book is Christina Lamb, a British journalist who is currently Foreign Correspondent for the Sunday Times. Her credentials for helping to write this particular book are impeccable. She first interviewed Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in London in 1987. She then continued her work as foreign correspondent in Pakistan, journeying through Kashmir and along the frontiers of neighbouring Afghanistan. She has interviewed the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Always working in war-torn countries, she was even once deported back home. Commenting on the worsening devastation and destruction by the president Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front since she started reporting from Zimbabwe in 1994, she maintains that this has been her most harrowing experience.
In 2006, Lamb was reporting from Southern Afghanistan, meeting with town elders. The team were then supposedly directed to a safe route out, but soon after they had left, the British were attacked by Taliban fighters. Anyone who experienced running through irrigation trenches, with Kalashnikov rifles and mortar firing from all directions, for two and a half hours, is well qualified to co-author this book. Immediately after this book she wrote another about her many years in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She is critical of many missed opportunities by the US, to help resolve the long war, blaming the poor relationship US has with Pakistan for many of the continuing problems of terrorism.
Interestingly it is possible to see the seeds of that book within this one. Often the voice of Malala seems critical of the US, and their inability to be effective, even a mistrust of American troops. But whose is the underlying voice? It is impossible to really know.
Other parts of the book suggest the hand of an experienced foreign affairs correspondent. The indepth knowledge of both contemporary issues and the country's history and political situation, as well as of the many different tribes, languages and customs within each region, is so very extensive. The issues are complex and quite difficult for the general reader, only aware of the basic schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims, to assimilate.
The roots of the split are ancient, originating in a dispute soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunni Muslims such as Malala's family follow the orthodox and traditionalist branch of Islam, which takes as its precedent the actions of the Prophet Muhammad. Shia Muslims are followers of Muhammad's son-in-law and cousin, whom they claim as Muhammad's successor, believing that only God has the prerogative to appoint the successor to his prophet. But there are massively complex distinctions between all the different factions within both Sunni and Shia. Could the complicated issues explored all be Malala's work?
However Malala is an erudite speaker and writer. I have no doubt that the views, anecdotes, and probably the structure of the book are hers, and that the passion with which she explains her views is hers alone. It is well balanced, her own experience set within the ongoing political situation. But perhaps there is slightly too much input from history to make the memoir flow easily. Malala is a courageous, intelligent, indefatigable person. I would have loved to say this book merits 5 stars. It very nearly does, and I have a sneaky feeling that if she is ever inspired by events in her life to write a book again, it probably will.
The subtitle of the book is, the girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Malala insists that surviving being shot in the head is not what she wants people to focus on, but the issues of children's rights, women's education and world peace. Surely that is what we should take away from reading this book.
"Our people have become misguided. They think their greatest concern is defending Islam and are being led astray by those like the Taliban who deliberately misinterpret the Quran ... We have so many people in our country who are illiterate. And many women have no education at all. We live in a place where schools are blown up. We have no reliable electricity supply. Not a single day passes without the killing of at least one Pakistani."
October 31, 2013
I would ask all those Pakistanis who are making the book controversial through over-sensationalized and misplaced critiques:
1. Please remove the lenses of bigotry and prejudice and read the book in a casual way. Its not a great book so comparisons with Anne Frank's diary are perhaps out of proportion. However, I would hate to speculate that it might be considered a great classic if Pakistan continues on its usual disastrous course and experience a people's tragedy comparable to holocaust. This in my humble yet optimistic view is impossible, God willing.
2. It is not even a well-written work either; understandably so, since its from a young girl. Its just an ad lib commentary by a 16 year old girl which is most probably composed by Christina Lamb in readable English. Our so-called second grade media intellectuals who have issues with Lamb's reputation, well Yousufzai is not synonymous with Lamb. At least try to add a minimum possible of degree of objectivity in your criticism.
3. When you quote, please do so with the purpose of discussion and critique rather than ridicule. Please learn to read and understand the texts. They are meaningless and misleading without a context. Those who are calling it interpretation of her father's ideas, well what if I may ask is wrong with that? All 16-year olds think their fathers are cool. We, as fathers and mothers, have right to impart our version of goodness into our children. We may disagree with each others' views but disagreeing with other's interpretation of history, politics and social issues doesn't make one anti-Islam or anti-Pakistan.
4. It might be a very interesting work for western audience, specially when Lamb ostensibly lets Yousafzai speak (in my view Lamb has added historical and political bits to it where necessary for coherence of discourse), but have very little for Pakistani reader in terms of engagement with the text. However, what you must understand is that you are reading a very brave girl who can stand eye-to-eye with adversity and horrors in conditions where most of us would end up compromising with our liberty or would simply run away. She is a brave girl, mentored and taught life by an audacious father. We must be proud of her and listen her carefully since we have a young hero towards whom we can point our children to look-up to.
Lastly, lets try to read the same book the author has intended to write; please don't end up reading the book which you intend to criticize, apriori
1. Please remove the lenses of bigotry and prejudice and read the book in a casual way. Its not a great book so comparisons with Anne Frank's diary are perhaps out of proportion. However, I would hate to speculate that it might be considered a great classic if Pakistan continues on its usual disastrous course and experience a people's tragedy comparable to holocaust. This in my humble yet optimistic view is impossible, God willing.
