A Thousand Splendid Suns: Part 2 (contains spoilers)

[Kathryn]

This thread is for the discussion of Part 2, chapters 16 to 26, of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

If you haven't finished this section yet, beware: this thread could contain spoilers.

[Mahsa]

I liked how Leila found love when she was so young,in a boy that wasn't perfect at all,but was enough for her solitude,when her mother didn't pay much attention to her and her father tried so much in order to build an efficient relationship with her(although without much success!).however,I didn't expect this chapter to have such a heartbreaking and emotional ending.!I almost cried(while I was in the class,pretending to listen to the professor!! )

[Karen]

Laila's character is so strong and endures so much as a child just like Mariam, I'm glad that she has Tariq to help her through a lot of it. The ending of this chapter though, how heartbreaking!!

[Reija]

Well, I have had huge expectations for this book after And mountain echoed and I feel this is not that good. This is so depressing, two girls, what ever bad could happen to them, happens.. I also liked his more experimental writing, jumping to stories to stories and times too, this is very linear so far.. more like you born and then you suffer. But maybe it's getting better. At least his writing is very nice to read, even if I'm not very engaging to story, it is easy to pick to book.

[Kathryn]

I am enjoying this book, although it is sad at times. I'm suspending judgement, Reija, as to whether it's better, worse or similar to And the Mountains Echoed as I can't tell yet!

Mariam and Laila both had hard childhoods, I agree, Karen and Mahsa, but I think Mariam had it worse than Laila. At least Laila had Babi around every day and Tariq and Giti and Hasina to talk to. Of course, after she lost everyone in more or less a year (I think), then she had no one...

[Mahsa]

Kathryn wrote: "I am enjoying this book, although it is sad at times. I'm suspending judgement, Reija, as to whether it's better, worse or similar to And the Mountains Echoed as I can't tell yet!

..."
I absolutely agree!Mariam's childhood was worse.And unfortunately the sad childhood led her to another era in which nothing was actually better!

[Alicia]

I think I may have become to attached to Mariam and her story because I found myself reading Part Two waiting for glimpses of her. Why was Jalil at her house? Why was she in the hospital with Laila after the bomb? How is she faring under her abusive husband's reign?

That being said, I loved reading about the relationships between Laila and her father and Tariq. Hakim, who was regarding as so weak by Rasheed, was such a caring father who took care of Laila while Fariba was mentally checked out. Even though it was marred by tragedy, Laila seemed to have had happiness, some degree of freedom, and an education. I am really interested in seeing how Laila and Mariam come together and whether Laila can help Mariam get any of those things for herself.

[Kathryn]

Alicia wrote: "I think I may have become to attached to Mariam and her story because I found myself reading Part Two waiting for glimpses of her. Why was Jalil at her house? Why was she in the hospital with Laila..."

I didn't pick up at the time that the man with the car outside the house was Jalil - I thought it must have had something to do with Rasheed. Have you kept reading, Alicia? You get some answers further on...!

[Alicia]

Kathryn wrote: "Have you kept reading, Alicia? You get some answers further on...! ."

Just finished Part 3, so I got my answers!

[Laura]

Alicia wrote: "I think I may have become to attached to Mariam and her story because I found myself reading Part Two waiting for glimpses of her. Why was Jalil at her house? Why was she in the hospital with Laila..."

I felt the exact same way! I definitely had Miriam in the back of my mind the entire time reading about Laila. I just finished Part 2 and I love Laila's story so far but keep wondering about Miriam during this time. Reading about the fall of the communist rulers, I also thought about Jalil and what happened to his family... also wondering why he appeared at Miriam's home.

This is such a wonderful book so far. Really looking forward to seeing how the stories connect.

[Albany]

I loved this second part because it kind of gave you a bit of a breather from the heartbreak of the first part. I think Laila had it much easier than Mariam even towards the end. Now I see how their stories could be coming together and I can't wait to see how it all ties up.

[Janet]

Albany wrote: "I loved this second part because it kind of gave you a bit of a breather from the heartbreak of the first part. I think Laila had it much easier than Mariam even towards the end. Now I see how thei..."

I agree that the beginning of the second part was a bit of a breather from the heartbreak of Mariam's story. However, by the end of this section I was constantly in a state of horror and tears. Mariam, Laila and all the inhabitants of Kabul were in a state of terror due to the warlords. Even though I knew all about this at the time, the vivid descriptions were heart wrenching. Add to that the current state of affairs in Afghanistan and the tragedy multiplies astronomically.

[Kathryn]

Janet wrote: "Mariam, Laila and all the inhabitants of Kabul were in a state of terror due to the warlords. Even though I knew all about this at the time, the vivid descriptions were heart wrenching. Add to that the current state of affairs in Afghanistan and the tragedy multiplies astronomically..."

It must have been an awful situation to live in, when just going outside your front door could mean you were the target of a sniper, and there are rockets and grenades going off in nearby streets and even destroying near-by houses! What a terrible burden to live under. It certainly makes any of the things that cause me distress seem very minor indeed...