A few days back, I dived headfirst into an emotional rollercoaster with Khaled Hosseini’s book, A Thousand Splendid Suns.
No kidding, it was not easy to finish this book, and I am not saying this because it was bad; I am saying it because it was so heart-touching and gut-wrenching.
Honestly, the book isn’t for the faint of heart; it’s heart-wrenching, tear-jerker, and painful to read. But it’s so good because it exceptionally narrates the war times in Afghanistan and the actual struggles of women.
It is a powerful story about two Afghan women.
I don’t know if the saying, there’s beauty in struggles, is true or not, but that’s what I told myself while frantically searching for tissues between chapters.
Today, I will be sharing my review of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. So, if you want to grab this one, I suggest reading the review once to get a better idea of the book.
My Ratings For the Book
These are my ratings of this book:
Synopsis of A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns starts by introducing a little girl named Mariam. She was the illegitimate child of a local businessman in Herat and lived with her mother in a small hut on the outskirts of the town. She had a troubled childhood and craved Jalil’s (her father’s) love and presence.
Due to unfortunate circumstances, she was left alone and expected Jalil to come to her rescue. But sadly, Jalil was ashamed of her, and due to family pressure, he married fifteen-year-old Mariam to a man who was around forty years old.
After marriage, Mariam leaves for Kabul with her husband, Rasheed. Mariam tolerates abuse, taunts, and restrictions from her husband throughout her life.
Another important character was Laila, a girl who lived in the same neighborhood where Mariam resided. Both women have around seventeen to nineteen years of age difference.
Laila was a confident, smart girl with modern thoughts. She had a good start with a healthy family and a best friend with whom she later fell in love. But then the tragedy struck.
Afghanistan got captured by the Soviets and Taliban, and Laila had to get married to Rasheed unwillingly. Within a few days, she faced the same kind of abuse and violence as Mariam.
The terror within the country grew, with a rise in violence and many restrictions on the citizens, especially women.
Stuck together in similar misery, Mariam and Laila form a strong bond as sisters, friends, and mother-daughters. They both try to escape from Rasheed but fail miserably.
Something unfortunate happens, leading to many more complications and struggles. Will they both ever be free, or can only one of them escape? Will this cost someone’s life? Or more than one life?
My Review of A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Kite Runner was the first book I read by Khaled Hosseini, and it holds a special place in my heart. This is the second book I read by the author, and I have to say, it was a lot more heart-wrenching.
It rips your heart out and tears it slowly, piece by piece, and leaves you devastated. The plot development is slow, but it narrates all the intricacies of the lives of the protagonists, along with the horrible war days in Afghanistan.
If you really want to know about the history of this war, the violence, and the struggles, then this book will be perfect. It describes the situations in great detail. Hosseini has written this story incredibly, including the battles the country and its women had to face.
The book is about two women who were married forcefully to the same abusive man and how they both face their terrible fate and form a beautiful bond with one another.
Here, you’ll see examples of women supporting, fighting, and protecting each other in every way possible. Mariam and Laila’s characters were so impactful.
Laila is a headstrong and rebellious woman who knows how to stand up for herself, but Mariam is extremely weak and mostly tolerates everything silently. In the end, her standing up and fighting against the wrong was satisfying to read; a great character development, indeed.
Other characters in the book were also good, and no one felt dull or unwanted. There are so many parts where you will break down and might need to take a breather before starting again.
The story is sad, but the author has terrifically portrayed the times of the war and how women were suppressed and abused.
I cried so many times while reading the book. As a woman, it felt so personal and heartbreaking to know what the women in society have to face on a daily basis, and I found myself privileged to be in a safe place.
The writing and characters were good, and I was deeply touched and engrossed. Honestly, I loved it. However, I do not think I will ever be able to reread it, as I don’t have the courage to go through this emotional turmoil again.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. However, people who find it hard to read depressing and saddening books should avoid it.
Wrap-Up
Khaled Hosseini is an amazing writer, and his books are worth reading. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a beautiful story about two women and a country facing war.
I recommend this book to all readers. It will not disappoint you and will be an impactful read.
I hope that ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns Review’ was helpful and you gained a better understanding of the story. So, without further delay, grab the book!
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below.