A Thousand Splendid Suns

Taken from novel - synopsis:

“Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry the troubled and bitter Rasheed, who is thirty years, her senior. Nearly two decades later, in a climate of growing unrest, tragedy strikes fifteen year old Laila, who must leave her home and join Mariam’s unhappy household. Laila and Mariam are to find consolation in each other, their friendship to grow as deep as the bond between sisters and as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. With the passing of time, the Taliban rules over Afghanistan, the streets of Kabul loud with the sound of gunfire and bombs, life a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear, the women's endurance tested beyond their worst imaginings. Yet love can move a person in unexpected ways and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism. In the end it is love that triumphs over death and destruction.”

From the creator of "Kite Runner" comes a story based around a journey through times where despair may seem like the last resort in life. Khaled Hossini, author of "A Thousand Splendid Suns" recaptures the life and times of those who must suffer through a cruel reality and face life through challenging encounters. The novel is set in a society where freedom and rights of women are taken away and an environment of oppression, power and neglect is created. The author, in an explicit and mastered manner looks into this underlying issue and takes the reader through two separate tragic journeys that combine as one to create an ultimate destination. He relates the setting as a way to clear the misinterpretations that are created about the life in Kabul where actions such as violence, abuse, threat and evil are hidden away.

For me this was a story where I was taken to a place beyond my imaginations, a place where I had learnt about the cruelty that existed and a place which I thought was truly beautiful, innocent and real.  Hossini captures the feelings of the women and other characters through the descriptive and emotive words that he uses but does it in a way where the reader can understand what he means. Even though Hossini creates various different morals and purposes of the novel, for me as a reader one of the most important morals was the idea that companionship and love can get you through all the trials that are faced, and in the end this is what defeats the tragedy. In such a mesmerizing way Hossini uses two women that at first seem completely different, however towards the end he unites them in such a way where it seems as though they have battled through all their problems even though the story has not ended there. As a reader I especially enjoyed the way in which Hossini projects his novel and makes the situation feel realistic in a successful to make the novel unique.  With such sophistication and complexity Hossini cunningly uncovers the truth that we as the reader would not suspect. For me, as an individual this issue of oppression against women is one of those subjects that is not always considered and though it may seem as though this was a traditional or olden day act I still believe that this is something that is ongoing but is not always detected. Hossini makes it easy for the readers to relate to each of the two characters and in the end he shows how women do have the power and with great determination, strength and will comes great power and success. This was truly a magnificent novel that I could not put down as it had literally dragged me into a new realm where I could explore and follow the journey of these women. I would definitely recommend to all who want to know the truth and reality of women in a cruel society, which still has not changed in the modern day. 

Marofa