The blind man asks people to hold open the large trash container while he throws in a bag. We rigged it with water so that it would squirt all over them! They weren’t as impressed as we were.
Page Description
‘Qadir’s Last Marbles’ explores the resilience
& hope of an Afghan man rebuilding his life
after escaping the Taliban’s violence
& working with army troops
The incredible story of a young man in Afghanistan and his escape to Europe.
Young Qadir grows up in a small village in Afghanistan with his mother’s tales of dreams and his father’s iron determination.
All he owns are eight marbles.
‘Qadir’s Last Marbles,’ by Qadir Nadery and Leo Bormans, explores the resilience and hope of an Afghan man and his family as they rebuild their lives after escaping the Taliban’s violence and working with army troops.
War is all around them, killing many loved ones. Qadir survives by working for the international troops who come to liberate his country, until he too has to flee from the violence with his wife and children, with the Taliban hot on their heels.
They cross mountains and seas, finally reaching Europe after three months. But the Great Gatekeeper refuses to let them in. One by one, Qadir loses the jingling marbles of his life. And yet there is hope.
“The true story of a father on the run” is a non-fiction book by Qadir Nadery and Leo Bormans, originally written in Dutch under the title “De knikkers van Qadir.” The book tells the story of Qadir, an Afghan man who fled his country with his family in search of a better life in Europe. The following are some of the key points from the book:
Qadir’s Childhood: The book begins by sharing Qadir’s childhood memories of growing up in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Qadir’s father was killed during the war, and his family struggled to make ends meet.
Fleeing Afghanistan: In the late 1990s, Qadir and his family were forced to flee Afghanistan due to the Taliban’s rise to power. They embarked on a perilous journey, traveling through Iran, Turkey, and Greece before eventually arriving in Belgium.
Life in Belgium: Once in Belgium, Qadir and his family faced many challenges, including discrimination, poverty, and social isolation. Despite these obstacles, Qadir was determined to make a better life for his family.
The Marbles: Throughout the book, the authors use the metaphor of Qadir’s beloved marbles to symbolize the things that are most important to him: his family, his culture, and his identity. The marbles become a central theme of the book as Qadir struggles to hold onto them while navigating the challenges of life in a new country.
Father on the Run: The subtitle of the book refers to Qadir’s status as a “father on the run.” Qadir’s asylum application was rejected, and he was forced to go into hiding to avoid deportation. The book explores the emotional toll that this took on Qadir and his family, as well as the legal and political issues surrounding asylum and immigration in Europe.
Overall, “De knikkers van Qadir” is a powerful and poignant story of one man’s struggle to build a new life while holding onto the things that matter most to him.
1 A story of hope: a father on the run with 8 marbles
The text on the book’s back cover
English
Dutch
English
Qadir’s marbles
Qadir Nadery
Leo Bormans
The true story of a father on the run
‘A heartbreaking account, evocatively and grippingly described. A necessary book for anyone who has no idea what it means to be a refugee.’
– Stefan Hertmans
I know these kinds of books and stories well, but this fabulous book stands head and shoulders above them because it transcends anecdote and becomes literature. This story needs to be heard and read by everyone!’
– Wim Opbrouck
‘This book is an act of meaning.’
– Kader Abolah
Young Qadir grows up in a small village in Afghanistan with his mother’s dreams and the willpower of a father who won’t budge. His only possession: eight marbles. Everything breathes war. Everywhere, precious people are dying. Qadir sustains himself by working for the international troops coming to liberate his country. Until, pursued by the Taliban, he too has to flee the violence with his wife and children. Over the mountains and across the sea. After three months, they end up in Europe. But the Grand Porter won’t let them in. Piece by piece, Qadir loses the ringing marbles of his life. And yet there is hope.
Leo Bormans is a researcher, journalist and author of books such as ‘The World ‘Book of Happiness and ‘The World ‘Book of Hope’. When a refugee camp comes to his village, he happens to meet QADIR NADERY who is fleeing the war in Afghanistan. Thus is born a special friendship and eventually this book that ‘cried out to be written’. Together they wrote this story for a year.
ISBN: 9789401469661
Dutch
De knikkers van Qadir
Qadir Nadery
Leo Bormans
Het waargebeurde verhaal van een vader op de vlucht
‘Een hartverscheurende relaas, beeldend en pakkend beschreven. Een noodzakelijk boek voor iedereen die geen idee heeft wat het betekent vluchteling te moeten zijn.’
– Stefan Hertmans
Ik ken dit soort boeken en verhalen goed, maar dit fabuleuze boek steekt er met kop en schouders bovenuit, omdat het de anekdote overstijgt en literatuur wordt. Dit verhaal moet gehoord worden en door iedereen gelezen!’
– Wim Opbrouck
‘Dit boek is een daad van betekenis.’
– Kader Abolah
De jonge Qadir groeit in een klein dorp in Afghanistan met de droomverhalen van zijn moeder en de wilskracht van een vader die van geen wijken wil weten. Zijn enige bezit: acht knikkers. Alles ademt oorlog. Overal sterven dierbare mensen. Qadir houdt zich overeind door te werken voor de internationale troepen die zijn land komen bevrijden. Tot ook hij, achtervolgd door de taliban, met vrouw en kinderen moet vluchten voor het geweld. Over de bergen en over de zee. Na drie maanden belanden ze in Europa. Maar de Grote Portier laat hen niet binnen. Stuk voor stuk verliest Qadir de rinkelende knikkers van zijn leven. En toch is er hoop.
Leo Bormans is onderzoeker, journalist en schrijver van boeken als ‘The World ‘Book of Happiness en ‘The World ‘Book of Hope’. Als er in zijn dorp een vluchtelingenkamp komt, onmoet hij toevallig QADIR NADERY die op de vlucht is voor de oorlog in Afghanistan. Zo ontstaat een bijzondere vriendschap en uiteindelijk ook dit boek dat ‘schreeuwde om geschreven te worden’. Samen schreven ze een jaar lang aan dit verhaal.
ISBN 9789401469661
2 Garbage Juice Sprayed on People Prank
26 mrt. 2013
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