ஆயிரம் சூரியப் பேரொளி

by Khaled Hosseini, ஷஹிதா (Translator)

பதினைந்தே வயதினளான மரியம் ரஷீதுக்கு மணம் செய்விக்கப்பட்டு காபுலுக்கு அனுப்பப்படுகிறாள். ஏறத்தாழ இருபது ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு உள்ளூரைச் சேர்ந்த பதின்பருவத்தினளான லைலாவுக்கும் மரியத்துக்கும் இடையில் தாய்-மகளினதை ஒத்த நட்பு ஒன்று மலர்கிறது. தாலிபன்கள் ஆட்சியைப் பிடிக்க, வாழ்க்கை, பட்டினிக்கும், கொடுங்கோலாட்சிக்கும், அச்சத்துக்கும் இடையில் அலைவுறுவதாக மாறிப்போகிறது. ஆனாலும் அன்பு, மனிதர்களை எதிர்பாராத வகைகளில் செயற்கரிய காரியங்களைச் சாதிக்க வைத்து, எல்லாத் தடைகளையும் தகர்க்கச் செய்கிறது. ‘ஒருவேளை எ தௌஸண்ட் ஸ்ப்லெண்டிட் சன்ஸ், தி கைட் ரன்னரைப் போலவே சிறந்ததுதானா என்று நீங்கள் கேட்பீர்களேயானால் இதோ அதற்கான பதில்: இல்லை, இது அதை விடவும் சிறந்தது’ வாஷிங்டன் போஸ்ட்

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Historical, Classics, Novels

504 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. In 1970 Hosseini and his family moved to Iran where his father worked for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tehran. In 1973 Hosseini's family returned to Kabul, and Hosseini's youngest brother was born in July of that year.
In 1976, when Hosseini was 11 years old, Hosseini's father obtained a job in Paris, France, and moved the family there. They were unable to return to Afghanistan because of the Saur Revolution in which the PDPA communist party seized power through a bloody coup in April 1978. Instead, a year after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in 1980 they sought political asylum in the United States and made their residence in San Jose, California.
Hosseini graduated from Independence High School in San Jose in 1984 and enrolled at Santa Clara University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1988. The following year, he entered the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D. in 1993. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in 1996. He practiced medicine for over ten years, until a year and a half after the release of The Kite Runner.
Hosseini is currently a Goodwill Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). He has been working to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan through the Khaled Hosseini Foundation. The concept for the foundation was inspired by the trip to Afghanistan that Hosseini made in 2007 with UNHCR.
He lives in Northern California with his wife, Roya, and their two children (Harris and Farah).

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like diamonds and roses hidden under bomb rubble, this is a story of intense beauty and strength buried under the surface of the cruel and capricious life imposed upon two Afghani women.

She remembered Nana saying once that each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. That all the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below. As a reminder of how people like us suffer, she'd said. How quietly we endure all that falls upon us.

Staggeringly beautiful and deep and rich and sad and frightening and infuriating. There’s a lot I want to say about this book and so I cry your pardon if this review is a bit of a rambler. You should definitely read this book. I’ll probably repeat this again, but I want to make sure I don’t forget to say it. Buy the book and read it.

I love good historical fiction, especially when set in places and/or periods of which I am not very familiar. Afghanistan certainly fit that description, which makes me feel a significant amount of personal shame given how intertwined the country has been with the history of the U.S. over the last 30 years. That same time frame is also the primary focus of the novel so I feel like I got a real taste of the history of this mysterious time.

That said, the historical events described in the novel are merely spice for the narrative and are clearly not the entrée at this literary feast. However, I would likely recommend this book for the historical component alone even if I didn’t like the rest of the novel…oh, but I did so much like the rest of the novel.

The story revolves around two women, Mariam and Laila, born 20 years apart, but whose lives are intertwined through the events of the novel. Mariam (born in 1959) is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy merchant named Jalil who has 3 wives and 9 “legitimate” children. Mariam’s mother, Nana, was a servant in Jalil’s house whose affair with Jalil resulted in Mariam. As you might expect, the 3 wives were less than enthused and Nana and Mariam were forced to live on the outskirts of town, making Nana a bitter often cruel person to Mariam.

The other main character is Laila (born in 1978) who lives in the same area as Mariam. Laila’s story begins with her close friendship with a boy named Tariq who loses a leg to a Soviet land mine when he’s 5 years old. Years later, with Kabul under constant rocket attacks, Laila’s family decides to leave the city. During an emotional farewell, Laila and Tariq make love. Later, as her family is preparing to depart Kabul, a rocket kills her parents and severely injures Laila.

I don’t want to spoil the plot by giving away too many details, so let me just say that through a series of mostly tragic circumstances, Mariam and Laila both end up married to a serious scumbag named Rasheed. I want to clarify that last remark because I think it goes to the most chilling aspect of the novel for me. One of the novel’s primary strengths is the bright light the author shines on the nasty way women are treated in countries like Afghanistan.

Now not being knowledgeable enough about the culture to make a well-informed analysis, I strongly suspect that the character of Rasheed, while made somewhat worse for dramatic effect, is close enough to what was “the norm” as to be positively sickening. Thus, when I say scumbag (which I whole-heartedly mean), part of the emotional impact of Rasheed’s actions came from my not seeing them as cartoonish, but as part of an “institutional evil” that was all too common.

Bottom-line, Rasheed is an ignorant, mean-spirited, petty little pile of assbarf who will make even the most serene and passive reader feel like loading the .45 with hollow points and performing a gunpowder enema on his sorry, wretched chair cushion.

Anyway, once Mariam and Laila find themselves together, the story deepens as these two women slowly learn first to live with each other and later to depend upon each other as they face almost daily challenges, mostly from their abusive husband.

She lived in fear of his shifting moods, his volatile temperament, his insistence on steering even mundane exchanges down a confrontational path that, on occasion, he would resolve with punches, slaps, kicks, and sometimes try to make amends for with polluted apologies, and sometimes not.

The lives of these women is an epic journey in every sense of the word and I felt like I was on a journey of my own as I road along with them.

While there is much of darkness and pain throughout the book, Hosseini never allows the emotional tone of the story to descend in melodrama. There is little self-pity or wallowing in grief. There is pain, there is loss but there is no surrender. Instead, these women absorb tremendous blows (both figuratively and literally) and continue to live.

There is a great passage near the end of the book that I am going to hide with a spoiler because it reveals the final fate of one of the characters, but it is simply a perfect summation of the strength and dignity that is the heart of this story.

Mariam wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes, it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child of a lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And yet she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was not so bad, Mariam thought, that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate belongings.

This is a gorgeous, beautiful story that is made all the more so by its tremendous importance.

Read it….you will be happy you did. 5.0 Stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!

P.S. I listened to the audio version of this as read by Atossa Leoni and she was brilliant. If you listen to audio books, this is definitely one where the narrator enhances the experience of the novel.

[Tharindu Dissanayake · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A face of grievances unspoken, burdens gone unprotested, a destiny submitted to and endured."

This must have been the longest time I had waited to review a fiction after finishing the book. Even after a week, I still haven't fully recuperated from the emotional blow of A Thousand Splendid Suns... Painful, heartbreaking, but quite beautiful in a very sad way. Hosseini has improved upon what he did with Kite Runner, if that's even possible, in every conceivable way imaginable to give the reader another masterpiece! I loved every little thing about this book.

"Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman."

When I finished Kite Runner before, it became clear how impactful Hosseini's story telling is: It was tragic yet beautiful in a unique way. I had thought I was prepared to pretty much anything the author could throw at me after that. But A Thousand Splendid Suns, for me, was a far more difficult read. Unlike in Kite Runner, Hosseini does not hold back when it comes to unfolding Mariam and Laila's story. Saying that reading through the abuse and other privations of the two protagonists was shocking would be a huge understatement. Everything felt too real to be consoled otherwise. In the Afterwards section, I did come across about Hosseini's work in UNHCR, and maybe it's his firsthand experience that made the portrayal this authentic.

"It's our lot in life, Mariam. Women like us. We endure. It's all we have."

