A Thousand Splendid Suns: Khaled Hosseini (Bloomsbury Publishing)

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini As a small time writer of no consequence, I am only too ready to criticise the next reading circle book. The more successful the book, the more likely I am to be prickly, suspicious and on the lookout for faults. However, as soon as I started A Thousand Splendid Suns, any envious nastiness evaporated as I was drawn into this wonderful book. For me, it was a book that was almost perfect - a traditionally written story, well constructed, with characters - the main ones, specifically - with whom you couldn't help empathising. It was also a thirty year history of Afghanistan from about 1974 to 2003. The book tells the story of two women, who over the period are married to the same man; at first they are rivals, even though their husband is an unattractive, hateful, abusive middle-aged man, who has twice taken on very young girls in the hope of producing a son. Eventually, in spite of everything they become friends, or almost mother and daughter. I have to admit that I didn't really follow the politics, but what comes over is the suffering of the population as power swings backwards and forwards between various regimes; between one set of soldiers or aggressors and another, and on a personal level, the suffering and impotence of the womenfolk, in the face of the power of the men. Hosseini didn't pull his punches when he described the domestic violence that his two main characters were exposed to. And the worst horror of this is not so much the physical beatings, but the realisation that there is no escape, and no higher power for these two women to go to. So though you might start the book thinking that this is how two feisty, plucky women succeed in defeating their brute of a husband, that would be all too easy to write and untrue to itself. I am never comfortable with explicit sex scenes and generally do not see the need for them. I enjoyed and was moved by Hosseini's delicately written love scenes and description of youthful passion. I took A Thousand Splendid Suns on holiday with me, though some might regard it as inappropriate summer reading. All I know is that once I had started, I didn't want to put it down and that I was able to read it without interruption. And towards the end of the book, as I lay on my sun-bed, tears that I could not stem were running down my face. The capacity to move and the capacity to involve the reader in the lives of fictional characters is of great importance to me and Khaled Hosseini totally succeeded in this and has thereby created a brilliant book.

Just incredible so well written and so emotional. You must read this book.

The prose is easy to read. It was a new experience for me to read a human story which held my interest but appalled me at the same time. I do like the way this man writes and he tells a good story. Which he needs to do because this story is harsh and at times brutal. He makes no bones about it I'm sure but he offers little in the way of solace in the story. The characters he draws and the atmosphere he recreates of Afghanistan are marvelous but dire. Life in Afghanistan from the 60's to (almost) present day was and is harsh and unforgiving. He certainly gets that across in his writing. I read for escapism and pleasure and I don't enjoy people's suffering and that is all that his characters seem to do, suffer. I'm not one of those people who needs to read (or watch) the type of story which draws my innermost feelings out of my being. So I gave it 4 stars because it is so well written and certainly compelling reading (I did read it quite quickly, for me), but there is just too much human suffering in it. I did actually feel quite angry and not a little depressed after reading it. That isn't entertainment for me. I won't be reading the Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns is a masterpiece that explores the lives of two women, Mariam and Laila, set against the backdrop of Afghanistan's violent history. The book is about the struggles and brutality faced by women. However it also showcases their unyielding strength and capacity for love. Hosseini's writing is vivid and realistic drawing you into the lives of the characters. I was deeply touched by Mariam's life that depicts her sacrifice and acceptance. Laila's strong determination to protect her family is also commendable. The bond between these two women is a testament of resilience of mankind. Afghanistan's history and culture are clearly depicted in the novel. At times it brought me to tears while keeping me on the toe with hope. This book has left a profound impact om me. It left a lasting impression on me about the heart-wrenching lives of women in that country. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted novel.

I was given this incredible book while I was very ill in hospital for 6 weeks by my mother who told me I needed to read this. I took this book with me everywhere I went for tests in the hospital and all the doctors, nurses, radiography staff told me what an incredible book this was!! I slowly made my way through this book. This book is based in Afghanistan from the 1970’s onwards. It follows the lives predominantly of two women and their phenomenal struggles in a male dominated world. During this period there is so much conflict in Afghanistan too with the Russians and different factions fighting one another. You really get to see how religion and male domination impacts so heavily on women plus living in a war zone all at the same time. You get to see how women’s rights are stripped away. You get to see the brutality of men and how the police and the Taliban see that women have no rights at all. Women are not allowed to escape brutal husbands. You get to see how the Taliban in-force their laws which is brutal. This book has really opened my eyes to the desperate plight of women living in Afghanistan and under the rule of the Taliban. This book has so much love in it too, love of family supporting one another. It’s not all brutality. This book is shocking and loving. The end of the book has a happier ending. I really didn’t want this book to end because I loved the women in this book so much. These women were incredible, strongest women I have ever read about. This book is women caring, supporting one another, how they will give up their own life to protect one another. Living in the West, with so much freedom and rights, it gives you a feeling of having all that stripped away, the loss of identity. I was so incredibly moved by this book, I have bought it for my daughter and will be gifting this to friends too, because it’s a brilliant book, but it’s important to see the plight of women existing in Afghanistan through endless wars, instability, religious laws and male domination. I’m struggling to find a book to read now to possibly match this incredible book. This book is in a class of its own.

This is such a good book. Keeps you engaged throughout the pages

The book came in good condition! The story is stunning.

This book was so heartfelt, bittersweet and will stay very dear to me! Would 100% recommend, sad to read it in today’s society where things haven’t changed too much.

J’ai adoré ce livre, très émotionnel

a lovely read. a bit of a sad story .hard to put down

I read The kite Runner and then thought to buy this book...it's very well written,the depiction of historical and story to keep reader occupied...... I am not much of reader but at one point I felt like details became vague and story started to feel like one sided,specially when Laila gets introduced in story......overall good read....

It was for an English assignment gurl when I tell you this was the first school book I read in less than a week. It was that good like so entertaining since something was always occurring. So beautifully written and made. The storyline the characters all amazing

Good!