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To Afghanistan and Back
 
 
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To Afghanistan and Back [Hardcover]

Ted Rall (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
List Price: CDN$ 15.95
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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Rall (2024) is a talented comics artist and a contrarian journalist who has challenged what he perceives to be sacred cows by calling Pulitzer Prize-winning comics artist Art Spiegelman overrated and labeling some September 11 widows as golddiggers. This book records his experiences during a trip to Afghanistan during the U.S. bombing. It includes prose columns Rall wrote for the Village Voice and a graphic novel that captures his talent for smart, ironically comic observation even in hellishly dangerous circumstances. A longtime visitor to and commentator on Central Asia, Rall knows his way around war-torn nations. He journeys by convoy with about 45 journalists, separating himself from them by his determination to travel simply and cheaply. And what a trip: eight journalists are killed by the time he reaches eastern Afghanistan. He must deal with finding a warm place to sleep, keeping his phone charged ($40 a day) and the constant worry of being killed by Afghani soldiers or U.S. bombs. Rall slams victory claims in a war in which adversaries simply change sides when they lose. He suffers a procession of Afghanis out to hustle him for money and lampoons the media for covering the conflict as if it were another celebrity murder trial. But Rall's claims about clueless media reporting aren't fully true (there were regular U.S. press accounts of both civilian casualties and violent ground conditions), and his diatribes about U.S. military action suggest that, to be valid, every war effort must be perfectly executed. Nevertheless, his book joins Joe Sacco's accounts of life in Palestine and Bosnia as a tremendous contribution to comics war journalism.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-For those who have come to the realization that learning about Afghanistan, the "war on terrorism," and Islam is of paramount importance but who have little inclination to turn to the many weighty tomes on these subjects, Rall's "graphic travelogue" just may start them on their way. The author, a journalist who spent time in Afghanistan during the U.S.'s military strikes, fascinates and appalls with this undiluted account. He spent three weeks in a "14th-century" country with only five paved roads, where sleeping in unheated rooms with fleas and scorpions were the norm, and where both 11-year-old soldiers and exploding grenades and bombs were commonplace. He describes corruption and treachery, violence, and death; he records the murder of a journalist "killed for his money" the same night he barely escaped a similar fate. By turns cynical, angry, and ironic, Rall's slim record reminds readers of the difficulties-and danger-of culture clash and points out the "Escheresque conundrum" facing the United States as a result of 9/11. His views run counter to current, uncritical jingoism, yet for that reason are noteworthy and valuable. With introductory chapters on Afghanistan, 9/11, and the military campaign; a graphic center section; and a post-mortem, this essay/editorial/illustrated travelogue will challenge readers, provoke many thoughtful discussions, and kindle interest in a people and place.
Dori DeSpain, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
So we're going to war against Afghanistan. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4.0 out of 5 stars Great book that could have been better, Oct 23 2003
By 
Munawar Ali "Munawar" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: To Afghanistan and Back (Hardcover)
I liked this book alot. But, the truth is that Ted could have made this book much much better simply by organizing it better. First things first, while it possibly looked interesting to the editors, I found it disjointing how the book was a little bit book, then a little bit comic then a little bit book again.

Creative? yes, Functional? No. I'd stick the whole editorial "book" as a second chapter or as an Appendix. They're interesting on their own, but not when I'm in the middle of a quick moving comic. Besides which, the "book" part went over the same events in the comic.

Also, I had to kick myself when I found that 20 pages into the comic, the comic finishes. Oh man, I needed at least 60 pages to get some satisfaction...what are you going to do, the dude came home.

Lastly, some of his "facts" weren't facts, or I'm an idiot reading all the wrong sources. I dont think Ted does it on purpose, but he does state stuff that I haven't found true....ie. "French reporter gang raped by the Taliban"

All in all, I enjoyed it, definatly worth the time he put into it.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Original and critical or just ranting and political?, Sep 1 2003
This review is from: To Afghanistan and Back (Hardcover)
I'm going to have to go with the second choice, really. Though it is impressive that Rall actually went to Afghanistan, the book makes it quite clear that he had already made up his mind before going over there, and he only writes about what he sees that confirms his own views, drawing illogical conclusions from sporadic facts.
If you are looking for left-wing, critical literature, there is a lot better stuff to find. If you are looking for humor, there is likewise better things out there, and the same goes if you are looking for a travel account.
Possibly this book could interest you if you are looking for an extremely biased rant against the current administration's policies, lacking for self-criticism. Although, if you want that, why not just buy something by Michael Moore?
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5.0 out of 5 stars a must-read, April 18 2003
By 
This review is from: To Afghanistan and Back (Hardcover)
In little more than a hundred pages, Rall dissects and analyzes the recent war on terrorism in Afghanistan and shows why it may never be won. Eye-opening, frightening, and dispiriting. I do have some minor quibbles with it, though-- there is some repetition between the graphic novel and the written portion, and his characterization of the Afghanis themselves is sometomes contradictory. Still, this is essential reading. I've always hated the phrase, "If you read only one book this year, make it this one," but in this case, it holds true.
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