The author continues to use his simple, and straightforward writing style which suits perfectly to the atmosphere he creates in these stories. But, even if one finds the writing style to be lacking in flavor, when the story telling is this good, most would never be bothered by anything else. And when you add Hosseini's flawless character development, it's impossible not to fall in love with this book. But where I saw the most significant improvement is in the plot, which stole the spotlight away from character department. The life story of the two protagonists -Mariam and Laila- allows the reader to peak in to a couple of lives heavily affected not only by war, but their journey amidst various domestic difficulties, providing the reader with another unique opportunity to empathize with Afghan people, and specifically from a woman's point of view this time. Instead of coming across hateful stories about Taliban and terrorism in general, it's enlightening to see the events from a perspective like this, which enables any reader to understand the bitter reality, along with the fact that countless thousands of people are experiencing worse circumstances in such countries. Even though it is fiction, I think it's commendable, and remarkable, what Hosseini does with these stories, as they help shift any reader's opinion about the people who are affected by wars in such countries.

"People, she believed now, shouldn't be allowed to have new children if they'd already given away all their love to their old ones. It wasn't fair."

Everything else that was good about Kite Runner is still here, from pace, flow of events, and handling of emotions to the ending. Oh, that ending! I rarely admire a sad ending, but Hosseini is definitely the exception. During the middle part of the book, even though I loved everything, I didn't see myself giving a rating higher than 4-stars, but the concluding chapters broke me down and changed everything. Now I feel like there aren't enough starts to do justice.

"As she closed her eyes, it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her."
"One last time, Mariam did as she was told."

It's not every day that I get to shelf two consecutive books from the same author as all-time-favorites. Honestly, I was not expecting this to be better than the first, and thought there might even be some repetitiveness. This is anything but that! If you loved Kite Runner, it is most likely that you will have an even better reading experience with this ATSS. However, be warned that the emotional impact this delivers is far more profound, leaving one with tears for quite a while. Unlike with Kite Runner, the luxury of hiding the despicable actions of villains, which left many horrific events to readers' imagination, is gone. But at the end of the day, just like with Kite Runner, it's worth every second... it's worth the heartbreak... it's worth evert tear... Another must-read-for-all from Hosseini.

"A young Mariam is sitting at the table making a doll by the glow of an oil lamp. She's humming something. Her face is smooth and youthful, her hair washed, combed back. She has all her teeth."

"The little girl looks up. Puts down the doll. Smiles. Laila jo?"

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the last two months I have been putting off reading this book. For starters, I bought the book at an airport in Taiwan, which meant it didn't have a due date which meant it took a backseat to many books that I didn't have the luxury of reading whenever.

Additionally, because I've heard so much about this book already, I almost didn't want to read it at all. I've heard that it's depressing, that it's not as good as The Kite Runner, and that it's basically a novel about the brutal treatment of women in Afghanistan.

You know when you read a book or see a film that has had great reviews and you finish feeling disappointed because it didn't live up to the hype? My experience reading this book was the complete opposite. I loved it. I didn't feel the message of the book was one of brutality or depression, but of hope and the toughness of the human spirit.

There are plenty of awful scenes to lend credence to its reputation. While the story's time frame spans thirty years, the main focus of the novel are two woman, a generation apart, whose lives cross as they become the wives of the same man, Rasheed. The elder, Mariam, was born to a servant woman out of wedlock and is raised in banishment, ignorance and eventual rejection during the years the Afghani government was controlled by the communists. She finds herself forced to marry a much older man after her mother commits suicide. Laila, fifteen years younger and raised by intellectual parents, enters the marriage under much different circumstances. Alone after a bomb destroys her home and kills her parents, and pregnant by her childhood love who has fled the country, she marries Rasheed in a desperate attempt to save her unborn child.

The writing engrossed me. Much like the Kite Runner, Hosseini magically puts the reader in the city, neighborhood and house of his characters. Much to his credit, I found myself torn between wanting to yell at Laila to hush up, so that she'd avoid another beating, and kicking Rasheed myself, because he is a despicable brute.

Mariam, one of the most tragic characters in literature, makes this book what it is; a story of love and strenghth. She, who didn't have an easy day in her life, allows herself to be touched by the love of Laila and her children. In return, she performs the ultimate act of love and saves a family.

I appreciate Hosseini's portrayal of a part of the world that is under so much scrutiny lately. Afghanistan, and the city of Kabul where the story takes place, have a long history of wars and occupations which result in a great chasm between different ethnic tribes, Islam, economic classes and gender. Hosseini uses this novel to tell the story of Afghani women and the hardships that face them with each regime change.

As a woman, I feel blessed to have been given confidence and opportunities. I truly cannot imagine what it would be like to live under the conditions the women in this book live under. I am grateful to be born to the family I was born to and in a country which allows me to live the kind of life I choose.

Miram and Laila didn't have the opportunities or support that I have. And yet they survived. They endured and they reached out to others, despite their circumstances. In this, Hosseini redeems all of Afghanistan by showing these two women's humanity. He shows that in a place whose beauty was written about in a 17th century poem, where "One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs and the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls" is a city that can become illuminated once again.

[Anu · Rating 5 out of 5]

August 2007

I was riding in a cab in Bombay recently, and a bookseller on foot approached me at a traffic light with a stack of books. I did my best not to look at the boy, but I couldn't help it. He was waving several books in my face and something caught my eye. I thought my glance was discreet, but he saw me look.. and it was game over. The light turned green right then and the boy starts running with the cab yelling 'Memsahib! Memsahib!'. We're picking up speed.. I'm so scared he's going to get his foot runover so I grab whatever I could from my wallet and somehow get it into his hands. In return he tosses a random book at me through the window as he's getting further & further away from the cab. I look to see what I ended up with. It was A Thousand Splendid Suns, which I was planning on buying anyways. The cab driver asked me how much I ended up giving the boy. 'A hundred and fifty rupees,' I said, which is barely $4. The cab driver says in return, 'You paid a hundred rupees too much!'. Hardly, I thought to myself. That boy worked his butt off. The best part is because the book is bootlegged it's full of typos and random fonts. Love it. In case I ever discuss the book with you and my recollection of the story is completely different from what you read, you'll know why.

January 2008

Read the book on my way to Vietnam a few days ago. Loved it, although it was missing a few pages here and there :). Coincidentally, the friend I'm traveling with brought the same book on our trip so I had access to the missing pages. (And another coincidence - our Mekong Delta guide was carrying a copy of the Kite Runner. We were like some sort of Hosseini fanclub floating down the Mekong in our longboat...haha). I have a few thoughts on this book, I'll write them out in more detail soon. I'm heading back to Bombay in a few days...maybe I'll run into another bookseller on foot :).

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently this will break my heart even more than The Kite Runner 🤞

Update: It did.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's apparently becoming something of a tradition for me to trash books that are not only widely loved and praised, but were specifically recommended to me by friends. Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splended Suns," I'm sorry to say, is going to get the same treatment. (Forgive me, Rose.) "Splendid Suns" has been so widely read by this point, I won't bother recounting the story, and instead simply list my objections:

- Hosseini seems incapable of creating characters with much depth to them. E.M. Forster, in "Aspects of the Novel," talks about books having round characters and flat characters, with round ones being more like people you'd encounter in the real world, and flat ones being more of caricatures used to move a book's story along. The only character in "Splendid Suns" who approaches roundness, and he's a relatively minor character, is Mariam's father, Jalil. Everyone else is either a villain without any positive traits (Rasheed) or a hero who can do almost no wrong (Laila, Tariq, Mullah Faizullah). Even when Hosseini is depicting a child who has every right to behave badly given his circumstances (Zalmai), he can't help but depict the child as almost evil. The New York Times review of "Splendid Suns" said Hosseini "creates characters who have the simplicity and primary-colored emotions of people in a fairy tale or fable." That's pretty generous of the New York Times. I'd say Hosseini may not be able to create three-dimensional characters.

- While I appreciate Hosseini's attempt to teach a few decades of Afghan history -- a history few readers likely know in much detail -- grafting that history onto the story of one family makes for a rather creaky novel. To impart the history, Hosseini goes back and forth between giving the history through third-person narration, in Wikipedia-like prose, and putting it in his characers' mouths via dialogue -- dialogue often spoken to people who would already know the history. As a result, you sometimes get characters saying things like, "As you know, the Taliban forces men to grow their beards long and women to wear burkas." The cut-and-paste history lessons make the novel painful to read at times.

- Hosseini routinely uses "harami" (bastard) and other words from the characters' native languages in his dialogue, followed by the English translation, apparently in an attempt to bring readers closer to the Afghan culture. But it usually feels incredibly superficial, especially when the words being used aren't foreign concepts, but rather basic words -- "brother," "sister" and the like. Hosseini and his editors also seem to forget about the trope, and cut back on the use of the foreign words in the book's later chapters. I wish they had done the same throughout the book.

