A Thousand Splendid Suns

i loved the kite runner, no doubt it was an astoundingly beautiful book. i would like to include that im a pakistani who has spent a period of her life in quetta. (from 2000-2005) so i have also seen the afghan refugees and also encountered taliban. and due to this reason, i believe that i could relate to the books in a way that many people probably didnt.however, i think that a thousand splendid...more

i loved the kite runner, no doubt it was an astoundingly beautiful book. i would like to include that im a pakistani who has spent a period of her life in quetta. (from 2000-2005) so i have also seen the afghan refugees and also encountered taliban. and due to this reason, i believe that i could relate to the books in a way that many people probably didnt.however, i think that a thousand splendid suns.. . well.. the whole point of the book if u look at it was how the afghans were tortured and tormented all their lives since 1978 until... THE MIGHTY SAVIOURS americans came in. I accept that americans might've provided them with facilities previously unknown to the natives but still... the book seemed A LOT like a mere propaganda!and since i belong to the same region, i would like to inform everyone who, after reading the book, believes that muslim men are pigs who hit their women and condemn them if they give birth to a girl, ... that this is far from truth! though i accept that people like rashid do exist, but dont they everywhere? even in america they do. so plz dont hate the nation or the region and dont call in names because 'scums' are found everywhere! it depends on the individual.with all due respect, i disapprove of mr.khalid hosseini spreading false images of the people of his own land.thankyou.   hide

I think I'm one of the few people who didn't think A Thousand Splendid Suns lived up to my expectations after The Kite Runner. That's not to say it wasn't a good book; it certainly was, but I don't think it was on par with his debut novel. Perhaps it was because this book was written from the perspective of the women in the story - he's not one and it's rare for a man to be able to write it...more

I think I'm one of the few people who didn't think A Thousand Splendid Suns lived up to my expectations after The Kite Runner. That's not to say it wasn't a good book; it certainly was, but I don't think it was on par with his debut novel. Perhaps it was because this book was written from the perspective of the women in the story - he's not one and it's rare for a man to be able to write it effectively, in my experience. The book did get better as it went on. The characters started out wooden, cardboard cutouts, but they grew richer as the book progressed. The plot though....it felt like literary soap opera at times. There were just too many *big* events and too many unrelated lives that ended up entwined for it to feel real. I guess that was my biggest problem with this book - I expected it to feel REAL, like The Kite Runner did, and it just never managed to. It always felt like fiction - pretty good fiction, but fiction nonetheless. This makes it sound like I didn't enjoy the book, which isn't true. Hosseini has a wonderful gift for storytelling and I'll certainly buy more of his books. He writes with emotion and passion. He comes at a timely topic from a different perspective that opens the readers' eyes to different ways of seeing things. Perhaps my expectations were just too high, and that's my fault not the author's.   hide

A huge fan of Hosseini's " The Kite Runner," I was excited to learn of his follow-up. I was hoping it would give me a glimpse into the lives of Muslim women in a world dominated by men and on that point, it more than delivered. Something that I found completely lacking in reading "Lolita in Tehran." A bit disjointed, especially in comparison to "The Kite...more

A huge fan of Hosseini's " The Kite Runner," I was excited to learn of his follow-up. I was hoping it would give me a glimpse into the lives of Muslim women in a world dominated by men and on that point, it more than delivered. Something that I found completely lacking in reading "Lolita in Tehran." A bit disjointed, especially in comparison to "The Kite Runner," "Suns" opens with a bang, slumps in the middle and grabs hold of your heartstrings in the final stretch. Unlike Hosseini's first book, my attention most definitely waned during the inevitable politics as I found myself skimming over the who's who in order to get back to the tale – my interest was really on the interpersonal relationships, most especially between the women. The individual stories of Mariam and Laila, broken up into their own chapters until their lives intersect, was fascinating and I often found myself in awe that their hearts, souls and minds were the product of a male author. Reading "Suns" I found myself thanking my lucky stars that I was born in a free society where my talent, opinions, and contributions are not only acknowledged but encouraged. Overall, "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is a winning tale of inner strength of women living with oppression and the sacrifices we make for those we love.   hide

