--- product_id: 11873337 title: "The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan" price: "VT5644" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11873337-the-pearl-that-broke-its-shell-an-emotional-novel-two store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan **Price:** VT5644 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan - **How much does it cost?** VT5644 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11873337-the-pearl-that-broke-its-shell-an-emotional-novel-two) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See. In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters. But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way. Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive? Review: Nadia Hashimi has gifted the world with a wonderfully written, mesmerizing look into a fascinating family drama ... - In her debut novel, Nadia Hashimi has gifted the world with a wonderfully written, mesmerizing look into a fascinating family drama set in Afghanistan. The main protagonists are Rahima, a young 21st century Afghani girl and her great-great-grandmother Shekiba who lived in the early 20th century. The story shifts between the young women who share not only DNA, but the fact that both were allowed for awhile to dress and live as males. Under a custom called bacha posh, families who do not have sons or have a single son, may allow a daughter to have her hair cut in boy fashion, don boy’s clothing, be given the freedom of boys to attend school, play in the streets, do marketing and price haggling for the family, earn money for the family, freed from household chores, be favored by the father, and receive the best food at home. After the onset of puberty, the girl has to transition back to a traditional Afghani female. Wherein lies much of the poignancy of this exquisite story. Once they have tasted freedom, recognition and respect, the bacha posh can have difficulty adjusting back to their culture’s traditional female role. Rahima, allowed to become a bacha posh, is one of five daughters. Her outspoken, sharp-tongued maternal aunt, Khala Shaima, never married due to a physical deformity, visits the family frequently to urge that the Rahima and her sisters be allowed to attend school, that they are as worthy as boys. She also tells them many stories, including that of Shekiba, their great-great-grandmother. Although the girls are allowed to attend school for a short time, after an incident with boys harassing them in the streets, they ultimately end up homebound. Rahima’s father is not a good provider, had spent much of his young adulthood fighting with the mujahideen against the Russian occupiers. His re-entry to civilian life did not go well. Between his substance abuse and his lack of a son, he was an angry, bitter man. His continued alliance with the local warlord from his mujahideen days will have drastic consequences for his family. Shekiba was the daughter of a happily married couple. Her father was a farmer who could make any crop grow, a true man of the earth. He taught all of his children to read. Her mother, two brothers and a sister died in a cholera outbreak, leaving Shekiba and her father working the farm. After father dies, Shekiba tells no one and continues to work the farm on her own, dawning her burqa if anyone approaches the homestead. Eventually her deception is discovered, she is moved to her grandmother’s house in the family compound and treated worse than a servant. Her spirit is fatigued at times, but never defeated. Shekiba becomes a female dressed as a male in the king’s harem, just outside the palace. The king has learned not to trust male guards. The description of Shekiba’s life in the harem is interesting and very compelling. The prestige of the concubines, the size of their apartments, their wardrobes and jewelry, were determined by the favor they held with the king. For the most part, this was dependent on the number of male children the concubine bore. The same measure used for Afghani wives, actually. Despite the luxury and leisure afforded concubines, there was always a shadow of danger hanging over them in their silk and jewelry-laden prison. Displeasing the king could be deadly. There is a vivid description of a stoning of a concubine who has entertained another man. This story is fascinating. Not only is it beautifully written, but the two arcs of the story, Shekiba and Rahima, based a century apart, show the similarities and contrasts of the female role in Afghani society. Shekiba saw the beginnings of modernization for Afghanistan under King Amanullah and Queen Soraya which included the expansion of the roles for women in society (true historical characters). A century later, Rahima actually participates in the Afghani legislature as assistant to a female representative. King Amanullah’s efforts to modernize Afghanistan a century ago were met with resistance and rebellion, eventually forcing him into exile after less than a decade of rule. It is still an open question whether today’s efforts to modernize the country and expand the role of women in the Afghani culture will succeed. The message of this book is that through the indomitable nature of the human spirit, there is hope, no matter the external circumstances of one’s existence. I gave this book a 4.75/5.0 rating. I hated to put it down to work, eat, sleep, and actually read it while I was on the treadmill and bike at the gym. I have barely sketched the stories of these two women; there are many other characters in the book who are just as mesmerizing. The most intense focus is on the women, but the men’s stories are represented as well because more than anything else, this is a novel about family. The men’s fates are also shaped by cultural