2. It is not even a well-written work either; understandably so, since its from a young girl. Its just an ad lib commentary by a 16 year old girl which is most probably composed by Christina Lamb in readable English. Our so-called second grade media intellectuals who have issues with Lamb's reputation, well Yousufzai is not synonymous with Lamb. At least try to add a minimum possible of degree of objectivity in your criticism.
3. When you quote, please do so with the purpose of discussion and critique rather than ridicule. Please learn to read and understand the texts. They are meaningless and misleading without a context. Those who are calling it interpretation of her father's ideas, well what if I may ask is wrong with that? All 16-year olds think their fathers are cool. We, as fathers and mothers, have right to impart our version of goodness into our children. We may disagree with each others' views but disagreeing with other's interpretation of history, politics and social issues doesn't make one anti-Islam or anti-Pakistan.
4. It might be a very interesting work for western audience, specially when Lamb ostensibly lets Yousafzai speak (in my view Lamb has added historical and political bits to it where necessary for coherence of discourse), but have very little for Pakistani reader in terms of engagement with the text. However, what you must understand is that you are reading a very brave girl who can stand eye-to-eye with adversity and horrors in conditions where most of us would end up compromising with our liberty or would simply run away. She is a brave girl, mentored and taught life by an audacious father. We must be proud of her and listen her carefully since we have a young hero towards whom we can point our children to look-up to.
Lastly, lets try to read the same book the author has intended to write; please don't end up reading the book which you intend to criticize, apriori
August 26, 2016
I was caught in a dilemma as to what rating should I give this book. I vacillated between 4 and 5 but the message contained in the book made me give it a 5 star rating.
Needless to say this book chronicles the dreams, hardships and dangers faced by Malala - but it is much more than that - it also chronicles the hardships and dangers faced by the people of Swat and the people of entire Pakistan as well as.
The book begins about the day when the Talibans shot Malala and then goes on a flashback. We get to know about Malala's family, Malala's father's struggle to set up a school, the social customs of the Pashtuns, a short lesson about the factors that led to the rise of extremism in her country, government apathy towards the masses, army inaction, the sheer terror of living under the extremists etc. We would also get glimpses of Malala as the young girl she is - whether fighting with her brothers, best friends, enjoying TV series.
I had read about the atrocities committed by the extremists in newspapers but reading a first hand account of the victim somehow made it more terrifying. Malala only wanted the right to go to school and she was shot for it. As children, most of us hated having to go to school and there are people in this world who fight and risk their lives for this privilege.
Many people say with forceful conviction that it is education which can put an end to this extremism and end many of the injustices prevalent in this world.
I agree but somewhere there is a small doubt which keeps nagging me. In the papers I have read about young people, of both sexes, hailing from well-to-do families and having the privilege of attending good schools and colleges, gravitating towards extremist ideologies. Then there is something seriously wrong with the education system of the world - i say world because this is happening in many countries, and the authorities should think about it.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading good books.
Needless to say this book chronicles the dreams, hardships and dangers faced by Malala - but it is much more than that - it also chronicles the hardships and dangers faced by the people of Swat and the people of entire Pakistan as well as.
The book begins about the day when the Talibans shot Malala and then goes on a flashback. We get to know about Malala's family, Malala's father's struggle to set up a school, the social customs of the Pashtuns, a short lesson about the factors that led to the rise of extremism in her country, government apathy towards the masses, army inaction, the sheer terror of living under the extremists etc. We would also get glimpses of Malala as the young girl she is - whether fighting with her brothers, best friends, enjoying TV series.
I had read about the atrocities committed by the extremists in newspapers but reading a first hand account of the victim somehow made it more terrifying. Malala only wanted the right to go to school and she was shot for it. As children, most of us hated having to go to school and there are people in this world who fight and risk their lives for this privilege.
Many people say with forceful conviction that it is education which can put an end to this extremism and end many of the injustices prevalent in this world.
I agree but somewhere there is a small doubt which keeps nagging me. In the papers I have read about young people, of both sexes, hailing from well-to-do families and having the privilege of attending good schools and colleges, gravitating towards extremist ideologies. Then there is something seriously wrong with the education system of the world - i say world because this is happening in many countries, and the authorities should think about it.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading good books.
May 5, 2017
3.5 stars
Malala is one of my idols and i've had my eye on this book for a very long time. I listened to this on audio, and the prologue of this is read by Malala herself. I cried three times just in that first half hour listening to her talk about her story.
For the first third of this book, I was convinced that I would be giving it five stars. I love what Malala stands for and I think we got such a vibrant description of her life and I loved that we got to know sort of "a day in the life of Malala." She felt so real to me, like I was one of her school friends. But then toward the middle of this book, there was about 2 hours of infodumping. The story switched from an explanation of Malala's education and her life to an explanation of Pakistan and different leaders and terrorist regimes ruling and political drama, and although others might think this adds great info to the story, history/politics does NOT interest me whatsoever, so I found myself almost returning this audiobook just because I was so miserably bored. I stuck with it, though, only skim listening (is that a thing????) and it finally returned to events regarding Malala for the last third of the book.
