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BOOK REVIEW
by Melrose Sanchez
Jerry Beisler’s
The Bandit of Kabul
The Bandit of Kabul
M
aking its mark in the world of readers is, The Bandit of Kabul. egates. We meet Kachook, a big dog and follow along as the trav-
Writer, Jerry Beisler brings his readers a time travel vehicle char- eling team mount horses, meet dubious warlords and follow the
acterized by a clear concise writ- Ganja trail to Amsterdam.
ing style with the brevity of a poet The most unique feature of
and a matter-of-fact presentation the book is the mastery of Beisler
devoid of opinion, adjectives, and to recreate the feeling and men-
fluff. tality of a generation of Ameri-
“Rebecca and I were forced can and European youths as they
off the train when it was comman- explore the values, traditions and
deered by soldiers for the war ef- ethics of foreign lands. The es-
fort at Allahabad,” is an example sence of the time is captured as
of the understated writing which restless youths search for a new
gives the reader the opportunity awareness and a way to open
to leap from creature comforts to minds and hearts to a reality that
the simple, yet complex environ- moves beyond the traditions and
ments of sultry heat, jammed social mores of their World War
streets, over crowded trains, and II parental culture.
split-second decision making. This adventure captures a
Anyone old enough to time that applauded the willing-
have experienced the youth cul- ness to go beyond the college
ture of the early 1970s will imme- classroom, and travel books. Our
diately relate to the taste and tone protagonists live more by “the seat
of the time captured within the of their pants” as war, and meet-
sentences and paragraphs of The ing with new and old friends,
Bandit of Kabul. The prose takes change and create the pair’s travel
the reader on a trek from India plans.
to Amsterdam. We meet Jerry The Bandit of Kabul, is epi-
and his lover/travel companion, sode two of the series, As the Prayer
Rebecca, as they experience and Wheel Turns, however, the two
manipulate through the villages books stand independently.
and teaming cities of India to the Beisler is also the author of three
Middle East in a time when the books of poetry, international po-
cultural differences were more litical commentary, travel articles,
like a Disneyland adventure than historical research papers and re-
the political potholes we think of views.
today. Available at Amazon.com
with
The book is spiced with both new and used copies
photographs of the people and available from $17.25, this is a
places the pair encounter along summer reading must for any pa-
the way and the colorful modes of transportation that seam the tient looking for adventure, a bit of cultural history and down-
adventure with names like Jerry Garcia and United Nation del- right exciting storytelling at its finest.
22 www.gkmagazine.net
by Melrose Sanchez
Jerry Beisler’s
The Bandit of Kabul
The Bandit of Kabul
M
aking its mark in the world of readers is, The Bandit of Kabul. egates. We meet Kachook, a big dog and follow along as the trav-
Writer, Jerry Beisler brings his readers a time travel vehicle char- eling team mount horses, meet dubious warlords and follow the
acterized by a clear concise writ- Ganja trail to Amsterdam.
ing style with the brevity of a poet The most unique feature of
and a matter-of-fact presentation the book is the mastery of Beisler
devoid of opinion, adjectives, and to recreate the feeling and men-
fluff. tality of a generation of Ameri-
“Rebecca and I were forced can and European youths as they
off the train when it was comman- explore the values, traditions and
deered by soldiers for the war ef- ethics of foreign lands. The es-
fort at Allahabad,” is an example sence of the time is captured as
of the understated writing which restless youths search for a new
gives the reader the opportunity awareness and a way to open
to leap from creature comforts to minds and hearts to a reality that
the simple, yet complex environ- moves beyond the traditions and
ments of sultry heat, jammed social mores of their World War
streets, over crowded trains, and II parental culture.
split-second decision making. This adventure captures a
Anyone old enough to time that applauded the willing-
have experienced the youth cul- ness to go beyond the college
ture of the early 1970s will imme- classroom, and travel books. Our
diately relate to the taste and tone protagonists live more by “the seat
of the time captured within the of their pants” as war, and meet-
sentences and paragraphs of The ing with new and old friends,
Bandit of Kabul. The prose takes change and create the pair’s travel
the reader on a trek from India plans.
to Amsterdam. We meet Jerry The Bandit of Kabul, is epi-
and his lover/travel companion, sode two of the series, As the Prayer
Rebecca, as they experience and Wheel Turns, however, the two
manipulate through the villages books stand independently.
and teaming cities of India to the Beisler is also the author of three
Middle East in a time when the books of poetry, international po-
cultural differences were more litical commentary, travel articles,
like a Disneyland adventure than historical research papers and re-
the political potholes we think of views.
today. Available at Amazon.com
with
The book is spiced with both new and used copies
photographs of the people and available from $17.25, this is a
places the pair encounter along summer reading must for any pa-
the way and the colorful modes of transportation that seam the tient looking for adventure, a bit of cultural history and down-
adventure with names like Jerry Garcia and United Nation del- right exciting storytelling at its finest.
22 www.gkmagazine.net