- The relationship between Mariam and Laila feels completely artificial. Mariam's initial hate for and jealousy of Laila never feels remotely justified, especially given how awful her husband Rasheed is anyhow, and their coming together later feels rushed and unrealistic. Even after they form a friendship, they never seem to grow quite close enough to fully explain why Laila misses Mariam so much towards the novel's conclusion. Hosseini fails to lay the groundwork needed to justify Laila's emotions in the novel's last chapters.

- Almost the entire book is unrelentingly bleak. Don't get me wrong, I understand Afghanistan wasn't exactly Disneyland over the past few decades, but I think there were more lighthearted moments in the Book of Job than in "Splendid Suns." I don't mind reading a depressing novel, but Jesus. Reading "Splendid Suns," I kept thinking of that old workplace poster: "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

I didn't completely hate "Splendid Suns" -- the story moved along nicely, and it gave me a little more insight into a culture I probably should know more about -- but I don't think I'll be following this one with "The Kite Runner." Khaled Hosseini probably doesn't need me as a reader, though. It seems he has plenty of fans.

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a warm, sunny day in Montenegro and I was about to set out on a boat trip. I felt certain that a combination of sightseeing and the people I was with would keep me from having much time to read, but I packed a book anyway just in case there was time for a chapter or two in between stops.

A Thousand Splendid Suns happened to be that book. And at the end of the day, when I staggered off that boat, blinking at my sudden exposure to reality, it wasn't because I'd been mesmerised by the stunning architecture and history lessons, no, it was because Hosseini stomped all over my heart. I'm not even sure how I found enough hours in the day to take a boat trip around Montenegro and read this entire novel, but somehow I finished this in the few hours I had... simply because I had to.

My initial reaction was a furious, teary promise to myself that I would have to give this book five stars - I think it's impossible for the mind to win a battle with the heart in that level of heat, especially when you're used to English weather. But afterwards, I managed to reclaim some of my sense and sanity, which is when I finally began to acknowledge this book's limitations.

For one thing, I think it's extremely generous to place this book in the "literary fiction" category. I am certainly no book snob (give me a delicious page-turner over some pretentious waffle any day) but I find myself comparing A Thousand Splendid Suns to another book about a country and culture I was only vaguely familiar with - The Poisonwood Bible - a book which I also read on my trip. The latter is a far more complex, ambitious work that brings something which, to me, felt entirely fresh and original. Hosseini's story, on the other hand, is not groundbreaking and I recognise many of the scenes and characters from other books.

What it is, however, is incredibly emotional, sad, uplifting, infuriating and memorable. It's lessons on the history of Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban might be basic but they are nothing if not compelling. I came away feeling like I learned something. What I did learn was truly horrifying, it painted details into the very vague images I already had in my mind that I had gotten from various British newspapers. But I also really liked the affection for his birth country that shines through Hosseini's story; his faith in the ultimate goodness of these people who witnessed society and order crumbling around them.

The ultimate tragedy of this story, for me, is how everything could have been very different for Mariam and Laila if people had just acted a little faster, stopped worrying about their pride a little earlier, and trusted a little more. I really liked the range of emotions both women experienced and they way the author showed this. I know some readers thought it was wrong for Mariam to be jealous of Laila at first, but I actually really liked the complexity. Rasheed may be a bastard but he was the only thing in the world that she had at that point, and on some level it made sense to me that she would want to claim him for herself.

While I believe Mariam and Laila experienced complex emotions and were well-developed, Rasheed did not get the same treatment - a fact which I'm torn about. On the one hand, I think Rasheed would have been a better character if he'd been developed beyond him being the most villainous villain in all villaindom. On the other hand, I think Rasheed's evil personality offers an important distinction between him and Jalil (and the other men), one which is needed in a book that looks at the cruelties women suffer at the hands of men.

The difference between Rasheed and Jalil is important. The latter is a man who acts badly because his behaviour is shaped by the society he lives in. Rasheed, on the other hand, is a mean and violent brute who completely abuses the power handed to him as a man in this society. These differences between Rasheed, Jalil and the other men (Tariq, Laila's dad, etc.) show there is not one type of man in this society, that wife-beating is not simply a part of the culture, that even in a patriarchal society you can choose what type of man you want to be.

I admit this is far from a perfect book, but it is a good book. It's a book that seems to swallow you whole but spit you back out in pieces. And, just to mention, I keep intending to read The Kite Runner again because I think studying it at school ruined it for me, but so far, I much prefer A Thousand Splendid Suns.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Heart-Wrenching!

Important!

In a world where people tend to make assumptions about people and places based on the news, preconceived notions, prejudice, etc., this book needs to be read. I think a good portion of the American population hears “Afghanistan” and they think it is a country full or terrorists and unreasonable Muslim extremists who all band together to plot the downfall of anyone not like them. A Thousand Splendid Suns shows the progression of life in Afghanistan from the Soviet takeover in 1980s through post 9/11 Taliban control. All of this is through the eyes of two women trying to live a normal and peaceful life just like anyone in the world wants. You will see that despite the extremists and unreasonable values of some, most of the Afghani people are no different than you and me.

Hosseini is a fantastic writer. Not only is the story enthralling, but the way he writes is engaging and easy to follow. I was never bored or confused. When I was not reading the book, I was thinking about the book and could not wait to get back to it and find out what happens. Sometimes you find the perfect book where the writing just falls into place with a click – that happened with this one. While the story takes place far away and the life discussed unusual for me, he made it very approachable and understandable.

The characters were great. The ones I was rooting for I was REALLY rooting for. The ones that I despised I REALLY hated. When I get this invested in the characters, it is a sure sign of a great book!

I will end with this warning: while a great and interesting book, it is, at times, difficult to read. There are situations and scenarios that are upsetting and may trigger lots of emotion. If you are extremely sensitive, it may be difficult to make it through. But, if you can, I think it will be worth it in the end.

If you have not read this book yet, I think you should give it a try. The experience is very likely to be eye-opening and maybe even life-changing.

[shanayaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳ ∞/5 stars

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”

This book isn't just a read; it's an immersive experience that seized me from the opening page and refused to let go until the very end. I found myself physically unable to put it down, and even when I did, its essence lingered in my thoughts. It didn't just tell a story; it meticulously unraveled my emotions, breaking me apart, crushing my soul, and shattering my heart into fragments. This literary gem goes beyond words, leaving an enduring imprint that echoes with beauty, sorrow, and profound depth. It's more than a book; it's a journey that stays with you, etched into the very fabric of your being.

This book gracefully navigates through the landscape of pain, revealing the hidden beauty that exists even in the midst of despair. It paints a portrait where, against all odds, a glimmer of hope shines through, and within the tapestry of hate, threads of selflessness are woven. The author's skillful storytelling crafts a poignant and meaningful narrative, imprinting its impact on anyone immersed in its pages. It's a tale that not only resonates with beauty but also delves into the profound reflections on the resilience of the human spirit, making it an unforgettable journey that reverberates long after the final chapter.

This book delves into the poignant narrative of a woman's enduring struggle for basic respect in a society plagued by unattainable standards. As the story unfolds, it vividly portrays the suffering women endure due to societal expectations, it sheds light on the oppression and injustice faced by women during times of war, emphasizing the societal pressure to bear a male heir as their only means of escape. The tale unfolds with a serious tone, yet it carries a simplicity that tugs at the heart, leaving a sweet resonance that lingers long after the final page.


At its core, this story unravels the life of Mariam, born as a bastard child to a wealthy man, condemned to a lifetime of discrimination and injustice. Branded as a wretched child, she endured neglect and ignorance from her own family for 15 long years. Her path took a darker turn when she was married off to Rasheed, a man twice her age, who viewed women merely as breeding machines. Rasheed's character is portrayed as an absolute disgrace, subjecting Mariam to abuse, rape, and continuous insult due to her inability to bear children throughout their marriage.

In the face of life's unfairness towards Mariam, she emerges as one of the most kind and selfless individuals. Her resilience shines through, demonstrating that despite life's hardships, maintaining kindness and love for those who deserve it is paramount. Despite enduring betrayal from every corner of her life, Mariam remains remarkably resilient, kind, and loving. Her journey is a heart-wrenching testament to the depth of her character, evoking a profound sense of empathy for all the undeserved suffering she endured.

