Caravans by james a. michener

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Read this historical fiction, which was originally published in 1963. As you read, you will realize that "it was ever thus" in Afghanistan. The country has a long and complex history, filled with war, political instability, and foreign interference.

Maybe we should learn from history and meddle less in the affairs of other countries. Instead of trying to impose our own values and systems on others, we should respect their sovereignty and allow them to determine their own futures.

Of course, this is not to say that we should turn a blind eye to human rights abuses or other atrocities. But we should approach these issues with diplomacy and cooperation, rather than with military force or economic sanctions.

By learning from history and taking a more humble and respectful approach to the world, we can help to create a more peaceful and just future for all.

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Mokenda

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This was one of Michener's early books.

Set in Afghanistan in 1946, it follows the story of Mark Miller. He is a Jew who works for the U.S. State Department. He is assigned the task of finding the whereabouts of Ellen Jaspar. His journey commences in Kabul, where he is stationed. From there, he embarks on a perilous and eventful adventure.

Well, I won't disclose where he ultimately ends up. This is a highly relevant book when it comes to Afghanistan. Michener truly delves deep into the history and culture of the country. What's more, he shows remarkable prescience regarding its future, considering the book was written in 1963.

If you have a passion for history and geography, this is undoubtedly a book that you should not miss. It offers a fascinating and immersive look into a country that has played a significant role in world events.

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Messingo

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I could have given this one a four stars. However, I'm not entirely certain if the story was interesting enough to merit that rating.

Nonetheless, I did appreciate the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and geography of Afghanistan through this light read.

The book provided some valuable insights into a country that has often been in the news for various reasons.

It was interesting to discover the unique aspects of Afghan society, such as its rich traditions and diverse ethnic groups.

The author's descriptions of the landscapes and cities also added to the overall experience.

Despite some reservations about the story's level of interest, I still found this book to be a worthwhile read for anyone interested in learning more about Afghanistan.

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Aeru47

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The protagonist, whose name remains unknown until deep into the novel, presents a tired and clichéd travelogue of Afghanistan.

We are bombarded with descriptions of strange Middle Eastern customs such as sex with transgendered young men and boys, brutal public executions for the most ordinary of offenses (including stealing another man's boy), and the mysterious Afghani women donning the cloaked chaderi.

By today's standards, these practices are neither particularly shocking nor revealing. What truly surprises me is the protagonist's Western condescension, aside from the narrator's aversion to homosexuality.

The novel, published in 1963 and set in 1946, predates the West's post-9/11 fixation with Islam. Yet, Michener's description of the chaderi as "sexy" mirrors the views of many modern feminists who are steeped in multiculturalism and have opinions about head scarves and burqas.

It is precisely this post-modern "progressiveness" that makes me so dislike the novel.

The one thread that attempts to hold the story together – the disappearance of an American woman who abandoned her "bourgeois" suburban upbringing to marry a wealthy Afghani man and join his harem – fails to draw me into the narrative. Her backstory, if anything, further repels me.

Several times, I am tempted to throw the book across the room due to all the obnoxious stereotyping and cultural relativism. (Once again, Michener voices contemporary "progressive" thought when he implies that Nazi Germany was not so different from suburban America.)

The narrator's American and Jewish roots should have added more interest, especially in the context of the Middle East and the Holocaust unfolding in Europe. However, Michener glosses over what could have been the novel's most captivating aspect.

I persist until the end, feeling no concern for any of the characters. The prose is acceptable, and I can find no fault with the grammar or writing style, although at times it is rather dull.

If you relish superficial portrayals of foreign countries without any characters to engage with, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, I would recommend avoiding it.

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robiu013

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Another remarkable book by Michener! This time, we journey back in time to one of his earliest creations and take an in-depth look at the country of Afghanistan.

I only wish the US State and Defense Departments had perused this work before deciding to dispatch troops there. Michener penned this book in 1963, setting it in 1946. He doesn't rely on his typical plot mechanisms. Instead, he commences with an American diplomat stationed in Afghanistan. This diplomat is assigned a mission to locate a young girl from Pennsylvania who fled to Afghanistan with a man to become his second wife, and her parents haven't heard from her in 13 months.

This is all Michener requires to embark on a tour de force journey where the countryside and culture of Afghanistan take center stage. Oh, we encounter numerous fascinating characters along the way, and our diplomat ultimately finds the long-lost girl. However, we witness all the beauty and savagery of this country and begin to comprehend some of the problems that will always be inherent in this part of the world.

If you're a fan of Michener and haven't read some of his earlier works, then this is an excellent book to pick up. Plus, it doesn't weigh in at over 1,000 pages like many of his other works.

I do have one major gripe with the book. I purchased the ebook on Kindle, and there are hundreds of misspelled words and atrocious editing errors. It's not Michener's fault that these are so abundant in this edition, and thus I didn't reduce the * rating for the book. But be cautious of these dreadful flaws in the Kindle edition.

You can view my full review at https://blaineseclecticbookshelf.word...

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CthulhuTheGreat

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The assistant of the American ambassador in Kabul is given the task of finding out where a young American woman has gone missing. She has followed an Afghan man to his country, against the advice of her parents and friends.

The insight into the complicated psyche of the Afghans is interesting. However, unfortunately, not much really happens. I start to lose a bit of patience. The woman at the center of it all is an egotistical goat, but she is so beautiful that all men dance to her tune.

The novel serves as a vehicle to get to know the country. The author has traveled around there for a long time and surely knew what he was writing about. Unfortunately, his optimistic future prognoses for the country have been destroyed by reality.

It seems that the story has its moments of interest with the exploration of the Afghan psyche and the actions of the young American woman. But the lack of significant events can make it a bit dull at times. The description of the woman as an egotistical beauty adds an element of complexity to the narrative. Overall, while the novel has its merits in introducing the country, its flaws in terms of pacing and overly optimistic projections are also evident.

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asian_weeb

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Better story than characters

The writing in this piece is indeed quite good. It offers a wealth of knowledge about the history and geography of Afghanistan, which is truly fascinating. However, the ending was rather abrupt, leaving me with a sense of incompleteness. At the beginning, the story started off a bit slowly, but as it progressed, I found myself gradually getting swept up in it. Nevertheless, one aspect that really stood out to me was that I didn't like any of the characters. This made it somewhat difficult for me to stay fully engaged throughout the entire narrative. It's as if the lack of likable characters created a bit of a barrier between me and the story. Despite this, the overall story itself was still interesting enough to hold my attention, and I'm glad I took the time to read it.

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rcdeidara

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The best aspect of this book was the palpable sense of place and the in-depth exploration of various facets of life in Afghanistan during the late 1940s.

Although I wasn't overly enthusiastic about the missing American, Ellen, as she was truly a minor part of the overall narrative. In my opinion, the storyline was somewhat weak. However, the vivid sense of place and well-developed characters more than compensated for that shortcoming.

Michener had lived and traveled extensively in the country, not in the comfort of air-conditioned tour buses. He possessed the remarkable ability to bring a place to life, and he definitely achieved that in this book.

This is a relatively fast-paced read that offers a fascinating glimpse into a place that Westerners seldom see, except during times of war. It is also intriguing to compare the state of the country then with its current situation and reflect a little on what has transpired in the intervening years.

Overall, despite its flaws, this book provides a valuable and engaging perspective on Afghanistan's past.

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Caravans

james a. michener

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james a. michener

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