I tend to read a lot when I’m traveling and this time, I unintentionally ended up picking up several books on Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Both countries have been on my mind lately. Over the last year, as the Mumbai blasts caught the attention of foreign media and the Taliban gained control over parts of Pakistan, my Pakistani friend and I found ourselves explaining to our colleagues at Berkeley the history of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the reasons for the creation of the ISI in Pakistan, the role of America in this entire region, and of course, our own conflicting ideas about the situation in Kashmir.

Pakistan has always been a country that I have wanted to visit, not only because it intrigues me as a journalist, but also because I grew up listening to stories about it. The street corners, the sights and smells, and the home that my grandmother used to describe in such detail were India once, but are now in Pakistan. Both my parents lost family during the partition, and my grandmother, to her dying day, believed that if she were able to return, she’d find a way to get back the home she’d lost. My father, who was born in what is now Pakistan, has always secretly harbored a wish to return and see what became of his hometown. And I’ve always wanted to go with him.

I was planning to get to Pakistan this August for my friend’s wedding, but given the current state the country is in, it seems unlikely I’ll get there. We’ll see. One day, I’m sure I’ll travel to both Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the meantime, I’m living vicariously through these authors.

**

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

This is my favorite book of the three I read. In this fascinating tale, journalist David Oliver Relin tells the story of how Greg Mortenson, a failed American mountaineer, promised people of a small Pakistani village that he’d one day come back and repay their kindness by building a school for them, and returned to make good on it. People who’ve traveled or lived in the region will identify with his struggles to get stuff done as he encounters inefficiency, unaccountability, and the sheer desperation of the people.

But, as the foundation for the school is strengthened (after many fits and starts), so is his understanding of the region. The hospitality of the people and the love he develops for the country is evident, and Mortenson ended up building 78 schools and becoming living proof of the idea that only education will rid this region of the violent future it now faces. I’d highly recommend it to Americans who are wondering why their government is failing in this region and what it needs to do.

**

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad

I had very few expectations from this book, so I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. The title may be a little misleading. I was expecting a commentary on the state of literature in Afghanistan, how the Taliban had banned the display of certain images and burned books, and how one bookseller was making a difference. I didn’t realize this book would go much deeper than that. The book is certainly about a bookseller and his family, but the real heroes are the women. The real stories are those of the sisters, the wives, and the daughters.

Without passing judgment, the author takes us behind the scenes into the lives of the members of this large and flawed family. In going behind the conversations, the arguments, and the daily ego matches that are engaged in a way that only a family can, Seierstad reflects on the culture, the status of each member, and how the small rifts do lead to an eventual split. And in doing so, she’s especially mindful of the place of the female in Afghan culture. A fascinating read.

**

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez and Kristin Ohlson

The thing about true stories is that they’re not always pretty and the outcome isn’t always desirable. At first, the book seemed like a frivolous attempt to me– a beauty school isn’t exactly on the top of the list of priorities for a woman who fears for her life and freedom, I thought. But the book managed to convince me how this place– where no men are allowed– actually empowers these women and makes them independent. I loved it. But real life doesn’t always wrap up nicely. A quick Google search showed me that the success of this New York Times bestseller that led to a million dollar movie deal has proven to be life threatening for many of the women profiled and some are on the run. The book is amazing, very well-written and definitely worth reading, but the story that developed after its publication is a sad commentary on the state of women in the region.

(Disclaimer: I know author Kristin Ohlson through one of my writing groups and think she’s one of the loveliest and most helpful writers around.)