Winter in Kandahar

Rating:
Summary: A TALE OF TWO READERS.- 4.5 stars
Review: My husband and I both read Winter and Kandahar and both of us thought it was a super novel. We each, however, had a little different take on it. My husband loves battle and intrigue and spy and so he was totally engrossed from the very beginning and was hooked until the very last page. I enjoyed the beginning too, but really got hooked when the Tajiks were stranded in the Pakistani hospital and Fatima the Iranian nurse entered the story. From there I couldn't put it down and finished the remaining 2/3 in two days.

I agree with the previous reviewer about this book having a message about what's going on in the world today and about what happens to people suddenly engulfed in world events. Neither my husband or I agree that the plot was predictable. There were many twists and turns and both of us were completely surprised by the ending. We also thought character development was a really strong aspect of Wilson's novel. My husband rates the novel five stars and I rate it 4 stars. Overall it is a great first novel and we're both looking forward to the next - the book's web site says is due in Fall, 2004. Eileen Rymer

Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully entertaining story of love, betrayal and war!
Review: My son is a sergeant in the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq. I sent him Winter in Kandahar and he already finished it (the troops have a lot of free time when their not on raids searching for insurgents). He absolutely loved this novel and has passed it around to the men stationed with him. I found the plot to be one of the greatest strengths of Winter in Kandahar. I was completely surprised by the ending- expecting the story to go a different direction. But I found the finale to be emotionally powerful and satisfying. Character development is another strength of this book. Ahmed Jan was my favorite, but I also loved Fatima and Shakiba. Don't let one reviewers opinion put you off from a great read. I bet you'll have a different opinion. One reviewer noted that Wilson's book was a gift to readers who wanted to know more about the events that are shaping our time. I certainly agree with this viewpoint.

Rating:
Summary: A great novel that intefered with my holiday plans!
Review: Near the end of 2003, my wife & I became patients of the author, at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Wilson had mentioned that he was the author of this book. I journeyed from Youngstown,OH. to a suburb of Cleveland for his book signing. While there, I purchased the book & planned to read it while visiting in Texas, with our family. Before purchasing the book, I read reviews, which I thought were exaggerations. Now, having read the book,I can say that I blame Dr.Wilson for keeping me from spending all my time with my family. Unfortunately, I could not put this book down.I have never read a book that, from the 1st sentence of page 1 to the last sentence of page 457, was constantly thrilling & riviting. Thanks, Dr. Wilson !! I have purchased this book for others, & I am now looking forward to reading " Ascent from Darkness ".Charles N. Schwartz ( E-mail: [e-mail] )

Rating:
Summary: Finalist Benjamin Franklin Award 2004 Best New Voice Fiction
Review: PMA just announced the finalists for this years Benjamin Franklin Awards in literature and Wilson received the Best New Voice in Fiction accolade for Winter in Kandahar and I absolutely agree with the judges choice.

This book is a first class action adventure-thriller that tells the story of a young Northern Alliance fighter Ahmed Jan, CIA operative Stone Waverly, and a host of other facinating characters, including several strong women. Fatima was my personal favorite. The story kept me rivited for days as it swept across the world from Kabul to Rawalpindi to Amsterdam to Venice to Seattle to Vancouver to Karachi and back to Kandahar. It's an epic story that taught as much as it entertained. Both of my sisters loved it too.

My compliments to Wilson and I hope for a followup novel soon.

Trevor Waters

Rating:
Summary: A gem!
Review: Rarely have I ever read a novel as captivating at Winter in Kandahar. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. I was amazed at the author's creation of such a powerful moral story that captures the essence of our time, interwoven with an engrossing love story. It kept me up late nights for a week. Bravo!

Rating:
Summary: From a fellow ophthalmologist
Review: This book is exceedingly well written and hard to put down. The author has skillfully interwoven a number of fascinating story lines, and wrapped things up with a superb ending that gives us all hope for a better world!

Rating:
Summary: Winter In Kandahar
Review: This book says something. The only problem is that it starts slow and becomes very predictable. I wish that the author would of spent alittle more time telling the stories of the people and less time making this a stealing of the vile book!

Rating:
Summary: Winter in Kandahar will be remembered for a long, long time!
Review: This is a review submitted by Edward Altmann, R.A., a construction contractor for the U.S. military who has worked extensively in Afghanistan the past two years. Ed asked me to submit this to Amazon for him.

"Wilson's novel is an exciting, action packed mystery/adventure tale set in some of the most fascinating places in the world, ranging from Venice to Amsterdam, Seattle and Vancouver. It is, however, for its central locale, Afghanistan, that this work will be remembered for a long, long time.

The plot involves bio-terrorism, the CIA, and the ongoing war. You feel as if you are reading current headlines with Taliban, al-Qaida, Mujaheddin, and other organizations racing through the pages in the non-stop action as the search for the ultimate weapon reaches across the world.

The author weaves three love stories into his exciting plot. He even makes us believe (successfully) that an isolated cave, sealed and hidden in some of the most forlorn mountains of our planet can be a tremendously romantic hide-away for a pair of star-crossed lover.

His descriptions of places are exciting and factually right on the mark. He takes us into these exotic worlds and we can almost taste the bread and the lamb stew; see the unusually decorated windows in Amsterdam; and sail the waters of Puget Sound.

But it is his detailing of the characters, primary and secondary, that leaves an indelible mark on the page turning reader. He describes the motivations, the ancient histories still influencing these people as they love and kill across the pages. This is truly a window into a world that is almost every day in the newspaper headlines, as even in Iraq, some of these influences are still extremely powerful.

On a personal note, when I left Afghanistan earlier this year, I carried a lot of baggage of conflicting, sometimes horrible, images back with me. Images of a fifteen year old boy struggling to walk on his hands down a crowded street as both his legs were amputated; of smiling little girls begging for their parents; of soldiers inviting me to play soccer and laughing with me; of people who had nothing and yet were generous; of a little girl who, with tears in her eyes answered my question about her parent's fate under the unbelievably cruel Taliban. Dr Wilson's book places a perspective on these and other memories burned into me and for this I am grateful for his work. He takes us behind the headlines and into the minds of the people, whether they are Tajiks, Pashtuns, Pakistanis, or CIA. You will long remember and use this novel as a reference as our violent century unfolds around us.

And, without giving away the ending, he performs an incredible sleight of hand at the end."

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: This is a very special novel! You must read it!

Rating:
Summary: An excellent thriller!
Review: This is an excellent thriller that centers on bio-engineered germ warfare directed toward a specific major population group within Afghanistan and Pakistan. Written by a medical doctor, the scientific aspects of gene manipulation are both understandable and believable. We are shown the centuries-old conflicts and grudges between different tribes in the region and why lasting peace is so unlikely to happen. The roles of the CIA and US special operations in the area and throughout the world and the lifestyles required of their families allows the reader insight into this covert world. The book's surprise ending is both entertaining and poignant. We rated this book a high four hearts. Bob Spear,
Publisher and Chief Reviewer, Heartland Reviews, Co-Owner, The Book Barn