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A Thousand Splendid Suns

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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a heart-wrenching tale that follows the intertwined lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, who find themselves married to the same abusive man, Rasheed. Set against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan from the 1970s to the 2000s, the book delves into the struggles and sacrifices these women endure, shedding light on the harsh realities of life in a male-dominated society. The narrative captures the strength, resilience, and unlikely friendship that blossoms between the two women amidst the turmoil they face, painting a vivid picture of the oppressive conditions and violence experienced by women in the region.

Hosseini's storytelling in A Thousand Splendid Suns is described as captivating, moving, and powerful, as he skillfully weaves a narrative that explores themes of love, friendship, sacrifice, and resilience. Through the eyes of Mariam and Laila, the reader gains insight into the plight of women in Afghanistan, the impact of war and political unrest on ordinary people, and the enduring power of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The book offers a poignant and emotional portrayal of the struggles faced by its characters, providing a window into the complexities of life in Afghanistan during tumultuous times.

Characters:

The characters are deeply developed, illustrating the complexities of their lives and relationships, particularly the bond between the two women as they endure shared hardships.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is both evocative and accessible, blending rich descriptions with straightforward storytelling that effectively conveys the emotional impact of the characters' experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around the intertwining lives of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, as they navigate love, suffering, and resilience amidst decades of war and oppression in Afghanistan.

Setting:

The setting is Afghanistan, reflecting its changing political landscape over the course of several decades, and is integral to the characters' stories.

Pacing:

The pacing is steady, allowing for deep character exploration while becoming more intense as the story progresses and the women's experiences overlap.
It happened on a Thursday. It must have, because Mariam remembered that she had been restless and preoccupied that day, the way she was only on Thursdays, the day when Jalil visited her at the kolba. ...

Notes:

The novel spans three decades of Afghan history, from the Soviet invasion to the rise of the Taliban.
It highlights the struggles of women in Afghan culture, particularly during the Taliban's oppressive regime.
Mariam is initially presented as an illegitimate daughter, termed 'harami', with a complicated relationship with her wealthy father.
Laila, in contrast, grows up in a loving family but faces her own tragedies during the ongoing wars in Afghanistan.
The protagonists, Mariam and Laila, eventually develop a strong bond despite being married to the same abusive husband, Rasheed.
Khaled Hosseini explores themes of friendship, love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit through the characters' experiences.
The title of the book comes from a Persian poem by Saeb e Tabrizi, which reflects on the beauty of Kabul despite its tumultuous history.
Hosseini's writing is noted for being clear and evocative, allowing readers to connect deeply with the characters and their struggles.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The triggers/content warnings for A Thousand Splendid Suns include themes of domestic abuse, violence against women, forced marriage, and cultural brutality, which may be difficult for some readers.

From The Publisher:

THE RICHARD & JUDY NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

'A suspenseful epic' Daily Telegraph

'A triumph' Financial Times

'Heartbreaking' Mail on Sunday

'Deeply moving' Sunday Times

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager, Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism.

Ratings (307)

Incredible (110)
Loved It (131)
Liked It (48)
It Was OK (10)
Did Not Like (7)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (560):

Read It (308)
Want To Read (157)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (90)

14 comment(s)

Loved It
3 months

Long back one of my relative had gone to Iran for higher studies and to get a job. And that relative was a lady. She stayed there for few years and then moved sometime later. I remember she had bought a porcelain plate with blue floral design on it as a gift when she visited us. That plate was so beautiful that I used to think Iran as a very beautiful country with people with beautiful smiles.

Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan used to fall under Persian dynasty which were rich with its literature, education and love. And Its all still beautiful but under a bad period of its own which I feel every great country will go through once in a while in some centuries.

This book is on Afghanistan and how the lives changed when Taliban took over and yet people felt that life will be good some day. How life went on with losses and hunger and faith even if Terrorism ruled, the hearts of the people yearned for their land and culture and to make it a better place. Every culture is beautiful and lovely, I feel and it will remain beautiful until it has space to change and grow in its own way.

I wish that it would really end soon and life will go back to normal for all.

 
Incredible
3 months

My favorite Hosseini book, such a powerful story about women in Afghanistan

 
Incredible
4 months

Reading of other lands , customs and amazing writing.

 
Incredible
5 months

A most exceptional read. Seeing all the hype, I wasn't expecting much. But was I wrong? Definitely. I have lost count of how many times my heart has been crushed. The characters surely are going to stay with you for a long time that's for sure.

Nothing else, just best of luck to those thinking of having a go at this piece of literature.

 
Liked It
7 months

Another sad, thought-provoking tale from this author.

 
Incredible
2 years

I remember well, how the night I finished reading A Thousand Splendid Sun, I couldn't sleep so I stayed up till the morning, grieving. Not just for the characters in this one, but because I was remembering live versions of them. Our neighbour who I watched crying to my mother, and all I could do was watch her from the corner. The random screams I heard coming from a house every once in a while. Farkhunda, the woman who had her nose cut... These are just what I know and what is publicised, the problem is that there are millions of women perishing behind closed doors in my country and it's not like nobody knows. But nobody cares. We're only feminists on matters that are trending.


I felt like a coward writing my book which is inspired by this. It was a means to escape and try to cope with knowing about things I didn't want to know. But if I didn't write all that, I would've lost it.


At one point reading this book I despised the writer, and I'm being very honest. I felt hostility toward the author for all the pain and agony. And that itself is I think the last level of being a great author when your creation affects people so deeply...

 
Loved It
2 years

In the wake of The Kite Runner, I've been eager to dive into the work that followed. The book is great. Hosseini writes about two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, who were doomed to a life of brutal mistreatment because of their social status. A must-read for any reader looking for something to get their blood pumping.

 
Loved It
2 years

I really must have more of this writer's work! He has an incredible capacity for storytelling.

The lives of two Afghan women are explored in this book. This is a difficult story. Most of the time, it made me uneasy.

 
Loved It
2 years

For me, these characters stood out the most among Hosseini's cast. This book brought me to tears. I'd enjoy rereading it again and again.

 
Loved It
2 years

A fantastic account of Afghanistan between the years 1959 and 1990, as seen by two generations of women. Outstanding!!

 
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About the Author:

Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in 1980. His first novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, published in forty countries. In 2006 he was named a U.S. envoy to UNHCR, The United Nations Refugee Agency. He lives in northern California.

 
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