A Thousand Splendid Suns - Book Review |
 Khaled HosseiniBloomsbury Bloomsbury publishing PLC 36 Soho square London W1D 3QY First published 2007 ISBN 978-0-7475-8297-7 Number of pages 367 A thousand splendid suns is an unforgettable portrait of a wounded country. It is a moving story about friendship and family. The story starts with a mother's love for her daughter and a daughter's need for her father's attention. This book for me is an insight to a country where women are not allowed to wear what they want and do not speak unless spoken to. In my opinion khaled Hosseini does not gloss over the horrors in which the charters live through and his explanatory style in which he writes makes this book readable. The book explores a time where the Taliban rule over Afghanistan and the streets of Kabul are unsafe and the constant sound of gunfire and bombs ring loudly throughout. Mariam and Laila's relationship is brought together by tragedy and develops into a friendship as strong as a bond between sisters. Life is hard for both Mariam and Laila as they struggle to survive starvation, fear and brutal attacks. The book tells of a husband brutally attacking his wife half to death. "His powerful hands clasped her jaw. He shoved two fingers into her mouth and pried it open, then forced the cold, hard pebbles into it. Mariam struggled against him, mumbling, but he kept pushing the pebbles in, his upper lip curled in a sneer." This is one of the first times that Mariam face abuse within her married life the abuse just gets more horrific. Out the destruction of war and death love can triumph and over come all. This is the second book Khaled Hosseini has produced. Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and moved to the U.S.A. in 1980 His first novel The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller and has been published in 34 countries. In 2006 he was named a good will envoy to the united nations refugee agency. He now lives in Northern California. This is a recommended read. |