The Taliban Shuffle: Unusual Experiences in Afghanistan and Pakistan

K. Mikschl: Sehr cooles Buch! Ich hab's gesuchtet.

Germany on May 27, 2019

Gonzalo Martín: If you are looking to resemble the experience of the Sally Field's movie, forget it. It is not because adapting a book to a movie usually turns out in a different thing, it is because this book is focused on the Afghan an Pakistani current events and not that much in the personal affaires of the author, which is the movie's actual plot. Anyway, it is a funny and interesting chronicle of a foreign correspondent (a female in hard muslim countries) in the complicated atmosphere of the Afghan war and the role of the Pakistani government.

Spain on Jan 24, 2017

Nicole M. Means: When I began reading this book, I had no idea that the movie "Whiskey Foxtrot Tango" was loosely based on it--I bought this book because I wanted to understand how the Taliban trickled into Pakistan from Taliban. When I found out Kim Barker's book was adapted in the movie, I was slightly disappointed and debated whether or not I should even continue reading the book. Since I hate to waste money, I decided to read the book, albeit begrudgingly. My initial reading position was tense--shoulders tight, lips pursed--as my whole physical and mental being resisted this book due to some subconscious fear of becoming a sellout for reading a book adapted for Hollywood. However, after 5 pages deep into Barker's book, my defensiveness wore off as I quickly became enthralled in the tumultuous, and often comical, tale that Barker spins. The reader easily becomes entangled in Barker's story as she is somewhat quirky, confident, and somewhat self-deprecating. Kim Barker's uses journalism to escape her personal life, which is a bit of a hot mess, that she becomes a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie. Instead of dealing with failing relationships, she falls in love with Afghanistan.
I have read...

United States on Jan 07, 2017

Wade K: A very humorous and enlightening book. Having worked in the media, worked in the Middle East, and worked with Journalists this really made me chuckle. But anyone at all will find this an interesting read as it's a good "peek behind the curtain" on both the media and the way things run in India, Pakistan & Afghanistan.

A very enjoyable writing style makes this a pleasure to pick up, especially as despite being a news writer, Barker is very amusing and self effacing.
Highly recommend!

Australia on Jun 16, 2016

Doug Bowker: 3.5 STARS if that were possible.

Many, like me, probably will pick this book up after watching the movie Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot with Tina Fey. From that perspective I was both disappointed AND rewarded. If you've read other non-fiction accounts in the many political and military hotspots around the world, then you will most likely enjoy what is recounted here. If on the other hand 99% of what you read is fiction and you generally like to keep it light, I doubt this book will be your thing. I fall firmly into the former category and love books by journalists who are willing to go right to the edge in order to make sure the world doesn't ignore what's important. I believe Kim Barker did her best to be one of these journalists, but sadly wasn't taken as seriously (because of being a woman) both on the ground and back home where journalism of this kind was drying up.

COMPARISONS: The movie is much more linear and the scripting/story arc greatly tightened up. Plus it's funnier. On the other hand this book is so much more interesting and three dimensional than the movie, which in reality takes only about 1/3 of the book as it's source material. It also puts much more...

United States on Jun 11, 2016

PIERRE BERUBE: Excellent! Witty as well as informative.
P. B.

Canada on Apr 18, 2016

Stefano: Bel libro per gli am
anti del genere, storia amara dei nostri tempi. Magari sul finale si è perso un po.

Italy on Jun 30, 2014