I agree so much with what Malala is fighting for and I think her story is really tragic but encouraging. I wish this book had focused less on giving us a history lesson, and rather Malala could have gone into depth about the topics she's passionate about.
I will be purchasing a physical copy of this, and I would recommend it to you if you support Malala!
Malala is one of my idols and i've had my eye on this book for a very long time. I listened to this on audio, and the prologue of this is read by Malala herself. I cried three times just in that first half hour listening to her talk about her story.
For the first third of this book, I was convinced that I would be giving it five stars. I love what Malala stands for and I think we got such a vibrant description of her life and I loved that we got to know sort of "a day in the life of Malala." She felt so real to me, like I was one of her school friends. But then toward the middle of this book, there was about 2 hours of infodumping. The story switched from an explanation of Malala's education and her life to an explanation of Pakistan and different leaders and terrorist regimes ruling and political drama, and although others might think this adds great info to the story, history/politics does NOT interest me whatsoever, so I found myself almost returning this audiobook just because I was so miserably bored. I stuck with it, though, only skim listening (is that a thing????) and it finally returned to events regarding Malala for the last third of the book.
I agree so much with what Malala is fighting for and I think her story is really tragic but encouraging. I wish this book had focused less on giving us a history lesson, and rather Malala could have gone into depth about the topics she's passionate about.
I will be purchasing a physical copy of this, and I would recommend it to you if you support Malala!
December 2, 2021
This is the story of Malala, the brave girl who defied fear and baseless traditions just to get educated. *Highlights:
🔸The place where she grew up in Pakistan: Swat has been described in detail
🔸Real pictures: lots of them; even the photos taken on the way after she was shot; during her treatment & after she got discharged from the hospital has been well documented
🔸Her father. I read the whole book in awe just beacuse of her father. The way he celebrated when she was born when everyone around was mourning the birth of a girl child : it was too good to read again and again.
🔸Her father needs special mentions everywhere as he is the main reason who has made her into the person she is today.
He is a teacher who has given his all for the education of the children and everyone else who was denied of the opportunity of getting educated.
🔸Malala is just not an ordinary girl as we all know, but this book provides insights of so many things that we do not know.
Overall, this was a detailed, beautifully written book.
I would recommend this book to everyone: kids and adults alike.
The beginning pages of the book tends to be a bit longer and it may get too detailed about places, the geography and history but are relevant I feel. The writing makes it somehow easier to read (I am not a great fan of history and geography, and facts given in details). A real life young adult female warrior who fought for her rights against all odds!
What's fiction when real life becomes more interesting, thrilling and life-changing?
Yes, this memoir made me feel that for the first time.
Every girl child deserves education. Every girl child deserves a father like that.
🔸The place where she grew up in Pakistan: Swat has been described in detail
🔸Real pictures: lots of them; even the photos taken on the way after she was shot; during her treatment & after she got discharged from the hospital has been well documented
🔸Her father. I read the whole book in awe just beacuse of her father. The way he celebrated when she was born when everyone around was mourning the birth of a girl child : it was too good to read again and again.
🔸Her father needs special mentions everywhere as he is the main reason who has made her into the person she is today.
He is a teacher who has given his all for the education of the children and everyone else who was denied of the opportunity of getting educated.
🔸Malala is just not an ordinary girl as we all know, but this book provides insights of so many things that we do not know.
Overall, this was a detailed, beautifully written book.
I would recommend this book to everyone: kids and adults alike.
The beginning pages of the book tends to be a bit longer and it may get too detailed about places, the geography and history but are relevant I feel. The writing makes it somehow easier to read (I am not a great fan of history and geography, and facts given in details). A real life young adult female warrior who fought for her rights against all odds!
What's fiction when real life becomes more interesting, thrilling and life-changing?
Yes, this memoir made me feel that for the first time.
Every girl child deserves education. Every girl child deserves a father like that.
November 10, 2023
I am SO late to the party here - I have a toxic trait of avoiding books when they're popular - but I'm so glad I finally read Malala's story of growing up in a progressive family in Pakistan, standing up for girls' rights to an education, and making it through a traumatic attack meant to silence her. This was incredibly beautiful and inspiring.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
April 19, 2019
Malala e o Poder das Palavras
Malala tinha apenas 10 anos quando os talibãs invadiram o Vale do Swat no Paquistão, terra onde vivia.
Com a ocupação talibã as raparigas fôram proibidas de frequentar as escolas. Porém, Malala não permite que sejam os talibãs a ditar-lhe o Futuro. O seu Sonho é ser médica e pretende lutar por ele.
Cria um blogue onde informa o resto do Mundo sobre as medidas repressivas impostas ao seu país pelos talibãs e reconquista o regresso à escola. E a sua luta não acaba aí -- Malala não pensa apenas em si, e continua a intervir pelas restantes raparigas que, tal como ela, anseiam pelas asas da educação.
