Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See. In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters. But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great grandmother, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way. Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?
Spot a toy penguin next to a book? It's part of our special Penguin Campaign! These selected books not only offer a great read but also contribute to a noble cause. With each of these books purchased, R5 goes towards sponsoring our feathered friends "Blikkies" and "Bos" at the East London Aquarium. Your choice makes a difference one book, one penguin at a time!
The toy penguin is for illustration purposes only and not for sale.
About ReadMatter
Readmatter Bookshop has proudly served customers on Bobshop since 2008. As a verified seller, we offer a trustworthy shopping experience, maintaining an impeccable 100% positive rating from our buyers. With three strategically located depots across the greater Gauteng area, all orders are promptly dispatched from our Johannesburg North branch. Shop with confidence at Readmatter!
Can't find a book anywhere? We can help
We network with other booksellers to source the books you are looking for. Looking for a specific author or title? Let us know in the comments and we will try find it for you. We have access to over 100 000 books.
Condition & Availability
All our books are secondhand unless stated otherwise. Since we operate a network of physical stores in addition to our online presence, and update our Bobshop inventory only at the close of each business day, there may be occasions where items listed as available online have already been sold in-store. In such instances, we will provide a full refund promptly.
Readmatter is the proud sponsor of Penguins "Blikkies" and "Bos" at the East London Aquarium.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0557/3856/4685/files/DALL_E_2024-05-09_14.56.05_-_Hyper-realistic_image_of_an_African_penguin_in_a_side_profile_holding_a_bag_overflowing_with_books._The_bag_prominently_displays_the_text_readmatter_6fd786fb-6cc1-45c2-a78b-6e1637c66a9e.webp?v=1715769713