As she shifts between the perspectives of half a dozen characters, Masha Hamilton explores geopolitical conflict through the individual experiences of a kidnapped relief worker and his wife, two soldiers and their families, and a deposed political leader refusing to be exiled from his native land. That land, and the common bond between these characters, is Afghanistan, and what happens there is What Changes Everything.

Hamilton reinforces the parallels between the captivity stories of Todd and Najib by employing Amir in both of them, and explores the complexity of modern-day Afghanistan--a country that once sought to be truly "modern," but now struggles against what that signifies--through these characters' connections with people outside it. The changes that truly change everything, more often than not, are those that happen person to person.

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What Changes Everything by Masha Hamilton is a look at the reverberating impact of war on not only the countries directly affected, but also those countries who send people to help refugees and the injured. Todd Barbery coordinates aid for refugees and hospitals with the help of his Afghan contact, Amin. Todd is far from his wife Clarissa of about three years and his only daughter Ruby, who is just beginning her own life, but while Clarissa fears for his safety and has wrestled a promise from him that this will be his last rotation in Afghanistan, Todd wishes not to be so closely guarded and insists on moments of freedom.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/07/what-changes-everything-by-masha-hamilton.ht... ( )