expectations and how they use the power endowed by their societal structure has consequences for everyone around them. Some choose to brutalize others with this power while other men choose kindness, empathy and love. Review: Bittersweet story - very enlightening about Afghan/Islamic culture, especially its oppressive treatment of women. - This book presents two parallel stories of women who lived in different centuries in Afghanistan. The young woman in the 21st century is inspired by stories she hears of the life of her ancestor. At times, I got tired of going back and forth between the two women, but that was because I was more interested in the modern woman, Rahima. The saddest part of the story is how the cycles of cultural, economic, and domestic abuse toward women continue to repeat themselves in outlying villages where modern technology and education is still relatively nonexistent for the majority of families. Although the novels are completely different, this book has a similar theme and feel as "A Thousand Splendid Suns," a book written by Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner." Both books are a revealing look at how the Islamic culture found in third world countries allows and even encourages abuse and oppression of women and the indomitable spirit that is found in some women who refuse to submit to the outrage and who struggle to escape and overcome their fate, even though it invites greater levels of torment by the oppressors. It also exposes how the practice of polygamy pits women against each other, the jealousy creating mistrust, thereby precluding women from joining together to fight for better treatment. Also, there is the heartbreaking irony of how these uneducated people - both men and women - blame and torment any woman who fails to bear sons when modern medicine shows that it is the man's sperm which determines the sex of a child. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #40,862 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #119 in Cultural Heritage Fiction #769 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction #3,222 in Literary Fiction (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 13,286 Reviews | ## Images ![The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91WfpD-q-wL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nadia Hashimi has gifted the world with a wonderfully written, mesmerizing look into a fascinating family drama ... *by M***3 on October 8, 2014* In her debut novel, Nadia Hashimi has gifted the world with a wonderfully written, mesmerizing look into a fascinating family drama set in Afghanistan. The main protagonists are Rahima, a young 21st century Afghani girl and her great-great-grandmother Shekiba who lived in the early 20th century. The story shifts between the young women who share not only DNA, but the fact that both were allowed for awhile to dress and live as males. Under a custom called bacha posh, families who do not have sons or have a single son, may allow a daughter to have her hair cut in boy fashion, don boy’s clothing, be given the freedom of boys to attend school, play in the streets, do marketing and price haggling for the family, earn money for the family, freed from household chores, be favored by the father, and receive the best food at home. After the onset of puberty, the girl has to transition back to a traditional Afghani female. Wherein lies much of the poignancy of this exquisite story. Once they have tasted freedom, recognition and respect, the bacha posh can have difficulty adjusting back to their culture’s traditional female role. Rahima, allowed to become a bacha posh, is one of five daughters. Her outspoken, sharp-tongued maternal aunt, Khala Shaima, never married due to a physical deformity, visits the family frequently to urge that the Rahima and her sisters be allowed to attend school, that they are as worthy as boys. She also tells them many stories, including that of Shekiba, their great-great-grandmother. Although the girls are allowed to attend school for a short time, after an incident with boys harassing them in the streets, they ultimately end up homebound. Rahima’s father is not a good provider, had spent much of his young adulthood fighting with the mujahideen against the Russian occupiers. His re-entry to civilian life did not go well. Between his substance abuse and his lack of a son, he was an angry, bitter man. His continued alliance with the local warlord from his mujahideen days will have drastic consequences for his family. Shekiba was the daughter of a happily married couple. Her father was a farmer who could make any crop grow, a true man of the earth. He taught all of his children to read. Her mother, two brothers and a sister died in a cholera outbreak, leaving Shekiba and her father working the farm. After father dies, Shekiba tells no one and continues to work the farm on her own, dawning her burqa if anyone approaches the homestead. Eventually her deception is discovered, she is moved to her grandmother’s house in the family compound and treated worse than a servant. Her spirit is fatigued at times, but never defeated. Shekiba becomes a female dressed as a male in the king’s harem, just outside the palace. The king has learned not to trust male guards. The description of Shekiba’s life in the harem is interesting and very compelling. The prestige of the concubines, the size of their apartments, their wardrobes and jewelry, were determined by the favor they held with the king. For the most part, this was dependent on the number of male children the concubine bore. The same measure used for Afghani wives, actually. Despite the luxury and leisure afforded concubines, there was always a shadow of danger hanging over them in their silk and