William Vollman's book on Afghanistan

First we feared Communist ideology, now we fear Islamic Ideology? Next we'll fear the Mormons!

Mormons are alot more scary then commies

How about Emocore rockers?

He went to fight with the wrong side. But his honest journalistic eye gives him away. And he copes by spinning off into irritating philisophical asides. As a whole, a powerful book about coming of age with convictions and learning to abandon convictions. Also particularly powerful and useful passages on afghanistan itself. Limited in scope, as first person narratives usually are, but less limited than some because he tried so hard to understand.

The emocore rockers?

I've read "An Afghanistan Picture Show" and found it intensely moving. Although I greatly respect Sterling's opinions, I'm not so sure I agree that Vollman went to fight for the wrong side. (Vollman trekked along with a group of muhajadeen as they entered Afghanistan from Pakistan to fight the Soviets.) As we all know now, after the Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan, the muhajadeen turned out to be a terrible, violent can-of-worms that well nigh tore the country apart. But at the time, the Soviets treatment of the Afghanis was horrendous. It's certainly not clear that Vollman should have been "fighting" on the side of the Soviets.

In any case, "An Afghanistan Picture Show" is beautifully written and uses an interesting technique of splitting the narrative between Vollman's idealistic younger self and his wiser, sadder contemporary self who reflects on his youth. It's not only full of insights into the Afghani situation at the time, but becomes a meditation on youth and it's idealism, the suffering of others, the need to help and the intractable pain of the world.

I highly recommend it.