A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini is a novel set against the backdrop of very real events over the last 40+ years in Afghanistan – including the 1979 Soviet invasion, the jihad that followed, the power struggle and fighting among various warlords, the rise of the Taliban, and the U.S. attack after 9/11. I had heard much about Hosseini’s first book, “The Kite Runner” from my wife and others, so I figured I better get with the program and read Hosseini’s latest effort. 

 It was not time wasted.

Hosseini, who draws his title from a 13th Century Afghan poem, writes in a very lucid style about the various tragic events in this Central Asian country. Concurrently, he educates readers on Afghanistan’s history and culture, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, while also bringing to life very real people who suffer under various regimes. Hosseini writes about two principal female characters in parallel stories for much of the first half of the book.

Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a businessman who forces her as a teenager into marrying a ruthless man 25 years her senior. When Mariam has several miscarriages and does not bear a son, Rasheed becomes increasingly brutal. Later, Rasheed takes another wife, 14-year-old Laila, who is orphaned following the death of her parents in a mortar attack. It’s at this point that the paths of the two women cross.

Although enemies at first, Mariam and Laila grow to become friends and allies against the violent Rasheed, who beats his wives without recourse. The birth of Laila’s son brings the two women together.

The novel speaks strongly to the friendships of these women and others, and their resilience in the face of brutal conditions. I would highly recommend the book for readers who want to learn about the history of this country while desiring a good read, too.

--Reviewed by Philip Anast

Comments

[Mike Nikolich]

This is an amazing book, even better than the Kite Runner.

[Marie]

Philip, I read this book based on your recommendation and was not disappointed. The tale of these two women is fascinating, and Hosseini paints a very real and eye-opening picture of Afghanistan. I agree with Mike, I enjoyed this much more than the Kite Runner and highly recommend it.