This novel is a powerful story set against the backdrop of tumultuous events in Afghanistan, from the fall of the monarchy through the Soviet invasion and the rise of the Taliban regime. It follows the life of a wealthy boy and his best friend, a servant's son, their shared love for kite flying, and a terrible incident that tears their lives apart. The narrative explores themes of guilt, betrayal and redemption as the protagonist, now an adult living in America, is called back to his war-torn homeland to right the wrongs of his past.

This novel explores the lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, who are brought together by war and fate. Mariam, an illegitimate child, suffers from the stigma surrounding her birth and the abuse she faces from her bitter mother. When she is married off to Rasheed, her life becomes a nightmare. Later, she becomes a co-wife to Laila, a beautiful and educated girl who also ends up as Rasheed's wife due to a series of tragic events. Despite their initial rivalry, the two women form a bond and become sources of support for each other in the face of their husband's brutalities and the war-torn world of Kabul.

"Desertion" is a novel that intertwines two love stories set in East Africa, spanning the mid-20th century. The narrative begins with the taboo romance between a British colonial official and a local woman in the 1890s, a relationship that is abruptly severed, leaving a legacy of silence and pain. The story then shifts to the 1950s, where the impact of the earlier affair resonates through the lives of new characters, revealing the complexities of love, race, and betrayal against the backdrop of a society in the throes of political and social upheaval. The novel explores themes of cultural collision, the enduring consequences of personal choices, and the intricate tapestry of human connections that shape individual destinies and collective histories.