Mas essa luta teve um preço: um dia, dois talibãs introduzem-se na camioneta onde regressava da escola e um deles dispara 3 tiros sobre ela. Mas Malala sobrevive milagrosamente, exila-se em Inglaterra com a família e prossegue o seu Caminho...
Malala lutou, sobreviveu e as suas armas fôram as Palavras, essas Grandes Guerreiras sempre que lideradas por Causas Justas!!!
A história de Malala, toca-nos, revolta-nos, inspira-nos... e instiga-nos a ser melhores!
5 gloriosas estrelas! 🥰
Malala tinha apenas 10 anos quando os talibãs invadiram o Vale do Swat no Paquistão, terra onde vivia.
Com a ocupação talibã as raparigas fôram proibidas de frequentar as escolas. Porém, Malala não permite que sejam os talibãs a ditar-lhe o Futuro. O seu Sonho é ser médica e pretende lutar por ele.
Cria um blogue onde informa o resto do Mundo sobre as medidas repressivas impostas ao seu país pelos talibãs e reconquista o regresso à escola. E a sua luta não acaba aí -- Malala não pensa apenas em si, e continua a intervir pelas restantes raparigas que, tal como ela, anseiam pelas asas da educação.
Mas essa luta teve um preço: um dia, dois talibãs introduzem-se na camioneta onde regressava da escola e um deles dispara 3 tiros sobre ela. Mas Malala sobrevive milagrosamente, exila-se em Inglaterra com a família e prossegue o seu Caminho...
Malala lutou, sobreviveu e as suas armas fôram as Palavras, essas Grandes Guerreiras sempre que lideradas por Causas Justas!!!
A história de Malala, toca-nos, revolta-nos, inspira-nos... e instiga-nos a ser melhores!
5 gloriosas estrelas! 🥰
March 29, 2016
This book was better than I thought it would be. To be honest, teenagers aren't usually good writers. I read Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board and wasn't very impressed, even though I think what happened to Bethany Hamilton was interesting.
Same thing here. Was this just going to be a case of "important/interesting subject matter, crappy writing?" I didn't know. I went into this rather hesitantly, with low expectations.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. There is a supporting author on this, one Christina Lamb - who is one of Britain's leading foreign correspondents. Who knows how much of this book is Lamb and how much of it is Yousafzai, but who cares? I found it very informative, educational, and interesting.
It's not very emotional or rant-y or sappy - and that is going to upset some people. A friend of mine IRL who just finished this said it was 'boring.' He wanted more feelings and emotions from Yousafzai. I, however, was very pleased. I learned a lot about Pakistan, what it is like living under Taliban rule, and what life is like in the Middle East in general.
DO read this book if you are looking for an educational, easy-to-read, straight-talking look at life in the Middle East during turbulent times.
DO NOT read this book if you want weeping, sobbing, gnashing of teeth, or other emotional outbursts on the part of Yousafzai. Her ambition is to be a politician - and it shows. This is very much a politician's book. Even-keeled and conscious of saying the right thing and presenting the right face. I didn't mind this, but I could see how it would bother some people.
One plus is that the book has photos - I always enjoy non-fiction books more if they include photographs of the people involved. You can see many pictures of Yousafzai growing up, all her family members, the bus she was shot in, her in the hospital, etc. etc. I thought this added a lot to the book.
Yousafzai is very Muslim and is a very religious person - but she is also a great advocate for girls and women's education. It's important nowadays to separate the ideas of "Muslim" and "psychotic terrorist/religious extremist" in our minds, especially in the U.S. of A. and other countries in which it seems a strong anti-Muslim sentiment is growing. Reading this book will put a human face on Islam even if it does nothing else for you.
Tl;dr - I really enjoyed this - if only because I felt like I learned a lot from it. Yousafzai paints a vivid picture of what living in the Middle East in the 2000s is really like. Of course, I already knew what had happened to her and how her story would end... everyone knows her story. So there were no surprises for me here. This has been on my reading list for a long time and I'm glad to have finally read it.
Same thing here. Was this just going to be a case of "important/interesting subject matter, crappy writing?" I didn't know. I went into this rather hesitantly, with low expectations.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. There is a supporting author on this, one Christina Lamb - who is one of Britain's leading foreign correspondents. Who knows how much of this book is Lamb and how much of it is Yousafzai, but who cares? I found it very informative, educational, and interesting.
It's not very emotional or rant-y or sappy - and that is going to upset some people. A friend of mine IRL who just finished this said it was 'boring.' He wanted more feelings and emotions from Yousafzai. I, however, was very pleased. I learned a lot about Pakistan, what it is like living under Taliban rule, and what life is like in the Middle East in general.
DO read this book if you are looking for an educational, easy-to-read, straight-talking look at life in the Middle East during turbulent times.
DO NOT read this book if you want weeping, sobbing, gnashing of teeth, or other emotional outbursts on the part of Yousafzai. Her ambition is to be a politician - and it shows. This is very much a politician's book. Even-keeled and conscious of saying the right thing and presenting the right face. I didn't mind this, but I could see how it would bother some people.
