Having recently read, and absolutely loved, The Kite Runner, I was eager to read Hosseini’s second novel, which I have heard so much about.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is about the particular hardships endured by two Afghani women, made worse by the Taliban’s invasion, making life a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. The story begins with Mariam, a harami – an illegitimate bastard child, who has been banished to a little kolba on the outskirts of the city with her resentful mother Nana. Mariam’s father, Jalil, is the centre of her world, until Mariam learns the truth about his shame and guilt in way that will continue to haunt her for years to come.
We then learn about Laila and her family; a forward-thinking and kind father who is keen for Laila to be educated and fulfill her potential as a bright young woman, and her mother, who seems to have forgotten Laila whilst mourning the loss of her two sons. Laila’s blossoming love with childhood friend Tariq is heartwarming and innocent, and we feel Laila’s immense pain when they are torn apart by war and illness just when they need each other most.
By unfortunate circumstances brought on by war, and the greed and lies of a lecherous old man, Mariam and Laila meet and develop a bond that cannot be broken, even through the toughest and most daunting obstacles.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Thousand Splendid Suns – it had me captivated from the first page and I furiously made my way through it in a couple of days, desperate for more. Hosseini tells an important and powerful story, one that is sadly, very much inspired by true horrors that are happening to Afghani women. I was so pleased to hear that after being awakened to such atrocities, the author created The Khaled Hosseini Foundation. This not-for-profit organisation provides humanitarian assistance to the Afghani people, particularly women and children who seem to be the biggest victims.
Manchester to the world 