I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by the awfully talented Khaled Hosseini. I should first say that the writer didn’t drift away from what made him famous; his first novel. The story is set in Kabul, afghanistan and it sees much of what we already have read in The Kite Runner, and it adds some more.
I enjoyed the novel, I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the war-zone atmosphere and above all I very much enjoyed and marveled at the way he writes. Its a story of a young harami (bastard), her name is Maryam, who lives with her mother in a hut away from her father, who came to visit once a week. She awaits his arrival every week with patience, every single week, and loves him dearly and relentlessly, inspite of her mother’s constant bashing and warning that one day he won’t come to her anymore and will forget about her exactly like how he forgot to publicly own his mistake and let her, Maryam, live legitimately with her other sisters from his other wives.
The writer then starts another story with another girl who lives down the street from Maryam, her name is Layla, who is in love with Tariq. Fate plays the cruelest games with these 2 girls. They learn much about life and how, at times, it means nothing and everything at the same time. You learn much about how life was not so nice to Afghan girls during the 70’s, 80’s and ofcourse their worst days in the 90’s during the Talibans stage.
I recommend this very well written novel to everyone. Its like what you’re probably going read if you ever (not possible) read one of Amir’s* novels.
* Amir is the boy in Hosseini’s first novel.
I saw the book a couple of months in the airport but was hesitating to get it. Because first I knew nothing about it (the only thing I knew that it was written by the amazing writer Khalid Husseini) and also because I was having a very short flight. I tend to like reading books in long flights.
Since your review of the book is pretty good, that encourages me to get it, especially that soon I will be having a VERY LONG flight and I will definitely need a book to entertain me, lol.
the kite runner is my favourite novel, Khaled is really talented writer I cant say no more, I am planning to read his 2nd Novel very soon enshala.
I read it , lovely book very well written amazing details ,expressing the way women lived in Afghanistan and their feelings . I also read the first book ” The Kite runner ” one of the best books i read , makes you cry and angry how some pepole give them self the right to control others lifes in the way that suites them ” lagnat al ‘9awaher al salbia ” if you know what i mean :p . 3ala al 3mom i recommend both books highly . By the way kite runner is a movie now very well directed especially the kite running scene .
I bought the book but have kept it on my shelf for maybe 2 months or so now. After reading the Kite Runner I feel you have to prepare yourself emotionally to read this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read any book that describes emotions so well (Kite Runner). Thanks for the review! WHat’s next on your reading list?
am not a big fan of reading, but there is a program on discovery channel i used to watch called great books of the world.. it was fabulous 🙂 am proud f u guys .. its good to know that there are few q8ity youth that reads !
Amjad I always bring a book along with me when I’m on a plane, I never got to really read any of them while onboard. Same thing with my ipod. I get distracted easily while on a plane 😀
TwaiF He’s very talented, yes. The Kite Runner is my favorite book as well 🙂
c’est la vie I’m planning on downloading the movie and watch it on my laptop, alone. I want to REALLY pay attention to this special story.
lol @ the “lajnat ilthawaher ilsalbiya” sajja wallah. hathy ni6ray 3alaihom shway be9eroon nafs malot il amr bilma3roof malot ilso3odiya. gamat te6la3 ashkal 3alaina ‘3areeba 3ajeeba..
7zaya I agree with you, but the thing is, once you read a book like Kite runner, everything else seems really shallow. its hard to choose any book other than Hosseini’s.
I’m currently reading High Fidelity By Nick Hornby. I’m hating it and hating every second of reading this stupid shallow book. bs adry I’ll continue reading it till I finish it.
pumkinah I’m not really very into reading books, only recently I started reading more. jarbay ra7 testansain 3alaihom wayid 🙂
I loved both Kite Runner and Thousand Splendid Suns. I just finished another, actually written by a man, although the pseudonum was Yasmina Khadra, The Swallows of Kabul, and I loved it, too. I have one on the shelf, Three Cups of Tea, which is big in the USA right now about a man who makes it his mission to build schools in Afghanistan. Fascinating country.
Right now I am reading Company of Liars, fascinating, and includes a big time of climate change in England – 1348 – when it rained from mid-June every day to Christmas Day 25 Dec. So our current violent changes have some precedents.
Very entertainment supposed about the matter at hand. Appreciate it for the input.