Enter Laila, a character whose once beautiful life takes a drastic turn due to the ravages of war, leading her to an unforeseen marriage with Rasheed. Despite initial animosity between the two women, a unique bond develops over time, offering solace in each other's company. When Rasheed's true nature is revealed upon the birth of Laila's first daughter, mistreatment ensues. In this scenario, Mariam, a beacon of kindness and gentleness, stands as a protector, consistently shielding Laila and her children from the harsh realities they face. This intricate narrative weaves a tale of resilience, unexpected alliances, and the enduring strength found in the bond between these two women.

This narrative concludes in one of the most heart-wrenching ways imaginable. Mariam, the epitome of kindness, makes the last and ultimate sacrifice for Laila and her children, granting them the opportunity for a free and happy life with Laila's love, Tariq. Anticipating the inevitable, I sensed Mariam would be the one to make this selfless sacrifice, a testament to the life that had shaped her into a remarkably kind-hearted soul.

As the story reached its culmination, my heart shattered for Mariam. Despite life's hardships, she never allowed pain to sour her spirit. Till the end, she remained as beautiful and lovely as a flower, a testament to her enduring grace. Even when life was unrelenting in its cruelty, Mariam's unwavering focus on Laila's happiness showcases the depth of her selflessness. This somber yet beautiful tale leaves a lasting imprint, celebrating the resilience and sacrificial love that defines Mariam's character.

°˖➴ Overall, if you're in search for a heart-wrenching masterpiece that delicately shatters your heart and crushes your soul, leaving an insatiable longing, then this might just be your perfect catch. This poignant masterpiece goes beyond mere storytelling, offering an emotional tapestry that resonates deeply. 💌


: ̗̀➛ QUOTES :-

➳ “Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always."


➳ "You know.”
“Know what?”
“That I only have eyes for you.”


➳ “Tell her she is the noor of my eyes and the sultan of my heart. Will you do that for me?”


➳ “For me, it ends here. There’s nothing more I want. Everything I’d ever wished for as a little girl you’ve already given me."


➳ “I’ll follow you to the end of the world, Laila"


°˖✧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚✧˖°

ᥫ᭡ pre-read review ✧˖°.
reading this bc I love pain 😭✋🏻

[Hend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never cried while reading a book,like I Did while reading this one!

It is the story of poor, uneducated women who have to endure the hardships of life...
The horrors and terrors that a lot of women have gone through during certain period in Afghanistan, the war torn country ,and the narration through the lives of two women Mariam and Laila..

Going through All kinds of Physical abuse of hitting, kicking and slapping ,brutal beating ,etc….
Struggling the cruel extremely sadistic Rasheed, And suffering all kinds of violence and subjected to his shifting mood and volatile temper.

Witnessing the ugliness of war, the fate of loved ones, grieving for lost lives.

And sadly this is not exclusive to Afghan society only it is happening in many other countries The unhappy, abusive marriages, oppressive governments and repressive Cultural mores ..

It finds its echo in varying forms, in differing degrees, through the different time periods, across the world.


The end of the novel give some hope in its last scene after all the violent accidents ,with Laila's pregnancy, Kabul rebuilding, and a loving family reunion.

“I know you're still young but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot.
And I also know that when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated. No chance.”

Laila fulfilled her father’s dreams and he can rest in peace watching his brave daughter completing his path and teaching young Afghan children the true values and principles
of Their social heritage and culture
educating them how they could be good citizens in the future.
In this critical age when personalities are shaped
And what they learn will stay with them.
And protecting them from falling in the hands of those who would mould them to absorb hatred ,violence and intolerance.

[lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

“tell her she is the noor of my eyes and the sultan of my heart.”

this book is a love letter to all women.

of afghanistan. of the world. for the countless women who cannot raise their voices and speak up for what they believe in, simply because the world is such a shitty place. brutal because of its rawness, but also stunning because of how real it was. how poignant it was. how sad it made me. how it touched my heart. how much it incited me. how angry it made me. how powerful every moment was. this is one of those rare books that have enough passion to start a revolution.

mariam and laila were just the most precious souls. no one deserves to suffer like they did and yet they had to go through it all with subdued gazes and meek glances. i definitely preferred laila’s point of view but mariam’s story was so real because of the way she felt unwanted by everyone, not experiencing an ounce of the type of love she’d always dreamed of having. but both of them were so soft and strong at the same time for standing up for themselves and yet knowing when to step down. i adore them so much. ❤️‍🩹

“you know.”
“know what?”
“that i only have eyes for you.”

laila and tariq were simply beautiful. i truly believe they are layla and majnun reincarnated 🥺 they’ve suffered so much i’m glad they’re finally having some semblance of happiness, even if it’s stolen moments. 🥹

like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. always.

i hate rasheed and i know there are hundreds of men like him in the world, men who think they’re entitled to take whatever they want when they want, men who think women should be caged and imprisoned and made to do whatever the man of the house orders, men who think it’s alright to abuse and defile women and behave in absolutely vile and cruel ways. i love the way this book shows the truth of the world while not losing its track on the point it’s trying to make.

each snowflake was a sigh heaved by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. all the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into the clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below.

i feel this is one of those books everyone needs to read once in their lives, simply because of how much it makes you reflect on how things are in the world. because of how much it makes you feel. because mariam and laila’s story deserves to be heard. their story is the reflection of the suffering of hundreds of thousands of women in the past and present and it needs to be listened to. the impact it had on me was so profound and all i can say is… just read it. the world is such an unfair, cruel, harsh, unfathomable place but this showed that light could shine from the most unlikely places and hope could peek out from the darkest depths of hell. and i loved it for showing me that.

she is here, in these walls they’ve repainted, in the trees they’ve planted, in the blankets that keep the children warm, in these pillows and books and pencils. she is in the children’s laughter. but mostly, she is in laila’s own heart, where she shines with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns.

(i picked this up from my library two weeks back and while i’m a fast reader generally, i couldn’t bring myself to read more sometimes because of how horrified and disgusted and filled with rage this made me. it’s absolutely not one of the worst things i’ve read, but then again, i generally read fiction and while this is that, it’s also something that happens in real life and the fact that these atrocities are so common in the world makes me so mad. you know that feeling when you know you wanna read more because you need to know what happens next, but you can’t bring yourself to pick the book back up because you’re scared? yup. that’s what happened. i shed so many tears while reading this.)

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

To my editor:

Khaled here. As I was reviewing my final draft of “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” some questions occurred to me.

1. Could I make the characters any less complex? Despite my efforts, I feel I haven’t fully achieved the one-dimensionality my readers seemed to love in “The Kite Runner.” Specifically, I’m afraid I may have given Rassan one or two potentially sympathetic moments early on despite his overall abusive personality (although I more than make up for it). I don’t know whether my readers can handle that level of complexity. Fortunately, aside from that minor lapse with Rassan, I think I managed to keep my characters and their relationships pretty simplistic, although there’s always room for improvement in that regard!

2. Do you think I included enough graphic violent scenes, or should I add another ten or so?

3. Are my characters stereotypical enough?

4. Pretty clever the way I stuffed the facts of recent Afghani history into my characters’ dialogue whenever I could, don’tcha think?

5. Speaking of dialogue, I’m wondering whether I can inject a little more of my agenda into the characters’ conversation or introspection, or maybe structure the plot around it a little more. Any ideas?

6. Isn’t it great that Afghanistan is such a hot topic that mediocre writers like me can make a buck by pandering to people’s intellectual pretensions?

With hopes for another bestseller,
Khaled

[Pakinam Mahmoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunatly,there is only five stars..i wish i could give it more..simply outstanding

[Lisa of Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mariam is living a quiet life with her mother when tragedy strikes. Will her new husband rescue her from her situation?

About 20 years later, Laila’s world is crumbling around her. How will her path intersect with Mariam?

The Kite Runner brought me here; however, I will say that I enjoyed The Kite Runner more.

This book reminded me a lot of A Woman is No Man, and I also enjoyed that one more than this one.

One of the things that I didn’t like about this book is how dark it is. Of course, the subject matter is quite heavy, and it isn’t meant to be a lighthearted comedy. However, it was just a bit too dark for my liking. Even in dark circumstances, people can still find joy or hope.

Also, I had a hard time really connecting with Mariam and Laila. There are two things that contributed to this: 1) The author would jump years into the future from one chapter to the next. 2) The author wrote this book in the third-person perspective. It could have been more impactful if the book was written in the first-person perspective, really feeling the characters’ fears and thoughts.

