MY FORBIDDEN FACE: Growing Up Under the Taliban—A Young Woman's Story

On September 26, 1996, a 16-year-old Afghan girl and her family awaken to find the white flag of the Taliban flying over their mosque. Latifa is frightened: she loves movies, music, games and especially school; she has just taken her exams to study journalism at a university. But for the next four years she is imprisoned in her home. Even when covered head to toe in the mandatory burqa, she is not permitted to leave the house without a male companion. Americans have read much about the Taliban in recent months, but Latifa's story poignantly details the day-to-day, moment-to-moment repression and violence against women. It also reveals the women's courage: Latifa's mother provides medical services forbidden to women, and Latifa herself establishes an underground school for neighborhood children. Brychta reads well, in a slight accent, and her expressive voice contributes to a convincing portrait of a young woman going through cycles of fear, frustration, depression, anger, rebellion and, finally, expatriation. Her breathy delivery becomes a bit intrusive after a while, but it is appropriate to the utter disbelief each family member expresses in response to the Taliban's daily escalation of misery and repression. Simultaneous release with the Talk Miramax hardcover (Forecasts, Mar. 11). (Apr.)