A Thousand Splendid Suns in Everything Nerdy and Anything in Between

Nov 09, 2011 Melina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Men who mistreat and abuse - whether it is physical, verbal, and/or sexual - women and children should not exist. Maybe our newest generation of parents will do well to raise their children differently after reading this novel, and to kill the unfairness of the past. I did not approve of the damage that the men in this book inflicted. Machistas, all of them (*correction: most of them. Tariq was a sweetheart, but men like him were scarce). Just because you think yourself to be the superior sex do Men who mistreat and abuse - whether it is physical, verbal, and/or sexual - women and children should not exist. Maybe our newest generation of parents will do well to raise their children differently after reading this novel, and to kill the unfairness of the past. I did not approve of the damage that the men in this book inflicted. Machistas, all of them (*correction: most of them. Tariq was a sweetheart, but men like him were scarce). Just because you think yourself to be the superior sex doesn't mean that you can still hurt those beneath you. AND worse, it doesn't mean that you can think yourself right all the time or have the advantage to prove it with violence, whether physical, verbal, or sexual.

Forgive me for that above, but it doesn't just occur in "third world" countries, as most people label them. Abuse against women and children occurs EVERYWHERE, even behind closed doors. The invasion of privacy shouldn't be such a dilemma when there are people being hurt to the brink of broken bones. It is against human rights to let these people suffer. It is inhuman.

As for the book, it was amazing, although I cannot tolerate the scenes that I read through. I was really hoping that there would be a happy ending at least. If there wasn't, I don't think that I would've tolerated it.

The characters are of flesh and bone, so realistic that it is possible that the moments that they lived through have occurred. Needless to say, they should be relatable to most, through empathy even. If no one feels empathy, then... what is the world coming to? (Do not say an end.)

I won't spoil this, but I do hope that you can endure, as Nana and Miriam mentioned with such hardships, the innocence of these main characters and of their country. And I hope that the children of today who are better off in life will realize just how much of an effort their parents are making just so that they have a place to sleep, food to eat, a mother, a father, a family that loves them, and an education.

It is sad and disappointing to see so many students drop out of school while so many others who can't (illegal immigrants and eager children in countries that don't have schools... worse, the children who are not allowed to go to school because there isn't enough money, or because their families believe that there is no purpose for school at all) can only dream of it. This book has only reinforced it, giving a glimpse into what it is like for the women who aren't allowed to have an education.

And people keep complaining about wars they never lived through, and politics that they can only have an opinion about. At least make yourself useful and try to make a difference in the world. Teach if you want, be kind, and be grateful for what you have. *shuts up now before she spoils the rest of the plot* ...or haven't I done enough? ...more

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Sep 22, 2014 Haneen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

a heart breaking story..talks about sexisme, loss, unfairness.
but what broke my hear, what really made me cry, the fact that this book is a simple reflection of Wars, all the pain and fear of death or to outlive the loved ones...
it is painful to know that we still suffer because of Wars..
abuse is horrible and it is horrible to know that a lot of women are suffering, not just in the middle east, but around the world.

but also talks about sisterhood, love and sacrifice.
this book is wonderful, th ...more

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