2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal

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[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Khaled Hosseini tells us the story of millions of daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers through Miriam and Laila. We can see how the Taliban had shattered Afghanistan in this novel. The author has beautifully depicted hope, tragedy, and violence amid the war. The way he tells the history of a country through the eyes of two women is simply brilliant. This is a must-read book for everyone and can be considered one of the few books that can change the lives of people in the best possible way.

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”

[enqi ☾⋆˚*̣̩✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each snowflake was a sigh heard by an aggrieved woman somewhere in the world. All the sighs drifted up the sky, gathered into clouds, then broke into tiny pieces that fell silently on the people below. As a reminder of how women suffer.

Poignant, stunning, and heartrending. A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS was one of the best and most meaningful books I've read. Beginning from one woman's impossibly sad story, the book slowly weaves in a tale of two women whose lives intersect when they are both married to the same cruel, bitter man. By outlining the solidarity and camaraderie of the female spirit, it skilfully navigates all the themes and values regarding gender identity, disparity, and entrenched patriarchal mindsets that have been painfully pertinent societal issues for a long time. It reminds me every day that in a world full of prejudice, there is still beauty. That in a world full of hatred, there is still selflessness. That in a world full of suffering, there is still hope.

I'd like to start off by saying that I absolutely loved this book. With every page I read my heart was in my mouth and my stomach felt like it would drop to my shoes any moment. But I loved this book. I loved this book. It is a beautiful and enlightening story filled to the brim with hope, even beneath its painful, heart-wrenching emotional rawness. How strange, because this was a book where I dared not to turn the page, but I kept flipping and breaking my own heart anyway.

“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS tells of the oppression of women in Afghanistan and the injustice with which they are treated -- of how their only way to social status and approval is to bear a male heir. Mariam, one of the main characters, has to be one of the saddest characters in literature. Born a bastard child to a very wealthy man, she has faced being called "harami" (an insult) her whole life, been shunned and discriminated and thought of as ignorant and worthless, even by her own birth father and her family. Finally, she is married off to a man named Rasheed, who is violent, rude, abusive and just plain mean (honestly, I wanted to kick him in the face throughout the whole book). He sees her only as a tool for breeding his heirs and mistreats, gr4pes and severely abuses her, even more so when they find out she is sterile.

If I had been used, discarded and abused by everyone around me my entire life, I would have become a bitter shell of a girl, or at the very least develop severe trust issues. But despite life being categorically unfair to her, and despite facing nothing but hardship her whole life, Mariam's personality is so beautiful that it completely broke my heart. Unfazed by the betrayal of almost everyone she knows and the misfortune that she is constantly granted, Mariam remains resigned, but most of all an extremely resilient, selfless, humble, and kind person. When Rasheed takes a second wife, Laila, the two women despise each other at first, but soon unite against their husband's verbal and physical and emotional abuse. Mariam, being self-sacrificial, often tried to protect Laila and bore the brunt of Rasheed's anger.

The book ended in the most heartbreaking way possible and yet it was so fitting to Mariam's utterly stoic, compassionate and sacrificial personality that I just sat there and bawled. I couldn't help it. I somehow knew in my bones that Mariam would make the ultimate sacrifice - to turn herself in to the Taliban and be sentenced to death so that Laila and her children could go free and find happiness with Laila's soul mate, Tariq. I loved Mariam then, loved her because she was a flower even with all the acid that life had thrown at her; she'd never let her kindness wilt, and at the end she was thinking of not her own, but Laila's happiness. I didn't stop crying for days.

Mariam wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes, it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed over her. She thought of her entry into this world, the harami child of a lowly villager, an unintended thing, a pitiable, regrettable accident. A weed. And yet she was leaving the world as a woman who had loved and been loved back. She was leaving it as a friend, a companion, a guardian. A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was not so bad, Mariam thought, that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings.

Suffice it to say that I was a complete wreck after reading this. I'm still a complete wreck.

I thought at first that A Thousand Splendid Suns would be a book of brutality and depression - but it is not. It is an unabashed display of the beauty of the human spirit, and the resilient strength of the two female main characters in this story made me truly realise that what defines a woman are her actions and values, and nothing else. When I turned the last page it occurred to me that this story is as much a reflection of the strength that women are capable of as it is a tale of hope; a tale of how flowers can grow even in the most barren cracks, and hearts find ways to connect even amidst a brutal regime and a country torn apart by war.

"Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always."

🎧✩˖°🌷✨ PRE-REVIEW ♡
As I predicted, this book ended my slump, shattered my heart into a thousand little pieces and put me back together at the same time. I'm crying like a baby after reading it even though I already know everything that happens 😭😭😭


🐋🐚☾⋆⁺₊ PRE-READ ♡ | Since I've been bedridden for a week I figured I'd reread one of my favorite books and get my heart broken for the third time 🥹🫶🏻 Please let this end my slump!!!

[Ahmed Ibrahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

خالد حسيني ليس كاتب مثل الآخرين يكتب بالحروف، بل هو جرحٌ متقيح سال صديده على الورق ومنه تشكلت رواياته المفجعة.. واحد من القلائل القادرين على انتزاع تأوهاتي وإثارة رجفتي بكلماته.

هذه رواية عن الحب، والصداقة، والأمومة، والفقد، والفراق، والوجع، والألم.. آهٍ، وآهٍ، وآه من هذه الرواية!
هدفها الأول هو إظهار معاناة النساء الأفغان، حيث يصور امرأتين من جيلين مختلفين لكل منهما معاناتها الخاصة التي خاضتها في صغرها، ثم يجمعهما القدر في بيتٍ واحد خاضعان لزوجٍ واحد دفعتهما الظروف للزواج منه.

الجزء الأول من الكتاب يتحدث عن مريم، الطفلة ابنة الزنا –الحرّامي- ذات الخمسة عشر عامًا التي لم يعترف بها أبيها حفاظًا على سمعته وإن ظل يصرف عليها، عاشت مع أمها صغيرة وكانت السبب في وفاتها، ثم انتقلت للعيش مع أبيها الذي تخلص منها سريعًا بتزويجها بدون رضاها، وهو ما جعلها ساخطة عليه وأخبرته أنها لا تريد أن تراه مجددًا ورفضت رؤيته عند زيارته لها بعد سنين من زواجها.. ثم أجبرت على معايشة حياتها الجديدة في مدينة بعيدة عن مدينتها، وبدأت معاناتها مع زوجها بعد أن أسقطت جنينها.

الجزء الثاني، عن حياة ليلى، وهي فتاة ولدت بعد أن تزوجت مريم برشيد، في ذات الشارع، بعد أن أحتل السوفييت أفغانستان، نشأت في ظل النظام الشيوعي حيث سُمح للمرأة بأن تتعلم وأُنشأت مدارس للبنات، نشأت هي وطارق معًا من صغرهما، وشبّا معا، وأحبا بعضهما، وبعد خروج السوفييت وإقامة دولة أفغانستان الإسلامية أغلقت مدارس البنات وقُيدت الحريات، واشتعلت الحروب الداخلية التي دمرت المدينة بأكملها، وفرّ الناس إلى الدول المجاورة: باكستان وإيران.. وكُتب لها ولطارق الافتراق عندما قرر أبويّ طارق الفرار من الحرب، وقبل أن يفترقا يتلاقيا بروحهما وجسديهما في لقاءٍ حميم، ويرحل ويترك بذرته بداخلها.. وبعد فترة من الزمن تقرر عائلتها الرحيل لكنهم كانوا تأخروا كثيرًا، وبعد موت أبويها إثر صاروخٍ دمر منزلهم دعاها رشيد للإقامة في منزله بعض الوقت إلى أن تُشفى، وسيعرض عليها الزواج لاحقًا وستوافق لأن رسولٍ أخبرها بموت طارق، ولأن بطنها في سبيلها إلى الانتفاخ، وتزوجت رشيد وأصبحت هي ومريم تحت سقفٍ واحد، وسيعانون من الذل ضروبًا في كنف هذا الرجل.

سأكتفي بهذا القدر البسيط ولن أخوض في الحديث أكثر من هذا كي لا أحرق الأحداث، حيث ما زال الكثير في الجزء الثاني إضافة إلى الجزء الثالث.. ما زال هناك المزيد من الألم والأمل في انتظارك في الرواية.

