A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini

Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry the troubled and bitter Rasheed, who is thirty years her senior. Nearly two decades later, in a climate of growing unrest, tragedy strikes fifteen-year-old Laila, who must leave her home and join Mariam's unhappy household. Laila and Mariam are to find consolation in each other, their friendship to grow as deep as the bond between sisters, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. With the passing of time comes Taliban rule over Afghanistan, the streets of Kabul loud with the sound of gunfire and bombs, life a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, the women's endurance tested beyond their worst imaginings. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism. In the end it is love that triumphs over death and destruction. A Thousand Splendid Suns is an unforgettable portrait of a wounded country and a deeply moving story of family and friendship. It is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story of an unforgiving time, an unlikely bond and an indestructible love.

• ISBN10: 0747582971
• ISBN13: 9780747582977
• Publish Date: 22 May 2007
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 6 December 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[moraa]

A lengthy but riveting tale about a young Muslim girl's life through the war and the aftermath of it. A coming of age tale that brings together elements of religion and culture.

[mitabird]

4.5 stars

[Laurie]

Wow wow wow what a book! Unfortunately, the story in this book is still very relevant today with the current refugee crisis. But I think, whenever you read this book, you will understand the fears of today's refugees much better.

[lauriesbookshelf]

Wow wow wow what a book! Unfortunately, the story in this book is still very relevant today with the current refugee crisis. But I think, whenever you read this book, you will understand the fears of today's refugees much better.

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

In general, I found this book depressing, and that made it very hard to read. There were many days I did not pick it up because I simply did not want to read more about the mistreatment and misery of the characters. Their lives are horrible for most of the book, and although I understand that that is the point—to represent the hardships and prejudice that women endure in other countries—that understanding did not make the reading any more pleasant.

It is interesting to see how the lives of these two very different women intersect and how they gain strength from each other. However, I liked the characters more because I felt bad for them than because I actually liked them. Mariam in particular is often bitter, and though she has extraordinarily good reason, this does not make her likeable. Laila is nicer but could have been given a more distinct personality. She is defined by her relationships with her families.

Eventually, the two do come to some understandings—about themselves, each other, the world—and they find a way to make their combined strength enough to challenge everything that oppressive men have thrown at them. They become more endearing, and the ending strives hard to make the rest of the book worth all the discomfort and sadness that it bestowed. Its success will doubtless vary by reader.

Beyond the plot, there was a lot of historical background in this novel, and I must admit most of it went over my head. I had trouble keeping track of the different names and events. Though I admire the author’s efforts to cram the background information he thought necessary into the tale, it may be a bit much for those not very familiar with Afghanistan’s history. The Goodreads summary sums it up nicely, however, for those who would like a quick overview.

The story certainly has its merits, but I am not sure I would have stuck with it if it has not been constantly touted by others as life-changing. It is very dismal (and repetitive in some of its depressing scenes, though that may be intentional), and it offers only a spark of hope rather than anything larger. I did not find it either particularly enjoyable or particularly inspiring, so mostly I gained a better appreciation of the situation in Afghanistan—a more personal one than I could gain from simple facts and figures.

This review was >a href="http://pagesunbound.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/a-thousand-splendid-suns-by-khaled-hosseini/">also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.

[luddite]

Khaled Hosseini has the innate ability to send the taste of bile through your throat in an instant, depict gory acts without actually being vivid, make your heart flutter with joy and despair at will - while you still keep that small flame of hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel - and a very bright one at that. But most of all, he makes you wonder about the fate of Afghanistan and Afghanis, making you ask: 'What if?'.

Enchanting narrative. A carefully woven work laced with Farsi culture, literature and rituals in the backdrop of a troubled country. A vivid description of the wars through the experiences of the characters - even the meanest of them all.

Love. Honour. Survival. Desperation. But most of all, Hope. That is what this book is about - to me at least.

[inlibrisveritas]

I can't say I ever truly had any intention in reading this despite the fact that I really enjoyed The Kite Runner. I don't typically like reading realistic modern fiction because I find it depressing no matter how wonderful the story. However I found out that my mom had ordered it months ago and never touched it, so I took it and finally read it myself. Despite the depressing nature of the book I did really enjoy it and it managed to reach me in a way that most novels don't.

Khaled uses the same technique he used in The Kite Runner so the 'feel' is the same, the writing remains as wonderful and flowing as it was in his previous book as well. Also like the Kite Runner there is a deep underlying sadness to the plot that you simply can't help but feel as you read through it. The two main characters, Mariam and Laila, are wonderful and in their own ways strong. Mariam's story was one that I found extremely sad as it progressed, but I found Khalid's ability to capture how she was feeling perfect. There are the small things that she does that really connect her to you and you realize that even though you've probably never been in the same situation that you've felt that same frustration or that same hope. Laila's story isn't a happy one either but it brings in the hope for a better life. The relationship between these two was very realistic and believable. They didn't immediately rush to support one another but they also didn't remain utterly stone faced about the other either. This was really a heartbreaking book but it's also one that's a true eye opener to the cruelty that lies in other places.

This book really provokes emotions and pulled me into the story, to the point where I read it in two days and nearly cried numerous times. To me this is a book worth reading, it is by no means a light read and it will probably cause you to think and feel for the people who have really gone through situations such as these. It does contain abuse in multiple ways so if you don't want to read about such things this isn't for you, this is by no means an easy read. I really enjoy Khaled's writing and if he has written anything else I plan to find it and if not I'll be on the look out for if he does again.

[ibeforem]

As good as The Kite Runner was, this was even better. I’m not sure the book description really serves it justice, because I almost didn’t listen to it. I’m really glad I did. Not only does Hosseini give the reader a wonderful story about the lives of two women who should be worlds apart, but he gives you a portrait of life for a woman in Afghanistan in recent history. Under the various ruling systems, every woman is ultimately the same. The story is really a downer for most of the book, but I think the message of hope at the end is a fitting metaphor for the country’s new direction.

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years -- from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding -- that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives -- the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness -- are inextricable from the history playing out around them.

I picked this up at my most resent visit to the library and was excited that it wasn't checked out for once. As this was considered a "new release" at the library I could only check it out for a week and at first was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish it in time. Those thoughts where soon pushed out of my mind as I began reading A Thousand Splendid Suns as it warped me into Afghanistan and into the lives of Mariam and Laila.

As soon as I became engrossed in Mariam's story, which got me hooked on page one; I was transferred to Laila's journey. In Mariam's part I was spellbound and couldn't believe all the hardships Mariam faced; how much can one person handle? I was foolish enough to think that Laila would have a happy life with Tariq and was heartbroken when I learned that he was killed while trying to escape from the war. And was shocked when he returned toward the end of the book; at first I thought he might be a phony, but after learning that Rasheed had paid someone to lie about her love's death in order to trap her; I was relieved and happy that they would be able to be together after so many years of separation.

After Rasheed's death I thought it was very honorable that Mariam choose to risk her life, and take the blame for his "murder" in order for Laila, Tariq and her children to have a life together. The ending, with Laila revisiting Mariam's childhood home and walking through her past was a wonderful closing to A Thousand Splendid Suns, bringing closure to the characters and the reader.