One plus is that the book has photos - I always enjoy non-fiction books more if they include photographs of the people involved. You can see many pictures of Yousafzai growing up, all her family members, the bus she was shot in, her in the hospital, etc. etc. I thought this added a lot to the book.
Yousafzai is very Muslim and is a very religious person - but she is also a great advocate for girls and women's education. It's important nowadays to separate the ideas of "Muslim" and "psychotic terrorist/religious extremist" in our minds, especially in the U.S. of A. and other countries in which it seems a strong anti-Muslim sentiment is growing. Reading this book will put a human face on Islam even if it does nothing else for you.
Tl;dr - I really enjoyed this - if only because I felt like I learned a lot from it. Yousafzai paints a vivid picture of what living in the Middle East in the 2000s is really like. Of course, I already knew what had happened to her and how her story would end... everyone knows her story. So there were no surprises for me here. This has been on my reading list for a long time and I'm glad to have finally read it.
December 5, 2013
Honestly this proved yet another attempt by this girl to cash in on fame and £££. All the time she kept on praising her dad, disparaged and belittled her country of orgin which I have serious doubts after reading this literature.
If she was so annoyed with Swat being a part of Pakistan why does not she openly say that I am not a daughter of Pakistan rather daughter of swat. She has further cemented the mistake West has made over the years. You see each area in Pakistan has its regional customs in addition to Islamic customs and traditions. She failed to clarify that What Pashtuns or Taliban are soliciting is a cocktail of Islamic and Pashtun traditions. Islam never debars any Muslim from seeking education. Our Prophet Muhammad May Peace Be Upon Him solicited that seek knowledge even if you have to walk to China. Also education and knowledge attainment is mandatory for Muslim women and men.
I'd like to enlighten the western public that science practicals and computer labs are available in Pakistani educational institutes. The access may be shared among students but availability is there. Being a graduate myself from UK mu college had a computer lab which had a designated area for me. If I required to load a laptop I had to furnish a written request and wait in a queue.
Most alarming thing for me was that Pakistani's oppress women. This could be attributed to rural areas but not at all applicable to cities or urban towns. We have doctors, teachers, accountants, nurses, air force and commercial pilots. More than a decade ago Islamabad witnessed Pakistan's first lady cab driver, a widow who purchased a cab on hire purchase under the then Prime Minister's initiative.
Thank God I did not purchase this book otherwise it would have been a waste of £7.49 of my hard earned money.
So Who so ever has read this book please my earnest appeal is to consult the Holy Quran and also if possible do visit Pakistan and then decide.
Till then May Almighty be with you and bless you
If she was so annoyed with Swat being a part of Pakistan why does not she openly say that I am not a daughter of Pakistan rather daughter of swat. She has further cemented the mistake West has made over the years. You see each area in Pakistan has its regional customs in addition to Islamic customs and traditions. She failed to clarify that What Pashtuns or Taliban are soliciting is a cocktail of Islamic and Pashtun traditions. Islam never debars any Muslim from seeking education. Our Prophet Muhammad May Peace Be Upon Him solicited that seek knowledge even if you have to walk to China. Also education and knowledge attainment is mandatory for Muslim women and men.
I'd like to enlighten the western public that science practicals and computer labs are available in Pakistani educational institutes. The access may be shared among students but availability is there. Being a graduate myself from UK mu college had a computer lab which had a designated area for me. If I required to load a laptop I had to furnish a written request and wait in a queue.
Most alarming thing for me was that Pakistani's oppress women. This could be attributed to rural areas but not at all applicable to cities or urban towns. We have doctors, teachers, accountants, nurses, air force and commercial pilots. More than a decade ago Islamabad witnessed Pakistan's first lady cab driver, a widow who purchased a cab on hire purchase under the then Prime Minister's initiative.
Thank God I did not purchase this book otherwise it would have been a waste of £7.49 of my hard earned money.
So Who so ever has read this book please my earnest appeal is to consult the Holy Quran and also if possible do visit Pakistan and then decide.
Till then May Almighty be with you and bless you
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
This story made me cry, hope and it mesmerized me. What a woman. What she did for all of the oppressed people she was a part of, is honorable. Getting stronger by it, ready to move the world in a better direction is truly a miracle.
Read
February 6, 2017Malala is such an inspiration to me. Going into this book I already knew quite a bit about her but I loved hearing her first hand experiences. I also enjoyed learning more about this history and politics in Pakistan. I can see how this part might be boring to people, but being the history buff that I am I loved it.
