Playing for Freedom

The Journey of a Young Afghan Girl

De: Zarifa Adiba, Anne Chaon, Susanna Lea Associates - translator

Narrado por: Zarifa Adiba

A passionate musician growing up in the war-torn streets of Kabul takes her forbidden talents abroad in this triumphant memoir from debut author Zarifa Adiba.

As an Afghan girl, Zarifa Adiba has big, unfathomable dreams. Her family is poor, her country mired in conflict. Walking to school in Kabul, Zarifa has to navigate suicide bombers.

But Zarifa perseveres, nurturing her passion for music despite its “sinful” nature under Taliban law. At sixteen she gains admission to the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, and at eighteen she becomes the lead violist, co-conductor, and spokesperson for Zohra, the first all-female orchestra in the Muslim world.

Despite Zarifa’s accomplishments—which include a stunning performance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland—her future in music demands a reckoning with her life back home. Many of the girls in Zohra are forced to marry, but Zarifa yearns to study, travel, and explore her independence. Her so-called “bad girl” identity puts her at odds with her culture and her family.

Playing for Freedom is the deeply compelling story of a woman who dares to compose a masterpiece even with all odds stacked against her.

©2021, 2024 Éditions Robert Laffont S.A.S (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2024 by Susanna Lea Associates.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Zarifa Adiba's joy and hopefulness shine through her story and in every word she speaks from her memoir. Zarifa has big dreams to play the viola, conduct an orchestra, go to Harvard, meet Michelle Obama. She also faces major obstacles as she grows up in a country that doesn't value girls and opposes any musical expression. Zarifa earns money for her family by teaching English in Kabul. Her English is perfect but with an Afghan accent and a slightly singsong intonation that infuses authenticity and charm. Zarifa navigates complicated family relationships, especially with her mother, that sadden and infuriate her and underlie all her achievements and challenges. Listeners will both root for her and fear for her.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Adiba passionately supports education for all girls…Her unpretentious, earnest style as she recounts her life story with a matter-of-fact tone is as endearing as it is engaging. A must-have for any collection, especially in school and academic libraries. This memoir celebrates the power of one young woman to make a difference by speaking up and daring to be herself.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Adiba writes with feeling and genuine pride in herself and her Afghan cultural heritage, and will touch the heart of anyone spending time in her company.” —Booklist

Great details

Fascinating read.
Written and narrated by Zarifa Adiba about her life in Afghanistan. Zarifa lived in a typical Afghani household, secretly attended the only music school in the country, conducted for the only all-female Orchestra in the country, while working to be the sole provider for her family from early teens.
Fascinating read with so many details about the life of women and girls in Afghanistan amidst wars, Taliban, poverty, Islamic rules, lack of education, complicated relationships after arranged marriages (often within extended families), and very rare opportunities for a better future available to very few who overcome their fears or risk their lives to pursue their dreams.
It was great to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for some, but left me heartbroken for so many that do not get an opportunity to break out of that difficult life. The only minus for me is that Michelle Obama was mentioned too many times and even her book was promoted.

A worthy read

A moving memoir. I loved that the author narrated her own story. I'd recommend this book.

I'm so inspired

Zarifa is my new role model - she has inspired me to pursue my interests, and to encourage others to do the same, for the sake of a brighter future. I hope Michelle Obama has listened to this book, written and read by her biggest fan :)

Wonderful!

This was a great book. I'm reminded why I love memior. Beautifully done and I wish the very best future to Zarifa!