Welcome to Litsy!

#Pakistan through the eyes of Kim Barker was the epitome of the wild Wild West in 2008/2009. A place full of absurdities and unseen dangers. Like her experiences in Afghanistan, Kim often found herself in both ridiculous and reckless situations. I thought this book was a little on the lite side but still compelling and entertaining. Happy I picked this up for #FoodAndLit @Texreader @Butterfinger Audio was great 😊 #OverDrive

Just finished the first half of “this is too crazy, it has to be true” memoir, of Kim Barker‘s time spent in Afghanistan as a field reporter in the years following Bush‘s war on the Taliban. It‘s more my crazy expat life than an in-depth investigative journal, but I‘m enjoying it. “The Taliban was basically a flexible cast of characters who were replaced with a new flexible cast of characters daily.” Up next, Part 2: #Pakistan #FoodAndLit

Bailed on my previous #Pakistan #FoodAndLit book and trying this one instead. The motion picture Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is based off of this memoir & So far it‘s holding my attention. Kim Barker, a war correspondent finds herself ensconced in the middle of a major war story with little job experience and even less knowledge of the Taliban. This is also my #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

I‘ve read a few war corespondent books now, and this was the most unique...not only does she cover the war zones of Afghanistan & Pakistan, but she also writes about the absurdities of the Americans working there & the missteps many made in dealing with these countries. From bombings to toga parties, the Taliban to karaoke in brothels, having colleagues kidnapped to being hit on by local leaders, this book is so honest you wish it was fiction.⤵️

I‘ve read a few books by war corespondents in the last few years, but I‘m finding myself smiling at this one in very odd places.

😂 sorry, this made me laugh! The toughest guys, who we‘ve in many cases treated horribly...and their English curses make me laugh.

Totally the same! 😂

I‘m sure her fellow Montanans would feel much better knowing that.

The original title of this book (before the movie) was The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan and I can see why as we sent a bunch of people who knew almost nothing about the region and it‘s history to cover our new wars.

After watching the movie I really wanted to read this book, even though I read quite a lot of bad reviews. Now that I'm finished with Barkers book I can say: I agree to disagree.

I learned so much about Afghanistan and Pakistan through that book, that I now have a clearer picture of those countries and what's going on there. I enjoyed how Barker wrote about the people she meets.

Yay we received our #ReadtheMovies matches!! I realized my info isn't particularly helpful, esp bc I couldn't provide a pic of my movies bc they're all in books! (And I have kind of a lot...). So, here're are some that id like! But in general, if it not in my goodreads read/to-read-owned lists, then it's fair game! ☺️☺️ 📚🎥

And...just as I was supposed to see the doctor, she got called into delivery. So now I see if I can wait as long as she is gone - to think I rushed to get here on time!

Time to finally start this one.

Read & finished this one for #litsypartyofone

Now I need to see the movie.

A #booknbath tonight! 🛀📚🛀📚🛀📚
#Lush #BathBomb

#bookmail came today and yesterday! I think I'm most excited for Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. I loved the movie. 📬📚📬📚📬😍😍😍

I am incapable of leaving a bookstore empty handed. #sorrynotsorry

???/5. I struggled to get through parts of this mostly because of my general lack of knowledge about the events in Pakistan (or as Barker calls it "Whak-istan" which seemed fitting) and Afghanistan that she covers. That said, this book was a good lesson in what foreign journalists go through when covering war zones and Barker writes with wit and humour despite the terrifying nature of her work.

A fascinating read about the war and the interconnection between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and how and where the West gets it wrong. Barker's training as journalist shows in the clear fact based account of her time but I didn't feel her emotional connection to Afghanistan. Her world was her job, and the network of expats. She says that foreigners could live in Kabul with minimal contact with Afghans, and that's clearly true. Worth the read.

The author was on the ground for some unbelievable events...

#nonfiction

Mini book haul.

I was not a fan, although this is not a genre I usually prefer. This book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't terribly interesting either. It was less a cool war story and more of a political backstory for Pakistan and Afghanistan from 2001-2009 with a couple (2-3) dark chuckles and deep insights. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

Can you guess what I'm doing tonight 🤓📖❤️

This seems so oddly familiar to our current social media that it gave me a chill when reading it.

Taliban Shuffle.. I highly recommend this book. Barker is well-spoken and pithy, the book is entertaining and informative. I'm enjoying Barker's writing style and storytelling ability as well as learning more about Afghanistan.

I would actually prefer a button between so so and pick. I liked it but didn't love it. It was a good book, well written but I think the hype and the movie hype killed it for me. There were some parts I chuckled but didn't find it hilarious really. Still recommend to anyone interested in nonfiction

I finished this a couple months ago--read it to fulfill my yearly minimum commitment to read one non-fiction book a year. Barker is funny and smart. Reading her memoir was an entertaining reminder that even the most coveted jobs aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Lunchtime reading on a gorgeous day. About halfway through this memoir and waiting for it to pick up a bit...

Really interesting. I know Tina Fey screwed the casting in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, but this definitely was a good source for a movie.

Giving this a try. #nonfictionbinge