في عدّاء الطائرة الورقية كان لجملة " لأجلك ألف مرة ومرة " أثر في نفسي.. وفي هذه الرواية عندما عقدت ليلى العزم على زيارة الملا فيض الله في نهاية الرواية لكي تحدثه عن مريم، وعندما وصلت عند بيته وأخبرت ابنه بما تريده، رد عليها وهو يتذكر مريم، قائلًا: يااااااااااه... هذا الرد البسيط أثر في نفسي كثيرًا وأصابني برجفة قوية، لا أعرف لماذا، لكني أحسست بصدقه، فعندما وصلت لهذا الحد من الرواية وقرأت هذه الجملة شعرت بصدق هذه الياااااااه وأنها تعبر عني عندما استعدت أحداث الرواية الأولى.. فقد عشت فيها وشعرت بأن ما حدث كان ماضي بعيد بالفعل وليست مجرد صفحات أنهيتها في وقت قريب.

أما عن المقارنة بين هذه الرواية وروايته الأخرى "عدّاء الطائرة الورقية"، فأنا أحببت الثانية عن الأولى، لكن لا مجال للمقارنة بينهم، فالاثنتان رائعتان، اشتركتا في القضية، ولكنهما مختلفتين، فأنا أرى أن الاثنتين مكملتان لبعضهما البعض.

للكاتب حاشية في آخر الكتاب من كلمة ألقاها في معرض "بوك إكسبو أمريكا" عام 2007 ، يتحدث فيها عن نفسه وظروف كتابته للروايتين، وأنه لم يكن لينشر عدّاء الطائرة الورقية، وبعد نشرها لم يتوقع هذا الانتشار الهائل للرواية وتأثيرها في الناس على مختلف جنسياتهم ودياناتهم.. وكما قال بالفعل إن الأدب يربط بين الناس مهما كانت اختلافاتهم ويحفز فيهم إنسانيتهم.

ملحمة ثانية لا تنسى.

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking yet beautiful, devastating yet hopeful, A Thousand Splendid Suns is an illuminating portrayal of women in Afghanistan, a patriarchal society plagued by war, violence and oppression.

If you're looking for a book that will make you have a good cathartic ugly cry and leave you emotionally wrecked but richer for the experience, this one will do the trick, and possibly leave an indelible mark on your soul. I read this a few years ago, and this book has stayed with me since.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enraging, painful, heart-wrenching, blissful and incredibly profound is what this was like

“As a reminder of how women like us suffer, she'd said. How quietly we endure all that falls upon us."

I was somehow able to find the words for this despite feeling review slumpy and slumpy in general lol so here it goes

Think about what heartbreak feels like with no escape of it getting better and add rage in feeling impotent to do anything about it to the mix—that’s what this book felt like. My heart simultaneously soared and plummeted during various points that it felt like I was on a rollercoaster. This was undeniably more than just words on pages, it was a vivid message to what women were/are forced to endure and suffer through. so much anger was felt as I was reading because despite this being a work of fiction—it’s relates to the grim reality many young girls/women who’ve been oppressed go through and all the hardships that come with that

~No spoilers~

Without giving much away, this was essentially a story about two afghan women whose lives became intertwined during a time of upheaval in war which was ruthless and unforgiving to women and their journey individually and together is proof of that. Much of the political turmoil from the ongoing war (even today) is seen through their eyes in a decades long evolution that was as deplorable as it was cruel

“Tell her she is the noor of my eyes and the sultan of my heart."

mariam and laila their stories touched the very epicenter of my soul 🥹 i loved them. They both deserved the world and were dealt with the cruelest realities. I wanted to hug them at every stage of their lives and offer them all my love and warmth because they needed that when they couldn’t find it within each other. I gasped, grieved, cried with/for, raged and felt joy for them throughout it all. They both shared such resilience, courage and inspiring strength in wanting a better future and I’ll forever be thinking about them (it’s been days since I finished and I still am)

To all the women in the world that were/are a Mariam or a Laila—i can only pray and hope that they know what peace, healing, love and happiness looks like ❤️‍🩹 seeing how life was to them made me feel incredibly grateful in that regard to not have experienced what they have and heartbroken because women.. the way we suffer silently in unspeakable ways

Men like Tariq, Mullah Faizullah and Laila’s Babi were the best of men in Laila’s and Mariam’s lives among such monsters so plenty of praise goes to them as they restored my lost hope in the men in this book

Men scum like Rasheed deserve the very worst in hell. I wish them a lifetime of no peace and misery. Castration also seems fitting for men like him. Even more with the patriarchal abuse they subject innocent women to as a result of ingrained cultural customs. I swear his character aggravated me like no other and just men like him because so many of them unfortunately exist

This book was ultimately so heavy on my heart which was torn yet put back in such a devastatingly bittersweet way as the last line in this book had me in tears 🥺 The beautifully descriptive writing here also allowed me to feel the emotions they went through which honestly left me a bit mentally defeated. But after processing it all, I see this book staying with me for life. i don’t ever reach for this type of genre but I’m glad I did

**this is one book I’d always recommend now but please check the trigger warnings in case certain sensitive topics would be too triggering for you before reading‼️**

Quotes

“You see, some things I can teach you. Some you learn from books. But there are things that, well, you just have to see and feel.”

“A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.”

“Time is the most unforgiving of fires.”

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”

“Learn this now and learn it well my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.”
-
First book that I’ve read in a while thats allowed me to say “did I finish the book or did it finish me?!” I wanted a good cry and I bawled. I was met with so many emotions here ugh. Rtc whenever I can find the words.
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Pre review: Long overdue for something painful and moving and wanted to read this months ago because of emara and finally got the final push to thanks to Meagan so here I am 😅

[Margaret M - (having a challenging time and on GR as much as I can) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

Five heart-breaking and tearful stars for a story that will stay with me for a long time, 5 glorious stars for a book that dares highlight atrocities committed against women in Afghanistan, and 5 flawless stars for a book that is pretty dam perfect in everyway possible. Inspired by real and common events these fictional stories need to be told to draw attention to the treatment of women (and men). High praise for an author who brought this story to the world along with his own personal reflection. Mesmerising, absorbing, but shocking.

The Plot

Mariam, the unwanted child of Jalil, lives with her Grandmother until her death and is then sent to live with her natural father and his many wives and children. Rejected and spurned from this new family, at fifteen, she is betrothed to marry a man many years her senior, Rasheed a business associate of her father. As she parts ways there are some chilling exchanges between father and daughter.

“I thought about you all the time. I used to pray that you’d live to be a hundred years old. I didn’t know. I didn’t know that you were ashamed of me.”, but his reply “It ends here for you and me. Say your good-byes.”

Having miscarried multiple time Madiam finds herself in the company of Laila, her husband’s second wife, a women he has chosen to provide him with the family he craves. Yet there are no protestations of love for either women and as a bully, an abuser and violent man he hides behind his status in society to inflict unimaginable mental and physical cruelty on his wives. In a society that offers them no protection and importantly no voice, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and either escape from Rasheed or kill him, and as such they make a decision that neither women will regret but one that will have devastating consequences.

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”, because to live with their husband was to not live at all.

Review and Comments

A Thousand Splendid Suns was a brilliant but heart-breaking story, the writing was stunning, and the plot treat was inspired by true events was fantastic. The characterisation although fictional was believable and authentic. However, it was the inspiration and knowledge that the mistreatment of women is commonplace is what made this such a tearful read.

Women in many societies accept and even embrace the only environment they know. Some, are even happy in it, and it is not for us to judge any society to say what is right. Except this, if women do want a voice, the freedom to work and be educated, then society should consider to not do so is suppressive, suffocating and sometimes brutal. And so, applause for Khaled Hosseini who has given them a voice through his story and an in insight into a life that is all too real for many women.

A letter of regret that Miraim never got to read speaks of her father’s regret “May God grant you a long and prosperous life, my daughter. May God give you many healthy and beautiful children. May you find the happiness, peace, and acceptance that I did not give you. Be well. I leave you in the loving hands of God. Your undeserving father, Jalil”

A sensational and stunning book with epic qualities, a powerful and heart-breaking story, and a reflection from the author “. to see women, we must look at the humanity beneath the veils” and for me, also in the hearts of those women who are dispossessed of their greatest needs.