jewelry-laden prison. Displeasing the king could be deadly. There is a vivid description of a stoning of a concubine who has entertained another man. This story is fascinating. Not only is it beautifully written, but the two arcs of the story, Shekiba and Rahima, based a century apart, show the similarities and contrasts of the female role in Afghani society. Shekiba saw the beginnings of modernization for Afghanistan under King Amanullah and Queen Soraya which included the expansion of the roles for women in society (true historical characters). A century later, Rahima actually participates in the Afghani legislature as assistant to a female representative. King Amanullah’s efforts to modernize Afghanistan a century ago were met with resistance and rebellion, eventually forcing him into exile after less than a decade of rule. It is still an open question whether today’s efforts to modernize the country and expand the role of women in the Afghani culture will succeed. The message of this book is that through the indomitable nature of the human spirit, there is hope, no matter the external circumstances of one’s existence. I gave this book a 4.75/5.0 rating. I hated to put it down to work, eat, sleep, and actually read it while I was on the treadmill and bike at the gym. I have barely sketched the stories of these two women; there are many other characters in the book who are just as mesmerizing. The most intense focus is on the women, but the men’s stories are represented as well because more than anything else, this is a novel about family. The men’s fates are also shaped by cultural expectations and how they use the power endowed by their societal structure has consequences for everyone around them. Some choose to brutalize others with this power while other men choose kindness, empathy and love. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bittersweet story - very enlightening about Afghan/Islamic culture, especially its oppressive treatment of women. *by S***L on August 27, 2014* This book presents two parallel stories of women who lived in different centuries in Afghanistan. The young woman in the 21st century is inspired by stories she hears of the life of her ancestor. At times, I got tired of going back and forth between the two women, but that was because I was more interested in the modern woman, Rahima. The saddest part of the story is how the cycles of cultural, economic, and domestic abuse toward women continue to repeat themselves in outlying villages where modern technology and education is still relatively nonexistent for the majority of families. Although the novels are completely different, this book has a similar theme and feel as "A Thousand Splendid Suns," a book written by Khaled Hosseini, author of "The Kite Runner." Both books are a revealing look at how the Islamic culture found in third world countries allows and even encourages abuse and oppression of women and the indomitable spirit that is found in some women who refuse to submit to the outrage and who struggle to escape and overcome their fate, even though it invites greater levels of torment by the oppressors. It also exposes how the practice of polygamy pits women against each other, the jealousy creating mistrust, thereby precluding women from joining together to fight for better treatment. Also, there is the heartbreaking irony of how these uneducated people - both men and women - blame and torment any woman who fails to bear sons when modern medicine shows that it is the man's sperm which determines the sex of a child. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A beautiful first novel that will stay with you............. *by J***H on July 13, 2014* An amazing story, and wonderfully written. I could not put this book down, and when I had to, I frequently found myself thinking about it and looking forward to when I could continue. Throughout this book, I couldn't help but think of how grateful I am to have been born a woman in America. With all the troubles we sometimes face here, we have our basic human rights, and freedom as women. It's horrifying that women and children (most especially girls) are treated so terribly. A beautiful, yet heartbreaking story, that will grip you emotionally. Several times I held my breath as something happened that was unexpected. Though this is a work of fiction, the author has loosely based her story on historical figures and events. She pulls you into the lives of these two women, and the culture in which they live. It's a very good reflection of the lives of so many women in the Middle East. As for the length of this book, it was perfect. I didn't want this story to end. It's hard to find books that are more than 300 pages long, and I don't care much for books under this. When you get into a gripping story like this one, it seems like you've reached the end when you've just barely started. If you liked this book, you might also like A Thousand Splendid Suns, and The Moonlit Cage. If you've read either of these, you'll definitely love this one. I look forward to reading more from this author. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Pearl That Broke Its Shell: An Emotional Novel of Two Women's Stories Intertwined by Time and Tradition in Afghanistan - A House Without Windows: An Emotionally Powerful Novel of Friendship and Injustice in an Afghan Prison - When the Moon Is Low: A Heart-Wrenching Novel of Survival and Family Separation During War in Afghanistan --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11873337-the-pearl-that-broke-its-shell-an-emotional-novel-two](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/11873337-the-pearl-that-broke-its-shell-an-emotional-novel-two) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-06-06*