I've been looking forward to Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns". One would think that I would know by know that best-selling books that are mega-hits among people not known as readers are not going to be awesome books. Well, what can I say? I'm a perpetual optimist, I guess. "Splendid Suns" was not exactly a disappointment, but it was not exactly a masterpiece, either. I'm in no rush to...more

I've been looking forward to Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns". One would think that I would know by know that best-selling books that are mega-hits among people not known as readers are not going to be awesome books. Well, what can I say? I'm a perpetual optimist, I guess. "Splendid Suns" was not exactly a disappointment, but it was not exactly a masterpiece, either. I'm in no rush to go pick up "Kite Runner," the book that really made Hosseini famous."Splendid Suns" tells the story of women in Afghanistan from the mid '70s to the early '00s through the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, who I imagine we are supposed to believe are "average." The book would be a whole lot better and more convincing if it didn't try to encompass every important event in Afghanistan in 30 years and every possible outcome for women in nearly every ethnic group in every possible family situation during this time. Who knew that two women could be so representative? Amazing! The writing is prosaic, and the women convincing (even when the plot is not) and their lives are touching. I admit it, I even felt some wet eyes near the end. The men in the story are not nearly as convincing, and are pretty shallowly portrayed as straw men- demons, heroes, scholars- easy to peg from their first appearance.The book is worth its weight to flush out the day-to-day lives of the people I have been reading about in non-fiction portrayals of these tumultuous and fairly awful years in Afghanistan. War is real, Hosseini reminds the reader, and Mariam, Laila, and their families are (token) people who give us glimpses into it.   hide

Khaled Hosseini has done a wonderful job of writting such a gripping story. I have not read the Kite Runner as yet but A Thousand Splendid Suns is an amazing story of War,love, betrayal, pain, endurance, tolerance, duty,faith,cruelty,maternal sacrifice,sadness and so much more. Mariam and Laila are two simple women with courage way beyond their years. This book is so simple to read and told, I...more

Khaled Hosseini has done a wonderful job of writting such a gripping story. I have not read the Kite Runner as yet but A Thousand Splendid Suns is an amazing story of War,love, betrayal, pain, endurance, tolerance, duty,faith,cruelty,maternal sacrifice,sadness and so much more. Mariam and Laila are two simple women with courage way beyond their years. This book is so simple to read and told, I feel through the eyes of the two characters with innocense that shows thier young age while they go through so much turmoil in their lives yet the maturity and honesty of their thoughts and actions are conveyed with such an impact that it sometimes makes it hard to breath. This book has certainly evoked a lot of emotions - not all good when you read about the innocent lives lost during war and how it impacts the family, not when you read about young Mariam and Laila going through so much hardship and cruelty and know that blissfully in our own part of the world, we complain that our husbands don't help to wash the dishes...The simplicity with which the story is told is also very effective because it almost makes you feel as though you are there seeing it all and yet feel so helpless... it was also a sad and painful read at times but a reality that we have now come to hear so often. The courage of the two women in the book is amazing - I tried very hard and succeeded in most cases not to cry but simply couldn't help myself when Mariam was executed - her entire life flashing before her and the unfairness of all that she went through of her simple wishes before she died - to "see Laila again,wished to hear the clangor of her laugh, to sit with her once more for a pot of chai and leftover halwa under a starlit sky..". When Laila goes to visit the place where Mariam grew up at the end, is also beautifully depicted. Again, a moment where I had to hold back tears when you see the differences in the childhood each woman had. The circumstances that brought them together later and the bond that they created, to then last a lifetime. I think Khaled Hosseini has done an amazing job and I can't wait to read the Kite Runner now.   hide

Yet another amazing book from the writer Khalid Housani. Truly a roller coaster of emotions. The book is not only the story of two women but story of a war torn country, which has for the past few decades been imposed by foreigners as well as their own countrymen. I lived in Peshawar and although I cannot claim to understand the pain and suffering of these people, I have seen them first hand and...more