May 14, 2017
دوستانِ گرانقدر، این کتاب هیچ نکته و حتی داستان و سرگذشت خاص و ویژه ای ندارد... زندگینامهٔ دختری نوزده ساله و پاکستانی به نامِ «ملاله یوسف زی» که توسط طالبان ترور شده بود و با آنکه گلوله به صورتش برخورد کرده بود، زنده ماند
نوشته هایِ کتاب بدون تردید به قلم این دختر نوجوان نمیباشد.. چراکه من چندین بار صحبتهای این دختر را شنیده ام، او حتی سخن گفتن عادی را نیز به سختی انجام میدهد، هیچ از مسائل ادبی و نویسندگی و حتی نقد نمیداند، چه برسد به آنکه کتاب و زندگینامه بنویسد... دلیل ترورش را هم اینگونه گفته است که: چون برای "بی بی سی" ایمیل میفرستادم و از حقوق زنان پاکستانی و ظلم طالبان مینوشتم، مرا ترور کردند... امّا دوستانِ عزیز و خردگرا، همه میدانیم که با عقل و خرد جور در نمی آید که طالبان وقت و هزینه بگذارند تا به دنبال ترور یک دختر بچهٔ پانزده ساله باشند
باید این حقیقت را بگویم که حتی این کتاب نیز توسطِ «کریستینا لمب» خبرنگار انگلیسی نوشته شده و ویرایش شده است، امّا بازهم به دروغ آن را به «ملاله» نسبت میدهند و میگویند او نوشته است
این دختر نوجوان برندهٔ جایزهٔ صلحِ نوبل نیز شده است، ولی برخی مردمِ نادان و بیخرد و دولتِ پاکستان ارزشی برای این جایزه قائل نیستند، چراکه از طرفی مسلمان هستند و دینِ اسلامِ نابِ محمدی، اندکی ارزش برای جنس زن قائل نمیباشد و از سویِ دیگر این جایزه را غربی دانسته و اهدای آن را به «ملاله» تنها سو استفاده های سیاسیِ از سوی کشورهای غربی قلمداد میکنند
بسیاری از زنان و دختران بیگناه هستند که در سرزمین های اسلامی به آنها ستم روا میشود و با آنها همچون حیوان برخورد میکنند، چراکه دینشان اینگونه خواسته است و هیچکس یاری رسانِ این دختران بیگناه و بیچاره نیست و کسی صدای آنها و درد آنها را نمی شنود
در کل آنقدر رسانه ها این دختر نوجوان را بزرگ کردند که در حال حاضر همراه پدرش یک صندوق مالی تأسیس کرده و نام آن را «ملاله» نهاده است و در سال میلیون ها دلار به این صندوق واریز میشود و معلوم نیست او و پدرش با این پول ها چه میکنند.. قرار بوده است که این پول ها حامی دختران ستم دیده باشد.. امّا چقدر راست گفته اند، کسی نمیداند!! و تا آنجا که میدانم کمکی آنچنانی نیز به دختران دربند و گرفتار پاکستانی دیده نشده است... گویا این پول های بی زبان باید جمع شود تا در آینده «ملاله» به قولِ خودش نخست وزیرِ پاکستان شود
درکل کتاب جالب توجهی نبود... نمیدانم چرا برخی احساسی برخورد کرده و امتیاز بالا به این کتاب داده اند.. امتیاز بالا به این کتاب دادن به نوعی بی ارزش جلوه دادن و ظلم به زندگینامه های معروف و مشهوری است که در تاریخ نگاشته شده است... حمایت از «ملاله» و دیگر زنان و دختران مثل او، هیچ ربطی به امتیاز دادن به این کتاب ندارد و امیدوارم این را درک کنید که امتیازهای ما به نوعی معرفی کتاب برای خرید میباشد و خیلی ها به امتیازهایِ ما نگاه کرده و کتابشان را انتخاب میکنند.. پس عزیزانم، در خرج کردن ستاره هایتان کمی احساساتتان را کنترل کنید و معقولانه امتیاز بدهید و ارزش های نویسندگی را زیر سؤال نبرید و معیارهای مختلف در نویسندگی را در نظر داشته باشید
--------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این ریویو مفید بوده باشه
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
نوشته هایِ کتاب بدون تردید به قلم این دختر نوجوان نمیباشد.. چراکه من چندین بار صحبتهای این دختر را شنیده ام، او حتی سخن گفتن عادی را نیز به سختی انجام میدهد، هیچ از مسائل ادبی و نویسندگی و حتی نقد نمیداند، چه برسد به آنکه کتاب و زندگینامه بنویسد... دلیل ترورش را هم اینگونه گفته است که: چون برای "بی بی سی" ایمیل میفرستادم و از حقوق زنان پاکستانی و ظلم طالبان مینوشتم، مرا ترور کردند... امّا دوستانِ عزیز و خردگرا، همه میدانیم که با عقل و خرد جور در نمی آید که طالبان وقت و هزینه بگذارند تا به دنبال ترور یک دختر بچهٔ پانزده ساله باشند
باید این حقیقت را بگویم که حتی این کتاب نیز توسطِ «کریستینا لمب» خبرنگار انگلیسی نوشته شده و ویرایش شده است، امّا بازهم به دروغ آن را به «ملاله» نسبت میدهند و میگویند او نوشته است
این دختر نوجوان برندهٔ جایزهٔ صلحِ نوبل نیز شده است، ولی برخی مردمِ نادان و بیخرد و دولتِ پاکستان ارزشی برای این جایزه قائل نیستند، چراکه از طرفی مسلمان هستند و دینِ اسلامِ نابِ محمدی، اندکی ارزش برای جنس زن قائل نمیباشد و از سویِ دیگر این جایزه را غربی دانسته و اهدای آن را به «ملاله» تنها سو استفاده های سیاسیِ از سوی کشورهای غربی قلمداد میکنند
بسیاری از زنان و دختران بیگناه هستند که در سرزمین های اسلامی به آنها ستم روا میشود و با آنها همچون حیوان برخورد میکنند، چراکه دینشان اینگونه خواسته است و هیچکس یاری رسانِ این دختران بیگناه و بیچاره نیست و کسی صدای آنها و درد آنها را نمی شنود
در کل آنقدر رسانه ها این دختر نوجوان را بزرگ کردند که در حال حاضر همراه پدرش یک صندوق مالی تأسیس کرده و نام آن را «ملاله» نهاده است و در سال میلیون ها دلار به این صندوق واریز میشود و معلوم نیست او و پدرش با این پول ها چه میکنند.. قرار بوده است که این پول ها حامی دختران ستم دیده باشد.. امّا چقدر راست گفته اند، کسی نمیداند!! و تا آنجا که میدانم کمکی آنچنانی نیز به دختران دربند و گرفتار پاکستانی دیده نشده است... گویا این پول های بی زبان باید جمع شود تا در آینده «ملاله» به قولِ خودش نخست وزیرِ پاکستان شود