[Henry Avila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is about two wonderful, brave , intelligent and resolute women Mariam and Laila their optimistic dreams, aspirations, boundless love... yet dehumanized in perilous, merciless, Afghanistan... continually suffering degradation during the tumultuous years in the long, sad history of that troubled, war ravished nation, Mariam born out of wedlock in Herat, to a wealthy man, lecherous Jalil and Nana, she was a maid at his house, he had already three wives and soon ten other children, sent to an isolated hovel by a tiny village , near the city to live out of sight, the embarrassment with her mother. The occasional visits by him were the highlight of Mariam's young life, a devoted daughter with an uncaring father, bitter Nana's endless recriminations against him, made for an appalling situation. At 15 the girl can no longer remain and flees to Jalil, who she loves above everyone nevertheless he refuses to see, taken back... an awful tragedy materializes .. Married off to a shoemaker in Kabul the capital, a big man almost thirty years older, Rasheed with a propensity to put women in their place, his wife must dress properly outside, walk behind, talk to him only when asked a virtual slave in the home, her main duty is to give him sons...but her numerous pregnancies do not go to fruition. The ignorant hypercritical husband, is always angry beatings and scoldings become common....Laila, background is very different than Mariam, from another generation, born and raised in Kabul, the bright student to loving parents, the father a former teacher, bookish, timid and small, dismissed by the communist government, an emotional domineering mother with bouts of ennui...depression, stays in bed many a day , her two sons joined the Mujahideen but were killed by the Soviet invaders. The war comes to the capital after the Russians leave, warlords struggle for power, starvation widespread, horrendous crimes committed in the open, shelling obliterated much of the city and the people, thousands perished ...including Laila's parents, in the future her teenage boyfriend Tariq two years older, escapes with his family to safety in Pakistan , she refused to leave her father and mother still alive then...Soon alone in trouble, Laila has to marry Rasheed...his wife Mariam , had nursed the wounded Laila in their home. It will be like before, the evil commences ... the aging Rasheed's punching, kicking, slapping, verbal abuse to both his wives , they are cognizant of their lowly status... only the son Zalmai is adored by him, his "daughter"Aziza, hated. ..An outstanding book about two remarkable women, who endure...they will fight back... someday.

[She-who-must-not-be-named · Rating 4 out of 5]

" One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."

There are very few books that make me feel a tempest of emotions: make me happy and proud at one moment and break my heart in the next; make me chuckle at a few scenes and leave me in tears later, make me love a few characters and hate the others- and this is one such book.

The novel focuses on the life of two Afghan women-Mariam and Laila who come from different walks of life.
Laila enjoys her school life, and is absorbed by the thoughts of her crush Tariq. She's beautiful, confident, smart, strong and playful.

Mariam, on the the other hand is the illegitimate daughter of a businessman Jalil . She faces a lot of social problems and rejection but she is headstrong and the real hero of the story.

About Jalil well, I had a lot of mixed opinions: marrying Mariam off to Rasheed made me feel disgusted, but the emotional letter he wrote at the last took me by surprise.

The characters in the book struggle for their survival in a harsh and obstinate society: They are wounded due to wars, relationships get tough and abusive, their property is destroyed; despite all this, they stick together, which is something I admired. But the best part about this book is the way Mariam and Laila show relentless pursuit and resilience and face all obstacles, especially considering how women are treated in their place- it filled me with pride and I was in love with their headstrongness.

I was hooked, right from the first chapter. This book was pretty much like a rollercoaster- I felt a surge of emotions- anger, remorse and joy coursing through my veins with every passing chapter and I kept turning the pages to know more and before I had an inkling about it, I was done. The story was enticing, the narration was flawless, each chapter had a twist so intriguing I was compelled to read it multiple times.

My heart beat fast reading about he struggles faced my Mariam and Laila and the ending just got so heartbreaking I was almost in tears. I have humongous respect for Khaled Hosseini and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.

[Adina ( back from Vacay…slowly recovering) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished The Kite Runner and I though I should also add a review to A thousand Splendid Suns, the first book I read by Khaled Hosseini.

Women's rights is a subject of great interest for me and I am touched by any story where they are suppressed. Afghanistan is one of the worst countries to be born a woman. The story of the two MC made me angry, sad and hopeless. Even if the book offers a a happy ending, in real life, the hope for Afghan women is still dim.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓇𝑜𝑜𝒻𝓈, 𝒪𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓈𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝒹 𝓈𝓊𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓈.”

“𝐵𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐻𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝓊𝓈 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝑒𝓇, 𝒢𝑜𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑜𝓃.”

Set in Afghanistan, (similar to the Kite Runner), and over a thirty years' time frame from the Soviet invasion to the rise of Taliban and post-Taliban era. It’s refreshing to get a glimpse of a place and a history that I don’t know a lot about.

We follow two women, Mariam and Laila. Mariam the first wife and Laila the second wife, have hard lives and they endure so much, not just from the abusive husband but also from the changes in the political regimes.

It follows Mariam’s life and how she ends up getting married in 1974, at fifteen, to Rasheed who is in his forties. In 1992, Laila who is fourteen marries Rasheed and becomes his second wife.

An illegitimate child of a wealthy man, Mariam is forced to marry and move to Kabul from Herat. She lives a hard life with her much older husband throughout the late 70’s and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. However, her friendship with a local teenager, Laila, helps her to survive her marriage and oppression when the Taliban takes over.

There are several different themes happening within the story that really pulled me in. One that stood out to me was the suffering and perseverance. Though Mariam and Laila differ in their upbringing, both suffered greatly, yet they both endured. Mariam and Laila had to put up with violence against them, especially the pain inflicted by beatings from Rasheed.

Afghanistan has always fascinated me and this novel truly feels like you’re transported into the country. From the poetry of Herat to the Buddha’s in Bamiyan and the vibrant streets of Kabul, it completely draws you in.

The characters, Laila and Mariam, also replicate this sense of beauty and intense heartache. The struggle of the country and two characters become one.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The author's writing is simple, yet concise, he tells the story with such an emotional punch that makes your heart ache. It is an incredible sad tale but it does have some positive moments.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ This was such an emotional one that will stick with me, and now I can't wait to get to Kite Runner sometime soon this year. Highly recommend.

Please check TW's if necessary.


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[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

in true hosseini fashion, this book does not shy away from heavy, and sometimes uncomfortable, topics. but i realised that this book should make the reader feel uncomfortable. the tragedies that women face, even today, are crimes against humanity. but the strength of the two women this story follows is deeply moving and incredibly inspiring.

to save my heart from emotional devastation, i tried to focus on the positives of this story, which can be summed up in this quote:

‘they would make new lives for themselves - peaceful, solitary lives - and there the weight of all that they had endured would lift from them, and they would be deserving of all the happiness and simple prosperity they would find.’

what a beautiful sentiment, that trials and suffering can help lead up to something more - more hope, more happiness. this story is a testament to the will-power and resilience of women, as well as a wonderful portrayal of friendship, family, and love. such a powerful book and a must-read for everyone.

↠ 4.5 stars

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*****
But this book deserves a thousand splendid stars- it is a true masterpiece and a wonderful book!

"Learn this now and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam."

This story chronicles 30 years of Afghan history; from Soviet invasion, to the Taliban, to post-Taliban. This story is told from the perspective of two women; born a generation apart, with different ideas of love and family, two very different childhoods, they are bought together by loss and by war. This story shows both the dangers that Mariam and Laila face- on the streets of Kabul and in the home. This story shows the important bond of friendship, and how strong this is especially when faced with difficult decisions or scenarios, and how this bond of love will effect the next generation.

"Where I come from, one wrong look... and blood is spilled. Where I come from, a woman's face is her husband's business only I want you to remember that."

My heart bled for Mariam's childhood. She held little freedom and was sheltered from most of the outside world. She knew very few people as well and had a mother who refused help for a mental illness (labeling it as the jinn taking over her body). Mariam had little luxuries and was denied an education by those around her... These exact things that most of us take for-granted.

On the other hand, Laila had siblings and a father that absolutely adored her. She also had friends her own age with whom she truly cherished, and had the privilege of an education.

However, both women's lives are brought together through tumultuous events, leading them to both have the same fate and live in a very unhappy household, where abuse and violence takes place at the hands of their controlling husband, Rasheed.

Laila never would have believed that a human body could withstand this much beating, this viciously, this regularly, and keep functioning.

The level of control and subordination of these women shocked me. Reading parts of this book left a stale taste in my mouth over the abuse and learned helplessness these women face.

Singing is forbidden. Dancing is forbidden. Attention women: You will stay inside your homes at all times.. if you go outside you must be accompanied by a male relative. You will not, under any circumstance show your face.... Girls are forbidden from attending school. All schools for girls will be closed immediately.

