A Thousand Splendid Suns question

I finished re-reading it last night and I didn't remember how tragic it was (I read it for the first time almost ten years ago). I found it less Hollywood-bait-y than The Kite Runner - which is why they still haven't made a movie out of it I guess. But anyway this is the book that made me love a certain kind of literature, one that tells stories than encompass more generations. Mariam is - as I read in a review somewhere - probably one of the most tragic characters in history, her life was given meaning only by loving selflessly and being loved in return. I don't know how intentional Hosseini is when he writes these kind of stories that are basically tear-jerkers, but he imbues them in showing afghan culture with no filters, simply choosing what to showcase when it serves the story and not the other way around. It's surely one of my favorite books ever

It's great to see others feel how I did about it. I read at night before I sleep, and every night I looked forward to my escape into Afghanistan. Mariam is a fascinating character. When the end of the novel was near for me, I literally became a bit depressed. Not because of the story, but I just felt like I was losing a friend. I didn't want it to end. That is RARE to get that out of me with a story.

I'm not sure the book would make a successful movie. If it ever is, I hope it's made independently and through a more European movie style perspective. It could be an Oscar winning role available for a woman, no doubt. Actually several leading women.

I look forward to re-reading in about 6 months.

I agree with all the previous comments. This book is addictive yet terrifying at the same time: you want to find out what happens next but you are in dread of things getting even worse - which they do. Sadly, this is the real world for millions of people, and it pays tribute to the author's storytelling that he is able to draw us into that other reality from the comfort and safety of our own homes. I spent 10 days in Afghanistan 10 years ago, but was unable to penetrate the real world behind the colourful and picturesque surface of that fascinating country. Everything started to go wrong when Brežnev decided it was time for an imperial adventure in 1979. Well done Hoseini for bringing the real Afghanistan to us.

I agree! This book will make your whole perspective on cultural women change.

My favorite of all of his!

I found this book rather depressing. I think because I mostly read non-fiction books about war and the holocaust and I was just tired about reading about people being abused. I had to read this book for school so maybe that also weighed in.

I found Hosseini's writing in the female voice unconvincing, which prevented me from being fully engaged with his characters and their story.

the companionship b/w mariam and laila was the beauty of this writing. Hosseini has crafted the landscape of Afghanistan before and after the war so well in all of his works that it is all mesmerizing and the same time sad at how the daunting atmosphere of war can bring havoc upon nature and lives of innocent people.

Jojo wrote: "Studying for English lit A level. And I loved it. It's so beautiful. You can tell from this intimate novel that Hosseini has not restrained the oppression of women as he highlights the SHAME, PERSE..."

I also read this novel for the first time for an english assignment and absolutely fell in love. Before this, I only really read romance novels but Thousand Splendid Suns really opened my eyes to different authors and different perspectives.

Love this author. Hope he keeps writing. His stories are so moving. Thought this book was edgy without being too graphic, not n easy line to keep. His characters touched me. True to the culture, beautiful, sad, violent and yet innocent.