Author: Siamak Herawi
Publisher: Zaryab Publishing (Kabul), Nabeshat Publishing (Global edition on Amazon)
First Edition: 2018 (1397 Solar Hijri)
Pages: 464
The Girls of Tali is the tenth novel by acclaimed Afghan writer Siamak Herawi—a haunting and deeply human narrative that unveils the hidden lives of women in the remote mountains of Badghis. It is a story steeped in pain, resilience, and the struggle against oppressive traditions that have bound generations of women in chains of silence.
The novel begins with the mysterious death of two people in the desolate plains of Bakwa, setting the stage for a gripping tale that gradually unfolds through multiple voices. Its circular structure brings the reader back to where the tragedy began, closing the loop with profound impact.
At the heart of the story stands Kosar, an intelligent and determined girl who grows up in hardship among rugged hills. Despite an unforgiving world, she dares to dream of education, progress, and freedom. Alongside her are characters like Gisoo, Negin, Simin, and others—women who symbolize countless Afghan girls labeled as “helpless” and “worthless” from birth, seen not as human beings but as commodities for wealth or objects of desire.
Herawi masterfully weaves a narrative that reflects not only the plight of Badghis but also the pervasive realities across Afghanistan—where systemic violence, ignorance, and poverty crush women’s lives under the weight of tribal customs and religious hypocrisy. Through vivid, almost tangible characters and an unflinching portrayal of societal decay, the author lays bare layers of injustice, backwardness, and the stranglehold of power-hungry clerics and landlords.
The Girls of Tali is more than a novel—it is a mirror held up to a dark truth, a voice for those condemned to silence. With Herawi’s compelling storytelling, readers confront a reality that is painful yet impossible to ignore.
This book is a powerful testimony to suffering, survival, and the enduring hope for liberation.
