A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Although a critic once said, "Just in case you're wondering whether Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns is as good as The Kite Runner, here's the answer: No. It's better. ", I believe that every book has its own special moments that no other book has. Nevertheless, reading A Thousand Splendid Suns made my heart deeply attached to the tale. The book tells a heartbreaking story of two women who stood up for each other through the war and against their sly and abusive husband. Even though Mariam and Laila were born in different circumstances, they were women who eventually connected unexpectedly. Mariam was already in her mid twenties and married when Laila was born. Life was never peaceful for long as factors such as the war took a turn in everyone’s lives. You will see that a simple decision one makes never fails to affect another as you read on. This book reveals how tough it is for one, especially a woman, in Afghanistan to encounter discrimination, poverty, abuse, an oppressive religion and a corrupted government. Reading at one point that the police simply left justice undone and made the situation worse for the Mariam and Laila, my heart burned with outrage. Grief overcame me as I thought of this situation which still happens in real-life in brutal and unforgiving parts of the world. Yet, as the book continues, Mariam and Laila were able to find real joy, peace, love and freedom amidst the trials and tribulations they faced. They were courageous and resilient women who gave their all to the extent of sacrificing their lives ensuring the survival of their loved ones and whose actions ought to put some men to shame.