Please use this space to discuss The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet. Feel free to use spoilers here!
You beat me to it @kim.kovacs I was just about to set this up. Thanks!
Since I listened I thought I’d drop this short character list:
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Hazrat: A dedicated, grey-bearded housekeeper who trained at the hotel in the 1970s and maintained its standards through various regimes.
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Abida: A poor widow who began working as a cook in 2002, becoming the first female chef in the hotel’s kitchen after the Taliban fell.
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Qudus: A waiter who started in 1969 and continued working for decades.
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Sadeq: A young front office manager with a “megawatt smile”.
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Malalai: A poised young waiter known for her sunshine-yellow headscarf. First female waiter.
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Amanullah: Started as a room service cashier during the Soviet pullout (1989) and later became the chief engineer.
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Jamshid: A teenage bellhop working in 1991 during the Taliban takeover.
Thanks, @kim.kovacs! This is a great place to have a conversation.
Great list, @Anne_Glasgow! I will definitely finish the book tomorrow AM. My head should be clear of most of the jet lag by then allowing for some coherent thoughts. In the meantime I thought you might be interested in this summary and discussion guide posted on the Women’s Prize website.
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Here are some really general, random thoughts:
I laughed aloud when the staff knew what was implied when the tools appeared at the front desk—time to change portraits.
I feared for the staff when the terrorists struck the hotel. They were so creative at finding hiding places.
I was pulling so hard for Abida and I loved that she was leading the way for women cooks. I guess all forward progress has been lost with the Taliban back in charge.
I found it a little strange when Lyse Doucet referred to herself in the third person. I know a lot of people think the author should not put themselves in the story but it was really awkward, especially on the audio she read, to hear her referring to herself.
I loved the new generation characters: Sadeq and Malalai were able to come in and institute new ideas.
The Finest Hotel in Kabul will undoubtedly be among my favorites for the year. I love books that teach me new things, make me think, and lead me down research rabbit holes looking to learn more. This book definitely qualified.
Not only was the Inter-Continental and its staff a microcosm reflecting the changes, the highs and lows, of the people of Kabul but the hotel also played a role in Afghanistan’s history and key turning points in regards to the people it hosted, the meetings and conferences that were held there, the groups (including journalists and International Security Assistance Force) that were based there. As such, the Inter-Con was the perfect vehicle for this book to explain what unfolded in Afghanistan from the 1970s to the resurgence of the Taliban and at the same time, humanize the history.
The Afghani staff, their pride in their jobs and dedication to the hotel, touched my heart. Their hardships and sacrifices, both daily and imposed by war, served as a reminder of just how lucky we have it in the First World countries. And, it is embarrassing how many of the latter take that for granted to the point of feeling entitled.
The ability of the staff to function and survive in the face of extreme adversity, including the very real risk to their own lives, and even maintain a glimmer of hope was beyond remarkable. For me, Amanullah was the embodiment of this adaptability and hope as he took on different roles within the hotel and attempted to engineer solutions to problems with inadequate resources, eventually going on to yet, a teaching role outside the hotel.
More to come…
I, too, loved seeing the new generation, full of new ideas and dreams, join the hotel. It saddens me to think of how this generation in Afghanistan, particularly the women, have likely been hindered in achieving their fullest potential under the return of the Taliban.
And, yes, it was definitely strange how the author spoke in the third person about herself. I can’t really explain it but there was something about the level of detail she employed in these sections which was awkward.
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The staff seemed so incredibly loyal to the hotel. You mentioned Amanullah and he is a perfect example. Putting in extra effort, always trying to make things better. I guess for me this begs the question of how much was that the people, or even the hotel vs the fact that they had some of the best jobs available and while probably proud of that accomplishment they simply didn’t want to lose them? (Sorry, very convoluted question. Just free flow thoughts here.)
I wanted to cheer when I learned Amanullah was following his dream to become a professor!
