A completely haunting collection of stories by Afghan women — their hopes, dreams, regrets, resentments, loves, and defiances. Powerful, life-changing, and unforgettable.
An extraordinary project.
My Pen Is the Wing of a Bird is a completely haunting collection of stories by Afghan women. These are not just stories — they are hopes, dreams, regrets, resentments, loves, and defiances. They are the sparks of freedom, the voice within taking flight, the truest form of liberation.
This anthology is essential. It delivers the coldest, hardest truths of life in Afghanistan, yet somehow still rings with perseverance and hope. Reading it left me shaken, deeply reflective, and painfully aware of my own privilege. These women wrote their stories in the middle of war, under daily fear and oppression, and yet they created something breathtaking.
It’s the kind of book that demands more than admiration — it demands action. It makes you re-think what really matters in life and reminds us that while we share the same planet, we do not share the same lives. I haven’t been this moved or motivated by a book in years.
Some stories draw on folk traditions, others reflect on life before the Taliban’s resurgence, but most portray the harsh realities of women’s daily lives in Afghanistan. They are sobering, courageous, and demand that readers move beyond passive empathy to consider real action.
These are not outsiders’ narratives about Afghanistan. They are the authentic lived experiences of women who are still there, or who carry those years with them wherever they go. Reading this felt like an act of solidarity.
If I could, I’d put this book in everyone’s hands and insist they read it. It’s powerful, life-changing, and unforgettable.