TITLE – A House Without Windows
AUTHOR – Nadia Hashimi
PUBLISHED – August 2016
About the Author
Nadia Hashimi was born and raised in New York and New Jersey. Her parents, originally from Afghanistan, emigrated in the early 1970s before the Soviet invasion. In 2002, she became the first Afghan woman to win a scholarship for higher education in the US. She completed a fast-tracked BA in international relations, an MA in international policy (specializing in development and education), and later enrolled in medical school in Brooklyn. After graduating, she trained in pediatrics at NYU/Bellevue hospitals. A certified development project manager, she is fluent in both Afghan languages and has in-depth knowledge of Afghanistan’s developmental challenges.
About the Book
A House Without Windows tells the story of a woman navigating immense odds in a patriarchal society. Here, oppression constantly clashes with resilience, sisterhood, and a mother’s love. The struggle to protect family and honor often outweighs lifelong pain and tyranny. But can they truly break free from this cycle?
Synopsis
The novel follows Zeba, an Afghan housewife accused of murdering her husband. Her seemingly ordinary life shatters when she is discovered beside his dead body. While her children believe in her innocence, her in-laws demand justice. Silence becomes Zeba’s shield as mobs, police, and society each interpret the crime through their own lens of morality and vengeance.
In prison, Zeba befriends fellow inmates, uncovering the untold stories of women punished more for moral “infractions” than genuine crimes. Her silence symbolizes the stigma women bear, while her quiet strength challenges expectations.
Yusuf, her lawyer, embodies the struggle of good intentions caught in the web of a flawed legal and bureaucratic system. Together, Zeba’s resilience and Yusuf’s perseverance highlight the deep injustice within Afghanistan’s patriarchal structures.
Recommendation – Rating: 4/5
The book offers a stark portrayal of Afghanistan’s prison system, exposing how women are condemned more for violating patriarchal “moral codes” than for real crimes. Hashimi’s pitch-perfect writing immerses readers into the bleak yet resilient world of her characters. It is both heartbreaking and inspiring, making this novel a must-read.
Quotes from the Book
- “What a burden it is to be born a woman.”
- “Sometimes it’s hard to figure out if you are crazy or if it is the world around you that’s insane. Sometimes if you don’t lose your mind a little bit, there’s no way to survive. You’re not broken, my daughter, that’s what you have to remember.”
Manobina Nanda Ganguly
Manobina is a Computer Engineer by profession, working for over two decades. An avid reader since childhood, she loves reading both fictions and non fictions. She can be reached at manobina@gmail.com.
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