درکل کتاب جالب توجهی نبود... نمیدانم چرا برخی احساسی برخورد کرده و امتیاز بالا به این کتاب داده اند.. امتیاز بالا به این کتاب دادن به نوعی بی ارزش جلوه دادن و ظلم به زندگینامه های معروف و مشهوری است که در تاریخ نگاشته شده است... حمایت از «ملاله» و دیگر زنان و دختران مثل او، هیچ ربطی به امتیاز دادن به این کتاب ندارد و امیدوارم این را درک کنید که امتیازهای ما به نوعی معرفی کتاب برای خرید میباشد و خیلی ها به امتیازهایِ ما نگاه کرده و کتابشان را انتخاب میکنند.. پس عزیزانم، در خرج کردن ستاره هایتان کمی احساساتتان را کنترل کنید و معقولانه امتیاز بدهید و ارزش های نویسندگی را زیر سؤال نبرید و معیارهای مختلف در نویسندگی را در نظر داشته باشید
--------------------------------------------
امیدوارم این ریویو مفید بوده باشه
«پیروز باشید و ایرانی»
February 11, 2019
Affecting but disjointed, I Am Malala recounts the extraordinary life of the internationally renowned Pakistani activist. Partially written by a ghostwriter, the memoir scans Malala’s childhood and adolescence as well as the recent history of Pakistan, but it addresses neither subject comprehensively. An excessive amount of information about Pakistani society is presented piecemeal, leaving much unclear; these passages overwhelm Malala’s own story, without ever giving a clear sense of the country’s politics, government, or culture. The transitions between the life writing and the explanatory prose also tend to be clumsy, and the writing feels rushed. The book is at its best when it focuses on Malala’s goals, beliefs, and accomplishments, but it’s clear that a more thorough (auto)biography remains to be written.
June 3, 2015
Unless you've been living in a cave the past couple of years-- the name Malala Yousafzsi -- rings a bell with you.... The young heroine who first survived under chilling conditions - taken over by Taliban extremists... and how her entire family stayed afloat.
Malala is a stand for education. A stand for women and especially female children getting an education. Sincerely passionate about educational injustice --- taking a shot in the head for it----she became the youngest person ever to be nominated and win the Nobel Peace Prize.
When you begin to look through the eyes of this young girl- politically-you can see a young girl aware of the lies and distortions she had been feed from her Government.
The difference is..., many of us, can remember being 16 years old, also aware as injustice in our world, yet we didn't stand alone- speak out... fight .. ( as if our lives depended on our fighting), for injustice in the world to the level this young girl did. So, yes.. This young girl was very brave.. ( everything people have said about her is true). Under horrific conditions... she kept speaking out.. at the risk of her safety. She herself is truly remarkable.
As far as the book itself.., it could have used some editing! Some parts were choppy-& disjointed - other parts felt immature, ( we are reminded that Malala 'is' still very young). Some parts, of course, we're painful- heartfelt- moving- but much was inspiring... because Malala is inspiring.
As brave as this young girl has been-- she is also a girl easy to support. The entire world knows who she is now. With the right type of guidance -and support -we should see more great contributions from Malala throughout her adulthood.
Malala is young powerful force.....,A Symbol of oppressed women fighting for education and other human rights.
Malala is a stand for education. A stand for women and especially female children getting an education. Sincerely passionate about educational injustice --- taking a shot in the head for it----she became the youngest person ever to be nominated and win the Nobel Peace Prize.
When you begin to look through the eyes of this young girl- politically-you can see a young girl aware of the lies and distortions she had been feed from her Government.
The difference is..., many of us, can remember being 16 years old, also aware as injustice in our world, yet we didn't stand alone- speak out... fight .. ( as if our lives depended on our fighting), for injustice in the world to the level this young girl did. So, yes.. This young girl was very brave.. ( everything people have said about her is true). Under horrific conditions... she kept speaking out.. at the risk of her safety. She herself is truly remarkable.