Yet another amazing book from the writer Khalid Housani. Truly a roller coaster of emotions. The book is not only the story of two women but story of a war torn country, which has for the past few decades been imposed by foreigners as well as their own countrymen. I lived in Peshawar and although I cannot claim to understand the pain and suffering of these people, I have seen them first hand and am a sad witness to all turmoil of Afghan refuges. I made so many afghan friend and every one them had a sad story behind them. Khalid has done justice to this nation by telling the story of this nation in such an effective way that no matter who you are and where ever you live, you can relate to these people. Even if you have lived your life beside river thames or under the Eiffel tower, you can feel the bullet ridden walls of Kabul and the people living a difficult life among them. I truly enjoyed this book.   hide

Love this book. Set in the middle east, it's about how a man met this woman one day when she threw a love note to him...And since all the women wore the same black burqa, all with their face covered, she told him that she will wear only bright pink shoes so that he would recognise her on the streets. They struggled to develop their love while trying to avoid the religious police from finding...more

Love this book. Set in the middle east, it's about how a man met this woman one day when she threw a love note to him...And since all the women wore the same black burqa, all with their face covered, she told him that she will wear only bright pink shoes so that he would recognise her on the streets. They struggled to develop their love while trying to avoid the religious police from finding out their relationship. He even dressed in a burqa like a woman to meet her! The book also tells abt the secret homosexual societies in coffeeshops and how by meeting and knowing the right people, you can get what you want in this country. Love how the author writes this book. The 'forbidden love' plot is great too... I guess I was having PMS when I was reading this book because I cried from the middle portion of the book all the way to the very end. Or maybe because the subject mattered was pretty close to my heart. The story is about the plight of women in Kabul, Afghanistan. It's a story about love, friendship between women and the male-dominated environment that existed in this war torn country. Amazing plot, great read! Some people think the Kite Runner is better, but I think A Thousand Splendid Suns is way better!   hide

I read this novel immediately after reading "The Kite Runner". I had not read the reviews, but selected it simply because it was written by the Kahled Hosseini. For those who want a happy tale and are averse to graphic brutality, this book may not be for you; unless you are willing to patiently hope to find redemption. In that respect, this novel mirrors life - redemption is not always obvious...more

I read this novel immediately after reading "The Kite Runner". I had not read the reviews, but selected it simply because it was written by the Kahled Hosseini. For those who want a happy tale and are averse to graphic brutality, this book may not be for you; unless you are willing to patiently hope to find redemption. In that respect, this novel mirrors life - redemption is not always obvious but it is generally there for those with the patience to hold on. The brutal treatment of the women in this story at first made me wonder if Hosseini was intent on being an apologist for western intervention in Afghanistan (and Iraq) by painting such an intolerable picture. But as I read the story, I recognized a beautiful resilience in the women and some of the men. There indeed are monsters in this book. But there is more than enough bravery of human spirit to leave one with a sense of hope by the final page. This is a GREAT book! I borrowed it from the library, but I would own this one for purposes of exploring the wealth of middle eastern literary references alone.   hide

There are some things a new mom treasures: a chance to use the washroom in peace and at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep. I chose to forego the latter, however, once I delved into Khaled Hosseini’s latest work. The story is about two women a generation apart who are brought together by war and loss. But woven into the background is the terror that's taken place in Afghanistan over...more

There are some things a new mom treasures: a chance to use the washroom in peace and at least five hours of uninterrupted sleep. I chose to forego the latter, however, once I delved into Khaled Hosseini’s latest work. The story is about two women a generation apart who are brought together by war and loss. But woven into the background is the terror that's taken place in Afghanistan over the last 30 years. The book is a work of fiction but convoys, checkpoints, the whistling of bombs overhead and death are everyday occurrences in that country. “Every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief,” thinks Laila near the book’s end. “And yet . . . people find a way to survive, to go on.” How true those words are today. I also found it interesting to learn how women are treated in conservative Islamic societies. It can’t be too far of a stretch of the imagination to assume a great deal of real women share Mariam and Laila’s hopeless struggle to have a decent life at the hands of a brutal husband in an unforgiving society. In many ways, it’s a sad and heart-wrenching book but it has its bright spots that will have your heart leaping for joy. Family and friendship sustain these women and in the end love conquers all.   hide