A Thousand Splendid Suns

by Khaled Hosseini

[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.