As far as the book itself.., it could have used some editing! Some parts were choppy-& disjointed - other parts felt immature, ( we are reminded that Malala 'is' still very young). Some parts, of course, we're painful- heartfelt- moving- but much was inspiring... because Malala is inspiring.
As brave as this young girl has been-- she is also a girl easy to support. The entire world knows who she is now. With the right type of guidance -and support -we should see more great contributions from Malala throughout her adulthood.
Malala is young powerful force.....,A Symbol of oppressed women fighting for education and other human rights.
May 24, 2018
I'm not sure how to do a review for this book, but here goes!
The context and information was more in depth then I was expecting and I loved I Am Malala.
While reading this, I realized that being an American woman is such a privilege.
I've never had to struggle and survive for education, not having the right to vote or even walk alone into a store to shop. I've always had freedom, free speech and democracy for the things that I take for granted.
After reading this book, I've realized getting first hand information is the way to go. It opens up your eyes and mind to what's really going on.
Malala lived in Pakistan when she was attacked and dealt with Islamic terrorists every day. I was amazed with how strong and brave she was in staying the course for girls education. Her father was equally brave in keeping the school going, promoting peace and not having the Quran twisted to influence evil acts and misunderstanding.
I see this behavior in every religion and I don't like it.
Can't we all just love each other and get along? Quit the judging, live the best life that you can live and stay out of other people's business?
*getting off soap box now* 😉🤣
*ahem*
Back to Malala and this book.
I enjoyed the history that was brought up in this book along with all of the complexities to Pakistan, Islam and who's trying to control the country. I also enjoyed reading about how families and neighborhoods related with each other. The writing was well done and I never felt like I was lost on the information.
One last thing.
As Malala said,
"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."
And I really believe in this quote. Education and facts will be how this world will survive. Misinformation, hate and ignorance will cause all of us to fail.
The context and information was more in depth then I was expecting and I loved I Am Malala.
While reading this, I realized that being an American woman is such a privilege.
I've never had to struggle and survive for education, not having the right to vote or even walk alone into a store to shop. I've always had freedom, free speech and democracy for the things that I take for granted.
After reading this book, I've realized getting first hand information is the way to go. It opens up your eyes and mind to what's really going on.
Malala lived in Pakistan when she was attacked and dealt with Islamic terrorists every day. I was amazed with how strong and brave she was in staying the course for girls education. Her father was equally brave in keeping the school going, promoting peace and not having the Quran twisted to influence evil acts and misunderstanding.
I see this behavior in every religion and I don't like it.
Can't we all just love each other and get along? Quit the judging, live the best life that you can live and stay out of other people's business?
*getting off soap box now* 😉🤣
*ahem*
Back to Malala and this book.
I enjoyed the history that was brought up in this book along with all of the complexities to Pakistan, Islam and who's trying to control the country. I also enjoyed reading about how families and neighborhoods related with each other. The writing was well done and I never felt like I was lost on the information.
One last thing.
As Malala said,
"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."
And I really believe in this quote. Education and facts will be how this world will survive. Misinformation, hate and ignorance will cause all of us to fail.
March 6, 2015
3.5 stars
Malala Yousafzai inspires me so much. Her human rights advocacy for education and for women has transformed into an international movement; her courage to keep fighting after getting shot exemplifies her heroism. Her voice has reached so many and has influenced history. She has impacted the world by speaking out, and she writes about her father's support as well, adding back story to her honest desire to make a difference in the realm of Pakistani politics and female education.
Saying all of that, my rating of I Am Malala pertains in no way to Malala herself. I felt that this book fell short in portraying Malala's story: it jumbled up Pakistani history, politics, and Malala's own experience in a way that did not make much sense. The book's disjointed, impersonal structure disappointed me, and I wish we could have read a more linear, cohesive narrative all from Malala's viewpoint. We all know the power and wisdom of Malala's voice; I would have enjoyed I Am Malala if I had heard more of it.
If you want to learn a little more about Malala's upbringing, Pakistani history, or the Taliban, I would still recommend this book. It does a good job of sharing Malala's story, even though it could have done a lot better.
Malala Yousafzai inspires me so much. Her human rights advocacy for education and for women has transformed into an international movement; her courage to keep fighting after getting shot exemplifies her heroism. Her voice has reached so many and has influenced history. She has impacted the world by speaking out, and she writes about her father's support as well, adding back story to her honest desire to make a difference in the realm of Pakistani politics and female education.
Saying all of that, my rating of I Am Malala pertains in no way to Malala herself. I felt that this book fell short in portraying Malala's story: it jumbled up Pakistani history, politics, and Malala's own experience in a way that did not make much sense. The book's disjointed, impersonal structure disappointed me, and I wish we could have read a more linear, cohesive narrative all from Malala's viewpoint. We all know the power and wisdom of Malala's voice; I would have enjoyed I Am Malala if I had heard more of it.
If you want to learn a little more about Malala's upbringing, Pakistani history, or the Taliban, I would still recommend this book. It does a good job of sharing Malala's story, even though it could have done a lot better.
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