Here’s a google update on the hotel:
Yes, the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel is currently under the control of the Taliban
. Since taking over on August 15, 2021, the Taliban have managed the historic hotel, employing their own personnel while continuing to operate it for lodging and events.
Key Details Regarding Control:
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Management: The Taliban directly manage the hotel operations, with Taliban fighters reported to be securing and running the property.
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Operational Status: The hotel operates under the Taliban’s authority, often featuring armed security personnel, such as those with M4 rifles and Glock pistols.
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Security & Safety: Following the Taliban takeover, the facility has experienced low occupancy, with reports noting only partial lighting to manage energy use.
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Brand Status: While it uses the name “Intercontinental,” it is not affiliated with the international IHG chain.
Absolutely agree. It makes me want a part 2 to get some follow up on the people and even the building. If the Taliban is occupying what has it become?
Here’s a question, if you know: was it Abida’s family that we learned were at Abbey Gate at the end? I somehow lost something while listening and was too lazy to try to go back and recover the details. If so, how incredibly happy/sad is that moment? She stays behind while sending her family on to better things. And what has happened to her family members now? If they came to the states it is likely they have been scooped up by immigration.
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From what I can glean from the epilogue Abida’s family remained in Afghanistan. She did lose both a son and a daughter to illnesses after 2021.
I did wonder if Sadeq’s family, now all in the US, got deported.
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RE: Loyalty vs Having Employment
My guess is that it was a little of both. I lean into loyalty because many times the staff wasn’t being paid. Also, there were many references to the Inter-Con being more than a hotel to them, especially the long-timers.
Thanks for the clarification. Distractions sometimes take priority on my walks.
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This makes perfect sense. I am reminded of the pay detail now that you mention it.
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The views of the people working in the “five star” Inter-Continental hotel and shared in this book were more than likely the perspective of a more progressive Afghani given their willingness to adapt Western dress, work alongside opposite the sex, and cater to lavish preferences. On the other hand, I can barely surmise the Talibs’ perception of the Inter-Con and what it represented based on the limited references in the book and even then my perceptions are colored by a Western lens.
Furthermore, I can’t help but wonder how the young Talib, the sharpshooter assassin, faired in his new management role as he interacted with visitors, many like those he had been groomed to kill in his previous role. And just what form does the current Taliban vision take as they attempt to translate their Afghanistan into “a proper international hotel”?
“Everything has changed, nothing has changed.”
How this comment from the book resonates. I couldn’t help but draw parallels to what happened in Afghanistan, particularly during the Russian and US years, to what is currently going on in Iran where a handful of men, some representing foreign governments, and their decisions wreak havoc on a country without regard to the common person who just wants a chance to live peacefully. These men sit in their locations untouched by the daily carnage and destruction thrust upon the local citizens to whom the war isn’t a game of power.
Ooh, great thoughts/questions @Gabi_J. In addition to a different perspective I am thinking the talib manager probably had to contend with an almost complete staff turnover. So, little familiarity with the job, scant business acumen, and staff being newly hired. Did you notice the google info said the occupancy numbers are quite low. I wonder how long the regime will be willing to support this endeavor? It’s been 5 years roughly and they have to be pumping money into the hotel to keep the doors open even if the lights aren’t always on.
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So sad and so true. It is often the common people who bear the brunt. This is also true of Russia’s war in Ukraine—the Russian people are surely paying the price.
So, I got curious and went out to look at hotel pictures. I can tell it was definitely once a luxury stay. Reviews from 2025 say security is high, the food is ok, the service is very responsive, but the rooms are dated. There are no reviews posted for 2026. I also tried to book a room to see what the prices are like but there is no online booking available.
Additional research indicates room rate of around $100.
Interesting current hotel info. Wonder if payment for hotel stay is still in cash only.
The Inter-Con probably still has strategic importance from a location perspective but agree - how much longer it will be maintained? Think of all the money to date that has been poured into that hotel since 1969, especially during the war and Taliban years.