Hosseini does a fantastic job at describing the rules that both men and women face under Taliban rule, and Shari'a law. It's almost hard to believe the inequality and the restriction of freedom the women in this story faced- it made me feel like my stomach had plummeted to my feet... It also made me incredibly angry, my fists curling on more than one occasion.

On the whole, this book is extremely thought-provoking and not easy to digest, however, it also inflames the human body with emotion; heart-breaking, heart-clenching and the story hits you like punches to the gut. This book will resonate with some people who have lived through war-torn countries or under the terrifying Taliban rule, or, as in my case, it will be a learning experience. For example, learning Afghan history and the shifts in the treatment of women culturally. It also makes the reader consider their own privilege compared to the stories of both Laila and Mariam.

I think the most stunning thing about this novel is that whilst Mariam and Laila are fictional characters, it applies to so many women out there (for example, around 65 million girls globally are not in school). Hosseini may be writing fictional characters, but these are the stories of an army of resilient and brave women who have lived and breathed this life. He makes the reader aware.

This book provided devastation and loss, as well as hope and love and beauty. Hosseini approaches the plot in a very realistic way and it is written beautifully. This is an unforgettable read for me and the stories of Laila and Mariam will stay with me for a while.

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.

[Taufiq Yves · Rating 1 out of 5]

After The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini followed up with A Thousand Splendid Suns in 2017. Having read both of his novels, I've come to the conclusion that Hosseini - despite being born in Afghanistan and now considered the most successful Afghan author of our time - is pro - imperialist.

The evidence lies in his blatantly placing the blame for women's suffering and Afghanistan's decline squarely on the shoulders of Islam and Afghan culture in his books. The Taliban are depicted as violent, inhuman Pashtuns. Afghanistan is portrayed as a conservative nation, oppressed by Islamic religion. For instance, when 14-year-old Mariam is forced to marry 27-year-old Rasheed and was raped by her husband, she was told by her mother to accept it, citing the example of the Prophet Muhammad marrying Aisha at a young age. This is a common misconception among Westerners, especially non-Muslims. Hosseini exploits this misconception to reinforce this narrative to non-Muslim readers. Sure, he might say that this book was written for Western liberal readers, but the use of Orientalist and Islamophobic language throughout the story is unethical and biased. The stereotype of submissive Islamic men who desire underage girls and submissive Islamic women who blindly obey, even to the point of sacrificing their lives is simply untrue.

In most reviews, I've noticed that even Muslims who understand the nuances of religion overlook the fact that that statement is wrong. They don't care because the novel is so emotional, engaging, and impactful. And what about readers who know nothing about Islam? Won't they blindly believe that that's what Islam is, that that's what Islamic men and women are like in Islam?

When such themes are raised, no matter how beautiful Hossein’s writing is, personally, it's overshadowed by the book's overtly pro-imperialist stances and Orientalist tropes. Even though in his author's bio, he claims to be a UNHCR ambassador ready to offer humanitarian aid to war victims in Afghanistan through the Khaled Hosseini Foundation, it's clear that he has a sinister agenda.

This isn't the first time he has glorified imperialism in his novels. In the final chapter of The Kite Runner, the situation in Afghanistan is summed up with Tariq saying that maybe it wasn't a bad thing that Bush went into Afghanistan and that there might be hope when Bush's bombs stop falling.

Oh, so your house was burned down by foreigners, you moved to their village, and you feel safe living there. So you encourage those foreigners to destroy your village for the sake of everyone else? Is that it?

While it's easy to say, Oh, it's just fiction, don't take it so seriously, it's clear to me that this book was published with the intention of influencing opinions, and it's very effective. In reality, war doesn't improve the human rights of people or women, it only brings death. And bombs don't bring peace and justice to anyone, unless they're part of a struggle for Islam.

I urge readers to be wary of people like Khaled Hosseini who use their identity as agents to spread imperialist narratives. As a descendant of Afghans, I believe he should be spreading awareness of the negative impacts of war, upholding truth, and criticizing the abuse of power and foreign interference in his homeland, not cherry - picking issues to give a bad image of his country of origin and his religion.

To understand Afghanistan as a nation at war, we need to look at the history of Afghan society, warlords, the Soviet proxy war, and the impact of imperialism. None of this is mentioned in the novel, let alone accounted for. I feel he is not qualified to represent Afghanistan, and his origins do not qualify him to portray Islamic society. Full stop.

This isn’t just a coincidence. Hosseini clearly has a propaganda machine behind him, working hard to shape public opinion and gain support for war. From a superficial viewpoint, it's a beautiful novel, but it's deeply inaccurate and unethical. Good writing is a poor excuse for supporting propaganda that harms the lives of millions!

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the horror books pale in comparison to the terrors these women lived through. And the story is even more frightening knowing that taliban has brought back it's unspeakable middle-aged practices.
Can't disagree with reviews saying that the second Khaled Hosseini book is way better.
First, it describes the lives of those who stayed during the bloodshed wars and taliban reign of fear. And, despite seeing the news all the time, such revelations "form within" happen so rarely, that this novel is a must read.
Secondly, the story itself is more emotional and touching. Despite all the violence and heartbreaks it's full of strength and hope. And here author's nostalgic love to Afghanistan is more explicit.

[رغد فريحات · Rating 5 out of 5]

لا يستطيع المرء أن يحصي الأقمار التي ترتعش في أسقفها

ولا ألف الشمس الساطعة التي تختبئ خلف جدرانها.

وكم شمسًا على تلك الأرض تنطفئ وتنتهي ولا يشعر بها أحد، كوني بطلة لروايتك، كوني شمسًا لا تغيب.

يا اصدقاء نحن هنا بصدد رواية عملاقة رائعة باهرة ساطعة
إنها كأسمها .. كألف شمس مشرقة.. لالا بل كملايين الشموس المشرقة
كيف لكاتب أن يصوغ رواية بأسلوب ساحر وبسرد تاريخي معاصر مؤلم وبكل حب وود وتسامح بهذا الشكل؟

عزيزي القارئ إن كنت تظن انك ستنفذ من جمال وسحر هذا الكتاب فأنت خاطئ !!

نحن أمام قصة انسانية عميقة
قصة مريم التي ولدت (كأبنة حرام) وعاشت حياة لاتحسد عليها مع زوج يكبرها بالكثير والكثير لتعيش حياة كالجحيم .قصة ليلى الفتاة الأفغانية الشابة العاشقة والمحبة والمتعلمة التي تخسر كل شيء تحبه .اهلها وطنها وحبيبها
ليجمعها القدر بمريم
كانتا كأكثر من اختين اجتمعتا تحت ظل رجل لايعرف الحب والرحمة
لا أريد فساد احداث الرواية لكن عندما تقرأ وتعرف القصة ستستغرب وستحب نوع العلاقة التي جمعت مابين هاتان الغريبتان كليًا عن بعضهما من كل النواحي

حسنًا ...
يمكننا القول ان هذه الرواية رواية تحاكي واقعًا اليم وهي كمثابة وثيقة تاريخية للظلم والمعاناة التي تعرضت له أفغانستان بشخصيات خالدة في الذاكرة
هذا الكتاب هو مثل أفغانستان .. ألم بدون صراخ فقط أنين وهدوء وألم ومحبة

الرواية تصور لنا ما حدث في أفغانستان قبل الغزو السوفييتي، مرورًا بالحرب الأهلية التي دارت بين الفصائل الأفغانية، ومن ثم سيطرة حركة طالبان على البلاد، بسرد رائع وأسلوب جاذب وسحر لايقاوم

لقد أبدعت يا حسيني ! حتمًا لقد أبدعت.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book on November 8, 2016, and then I somehow picked it up by sheer coincidence precisely on November 8, 2020.

In spite of this divine coincidence, I did not like the read much.

If I had read it when I actually bought it, I probably would have, but I think I've evolved past this kind of unilateral-view things-are-sad white-woman-book-club energy. Societally, we all have. In the early 2000s, maybe we only had room for 1 feeling about Afghanistan (or okay, 1 in addition to War), but now we can have complex views of places. And I wish this were a more complex narrative than Suffering.

Also, the treatment of hijabs and burqas in this book explains why white women thought their sole quest on this earth was to """free""" Muslim women from """having""" to wear them.

This was not a terrible book at all, but it just is no longer my cup of tea.

I can count clearing it off of my incredibly aged owned TBR as a win, though.

Bottom line: Good! Just not for me.

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the hits keep coming and they don't stop coming

review to come / 2.5 stars

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my passions include: owning books for years before even considering picking them up