In October 2008, Mellissa Fung, a reporter for CBC’s The National, was leaving a refugee camp outside of Kabul when she was kidnapped by armed men. She was forced to hike for several hours through the mountains until they reached a village; there, the kidnappers pushed her towards a hole in the ground. “No,” she said. “I am not going down there.”

For more than a month, Fung lived in that hole, which was barely tall enough to stand up in, nursing her injuries, praying and writing in a notebook. Under an Afghan Sky is the gripping tale of Fung’s days in captivity, surviving on cookies and juice, from the “grab” to her eventual release.

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Product details

Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers; 1st edition (May 3 2011)
Language : English
Hardcover : 368 pages
ISBN-10 : 1554686806
ISBN-13 : 978-1554686803
Item Weight : 463 g
Dimensions : 14.3 x 2.54 x 22.23 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #634,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6,106 in Canadian Literature (Books)
- #11,208 in Women's Biographies (Books)
- #25,047 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
25 ratings

Product description

Review

“[A] richly detailed chronicle of [Fung’s] ordeal.” (The Globe and Mail)

“Engrossing.” (Winnipeg Free Press)

“Fung invites us into her worst nightmare, providing honest reflections on her own strengths and limitations.” (Quill & Quire)

“A breathtaking and deeply personal memoir of her capture and confinement, and her release a gruelling 28 days later. The book is testament to Fung’s passion for storytelling and her enduring spirit.” (Trek Magazine)

“This is an important book that can lead the reader to a better understanding of a very complicated country.” (Marina Nemat, author of Prisoner of Tehran)

“Mellissa Fung’s vivid portrait of the soul of a journalist even in the most terrifying of circumstances is a recognition of the never yielding human spirit. When we follow our calling it can save our lives. Her experience is an example of this.” (Sandra Oh, co-star of Grey’s Anatomy)

“This breath-taking, deeply moving memoir of the nightmare of being taken hostage is immensely readable and compelling. The enormity of the experience is matched by the brilliance of the writing. This is a must-read for anyone interested in what’s happening in Afghanistan today.” (Adrienne Clarkson)

“I came away feeling that anybody else but Mellissa would probably have perished and that she survived because of the strength of her character, which certainly surprised some of her kidnappers. I was totally captivated.” (Linden MacIntyre, author of the Giller Prize-winning The Bishop’s Man)

“Vivid in its detail, dramatic in its conversation, Under an Afghan Sky is riveting journalism, and guess what? There’s even an endearing love story that runs throughout the book.” (Peter Mansbridge)

About the Author

MELLISSA FUNG has been a reporter for CBC Television since 2003. As a national correspondent, she has covered numerous topics on both Canadian and world affairs, including the Robert Pickton trial and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She was sent on assignment to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008 and was abducted during her second tour. Fung divides her time between Toronto and Washington, D.C.

Customer reviews

5 star		69%
4 star		12%
3 star		3%
2 star		8%
1 star		7%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from Canada

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Corry

Couldn't keep me interested

Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2016

Verified Purchase

I ordered this book thinking it would be a fascinating story of one woman's struggles and survival. I got 2 chapters in, and was so bored I set it aside and haven't picked it up again. It has been about 2 or more years since I started it. I am sure the story is interesting, but the writing just lacked that 'something' to keep me interested. I probably wont bother finishing it.

Helpful

Raggiana

A truly remarkable and gutsy woman

Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2011

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This book describes how Ms Fung was kidnapped and subsequently released by a bunch of hudlums in Afghanistan. It is an absolutely gripping story. Reading it I felt I was right in the hole with Ms Fung reliving her ordeal. At times I felt the pain and anguish that she must have experienced and was moved to tears for her. The way her ordeal ended was totally unexpected and amazing. I wish she had elaborated on that a little more. I just could not put the book down. Phenomenal. I strongly recommend it - a must read.

Helpful

Jeff

Excellent

Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2014

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Really enjoyed reading this book. I read this book in a couple of days. I highly recommend this book. This book should be mandatory reading, in every high school in Canada.

Helpful

Harley

Under An Afghan Sky : A Memoir of Captivity

Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2011

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An outstandingly written book. A serious look at at Afghanistan from a different perspective. An utter frightening experiencefor Ms. Fung. A must read.

Helpful

Armand Lara

A Brave Lady

Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2014

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Based on my professional experience, Melissa's account of her ordeal accurately represents what so many other kidnap victims have endured during their captivity. I salute her for her bravery.

Helpful

Duncan Sillars

Well Written

Reviewed in Canada on January 15, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book told without over dramatization how this young woman survived a terrible ordeal in conditions that would have created hysteria in most people. Even when undergoing this awful situation she tries to reach out and understand her captors. Very well written .

Helpful

daisymae

Excellent book. Brave and courageous woman reporter

Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2014

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Excellent book. Brave and courageous woman reporter.

Helpful

Franley

Awe-struck

Reviewed in Canada on October 9, 2014

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Such bravery! Written with such humanity and grace.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Ameena A.

Yawner...

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2015

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I am an avid reader of biographies and this has got to be THE most repetitive, boring biographical account that I've ever read. Much of the dialogue revolves around her being offered cookies and juice, reminiscing about her past, chain-smoking,and having stilted conversations with whichever of her captors was assigned to her. (You eat. You want cookie? Me go Kabul?) She describes the same actions day after day and has the same conversations. Her boring time in the hole ultimately becomes OUR boring time reading about it. Actually, I'm surprised her captors were as patient with her as they were what with her badgering them with the same questions over and over again and her constant begging. An entire chapter could be removed without the reader having missed a thing.

Usually I read a book in a couple days. It took me 3 weeks to finish this one :-( Clearly, this was a difficult experience (her capture, not my reading of it)...but not all difficult experiences warrant a book.

One person found this helpful

Deborah McDonagh

An extraordinary account of what it’s really like to be kidnapped by terrorists!

Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

An incredible, compelling true story of immense bravery, courage and sass! Melissa Fung is an incredible inspiration and compelling storyteller.

C. Shain

A great story.

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2015

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A great story...so sad to realize what cruelty man is willing to inflict on others. Fung is lucky she survived and lived to tell her story.

Roisin

Riveting writing

Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

A magnificent story of faith, courage, and the will to live. Mellissa is a great author who recounts her 28 day ordeal from beginning to end. Could not put her book down! Thank you, Melissa.

Marion Machan

under an Afghan Sky

Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

I found this book very interesting, as my son spent a tour of six months in Afghanistan. The conditions are very bad, so the many things Mellissa had to endure made it easier for me to picture. This is a book for anyone to read that likes true life stories

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