Book Opens Door to Celebration of Afghanistan

SCHENECTADY — Hundreds of local residents are reading "The Kite Runner" in advance of a book talk, films, a kite-making workshop and a festival of Afghan culture.

The third annual One County, One Book will center on Khaled Hosseini’s best-selling coming-of-age novel about two boys amid Afghanistan’s political turmoil.

With the participation of the local Afghan community, more than a dozen free programs related to the book will take place in March and April at the Schenectady County Library and other venues.

"A lot of people coming to the library are already talking about the book, there’s a lot of interest from adolescent and teenage boys, and its appeal spans across genders, ages and ethnic groups," said Karen Bradley, who coordinates the library program and brought a contingent of Schenectady’s Afghan community into its planning.

Afifa Yusufi, a volunteer organizer of the cultural festival, said, "We’re excited to be helping to organize the events and hope it helps bring a better understanding to the local community about Afghanistan and Afghan culture."

Yusufi, whose family fled their homeland in 1980 after the Soviet invasion, now works for a U.S. government contractor that sends cultural advisers to Afghanistan. She returned there in 2003 to deliver medicine, food and clothing to remote areas.

"All these years of war pushed Afghanistan backward," she said, "but my parents describe their beautiful country in the good times before war."

The Yusufi family settled in Queens. After her father died, she and her mother moved in 2005 to Schenectady where her brothers lived. One of them, Ahmad, runs a fair housing program and another brother, Quasim, is imam at a mosque. She also has sisters in the area. They are among 3,000 Afghans across the Capital Region, including several hundred in Schenectady.

The Afghans participating in the library program will celebrate a resilient people’s heritage with music, dancing, storytelling and demonstrations and invite local folks to sample their tasty cuisine, such as lamb shish kebabs, bolani (fried dumplings) and muntoo (steamed dumplings with vegetables) topped with yogurt and mint.

Albany photojournalist Connie Frisbee Houde, who will present a slide show that incorporates poetry at the library on April 5, has made three trips to Afghanistan since 2003 with the Noor eye project, which brings optometrists and free glasses to Afghans in remote regions.

The book event also has a community service and outreach component that will involve donations of school supplies, personal hygiene items, clothing and other items to support humanitarian efforts on behalf of an orphanage and health clinic in Afghanistan under the auspices of the Peter M. Goodrich Memorial Foundation in Bennington, Vt., formed by his family after he died in the 9/11 attacks.

Those who wish to make a cash donation can purchase a sheep ($125) or a cow ($600) to donate to poor Afghanistan families.

"Our No. 1 goal is to promote literacy and the joy of reading with these programs, but we also like to offer wider programming about Afghanistan and its culture," Bradley said. Grondahl can be reached at 454-5623 or by e-mail at pgrondahl@timesunion.com.

Book events What: One County, One Book at the Schenectady County Library. When: Events from Saturday to April 19. Where: Main library, 99 Clinton St.; other sites. Info.: 388-4500 and www.scpl.org.

Here are the events for the One County, One Book series marking Schenectady County’s selection of "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. Unless otherwise noted, events are at the Schenectady County Public Library, 99 Clinton St., Schenectady. For information, call 388-4500. Kickoff celebration,Carl B. Taylor Auditorium, Schenectady County Community College, Begley Building, Washington Avenue, Schenectady When: 2 p.m. Saturday. Contact: Karen Bradley, 388-4533Notes: The author of "Kabul in Winter: Life Without Peace in Afghanistan" speaks as part of the kickoff event.

Books Sandwiched In,When: Noon on March 3 Cost: FreeContact: 388-4533Notes: Union College professor Anupama Jain reviews "The Kite Runner."

"Osama"When: Noon on March 5; 7 p.m. on March 6Cost: FreeNotes: (Afghanistan, 2003) Film tells story of a 12-year-old Afghan girl and her mother who lose their jobs when the hospital where they work is closed by the Taliban. To protect her, the mother disguises her daughter as a boy.

"Kabul Transit"When: Noon on March 12; 7 p.m. on March 13Cost: FreeNotes: (Afghanistan/U.S., 2006) The film shuttles through the broken streets of Kabul, listening to conversations, posing questions and probing deeper into the war-torn city.

"Kabul Transit": Discussion with the FilmmakerWhen: 10 a.m. on March 15Cost: FreeNotes: Documentary filmmaker Professor David B. Edwards from Williams College will show and discuss the film.

"The Beauty Academy of Kabul"When: Noon on March 19; 7 p.m. on March 20Cost: FreeNotes: (U.S., 2004) A group of Western hairstylists, including Afghan-American women, armed with blow-driers and designer scissors, open a school to teach eager Afghan women the high art of fixing hair.

"The Kite Runner" book discussionWhen: 2 p.m. on March 24Cost: FreeNotes: Deborah Noyes facilitates the discussion.

"Daughters of Afghanistan"When: Noon on March 26; 7 p.m. on March 27Cost: FreeNotes: Journalist Sally Armstrong follows the lives of five courageous women in Afghanistan from diverse backgrounds.

Film: "The Kite Runner"When: Noon on April 2; 7 p.m. on April 3; 10 a.m. on April 12 Cost: Free Notes: (U.K., 2007) View the Academy Award-nominated film inspired by Khaled Hosseini’s novel.

One Day a Friend — the Next a Brother,Rotterdam Branch, Schenectady County Public Library, 1100 N. Westcott Road, Schenectady When: 11 a.m. on April 5 Cost: Free Notes: Connie Frisbee Houde talks about her experiences as a photojournalist in Afghanistan and with Afghans in America through stories, poetry, music, photographs and more.

"The Kite Runner" book and film reviewWhen: 7 p.m. on April 9 Cost: Free Notes: Facilitated by Casey Seiler, Times Union entertainment editor, and Jack Rightmyer, local author, educator and contributor to The Gazette.

Kite-making workshopWhen: 2:30-3:30 p.m. on April 12Cost: FreeNotes: Presented by the New York Kite Enthusiasts. Art NightWhen: 6-8 p.m. April 18 Cost: Free Notes: As part of Art Night Schenectady, the winning artwork from the kindergarten through grade 12 art contest will be on display. There will be a reception for the winners and their families from 7-7:30 p.m.

Afghan Cultural FestivalWhen: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on April 19Cost: FreeNotes: Demonstrations, storytelling by Story Crafters, music, dancing, food and more.

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