A Thousand Splendid Suns - Wendy's Book Review

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."
-from a poem by Saeb-e-Tabrizi-

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a sweeping generational novel set in Afghanistan over the last thirty years from the Soviet invasion through the tortuous reign of the Taliban and the post-Taliban rebuilding years. Hosseini follows the lives of two women: Mariam and Laila. Mariam is a harami - an illegitimate child whose wealthy father casts her and her mother out of his home. When she is sold to the cruel Rasheed, a man who is easily 40 years her senior, Mariam's life becomes one of pain, disappointment, abuse and endurance...just as her mother had predicted.

"...There is only one, only one skill a woman like you and me needs in life, and they don't teach it in school. Look at me." "You should not speak like this to her, my child," Mullah Faizullah said. "Look at me." Mariam did. "Only one skill. And it's this: tahamul. Endure."
-From A Thousand Splendid Suns, page 17-

Laila is born in Kabul, only doors away from where Mariam and Rasheed live. When war arrives in the city, Laila finds her world turned upside down and a twist of fate brings her and Mariam together.

Hosseini's novel reveals the horrible effects of war, and the abuse and mistreatment of women under the Taliban. Heartbreaking in its scope, the novel touched my heart and had me choking back tears. As a woman born in the United States, it is hard for me to wrap my brain around the outrages done against women in other parts of the world. To imagine a life where one is not allowed outside without being accompanied by a man; cannot show her face in public; may be stoned to death for a perceived attraction to someone other than one's husband; may not read, paint or even laugh without the fear of punishment; may be repeatedly beaten by one's husband and have no recourse in the law...is almost beyond the scope of my imagination. And yet it has happened; is happening.

Hossein's novel is a must read - if only to remind us of the suffering of women in other countries, and the outrages of war. Beautifully written, fiercely powerful, and with a message about the redeeming quality of love and hope, A Thousand Splendid Suns is highly recommended; rated 5/5.

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I read this book from Becky R's list. She said:

Because the Afghanistan and Pakistan have fascinated me recently. I have read a couple fiction books recently and went to the movie A Mighty Heart. This week I am also looking forward to hearing Kahled Hosseini speak. I have developed a hobby of catching some of my favorite authors at bookstores. I think it gives a reader a special window into why they wrote a book and it always amazing to hear an author read from his or her book.

Thanks for the recommendation, Becky. This was a fantastic book!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I picked A Thousand Splendid Suns from SheReads who wrote the following about this selection:

Because the Afghanistan and Pakistan have fascinated me recently. I have read a couple fiction books recently and went to the movie A Mighty Heart. This week I am also looking forward to hearing Kahled Hosseini speak. I have developed a hobby of catching some of my favorite authors at bookstores. I think it gives a reader a special window into why they wrote a book and it always amazing to hear an author read from his or her book.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is an amazing novel. My review is below and also posted on my blog.
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
By Khaled Hosseini
Completed September 30, 2007

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a beautiful, heartbreaking yet hopeful story about two women, Mariam and Laila, who live in Afghanistan throughout its recent turbulent years. Foes at first, Mariam and Laila soon become allies against their abusive husband. And in many ways, they are allied against the opppresive powers in place in Afghanistan, where women are to be silent, obedient and enduring, no matter what.

Parts of this book are uncomfortable to read. I will warn you - A Thousand Splendid Suns is not for the faint of heart. The story will tug at your emotions in many ways. You will be mad, sad, happy and disgusted. Good stories can do that to you.

I am glad Khaled Hosseini is writing about Afghanistan after 09/11. It helps put a perspective on this country that I honestly didn't understand. It seems to be such a beautiful, cultural place, if war had not torn it apart. I hope that this country can get on its feet and let its people live in an era of no rockets, snipers or oppression.

My review is not doing this book justice. Just go and read it. In a thousand splendid ways, it will move you. I promise. ( )

A Thousand Splendid Suns

This is the first "official" book I've read for this challenge. I know it's not quite August, but this book is due at the library this week, so I read it this weekend.... mostly all day Sunday and then dreamed about it all night last night!

Wow! What a painful, painful story! I knew it would be, but still, it's so hard to read about this stuff happening to the people in Afghanistan. What great, strong women these characters were! I just want to cheer for them. This author sure knows how to write emotion. Great book!