"Lucky the armed half-wits did not look behind the shelves, Sultan thought on his way to detention. The most prohibited books he had stashed away ingeniously. He brought them out only if someone asked specially for them and if he thought he could trust the person who asked," (Books, pg. 10).

"In Afghanistan a woman's longing for love is taboo. It is forbidden by the tribes' notion of honor and by the mullahs. Young people have no right to meet, to love, or to choose. Love has little to do with romance; on the contrary, love can be interpreted as committing a serious crime, punishable by death," (Song, pg. 37).

"He ponders the difference between the two wives. When he is with Sharifa, she looks after everything, remembers appointments, organizes, arranges. Sharifa puts Sultan first, his needs and wants. Sonya does what she is told but never takes the initiative...