Have you ever read a book and felt like you have experienced every bit of it in real life?

Well, I don’t know about you, but when I read A Thousand Splendid Suns, it felt like I lived that story. And I was traumatized. No kidding! Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-American author. His brilliance in the art of storytelling is absolutely unprecedented. I was amazed when I read his debut novel, The Kite Runner. After reading that book, I decided I would read all of his books. And I think you should too. You are missing out on a lot of amazing stuff if you aren’t reading his books.

A Thousand Splendid Suns (Review)

After the incredible success of his debut novel “The Kite Runner” in 2003, he published his second book “A Thousand Splendid Suns” in 2007. Frankly, after reading “The Kite Runner” I questioned the author in my mind, “How will he ever top this?” When you create a masterpiece, you start competing with yourself and the masterpiece that you’ve already created. It’s so difficult to outperform yourself when you have already given your hundred percent.

But some authors are beyond perfection and mastery. I have realized now that Khaled Hosseini doesn’t write because he wants to deliver a best-selling book. He writes to tell the world the stories of war-affected Afghanistan. “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is a story about two women, very different from one another, yet so similar. It’s the story of Mariam and Laila and how their lives intersect. This book is unpredictable, just like life is; you never know what’s going to happen next.

The book begins with Mariam’s story, who is an illegitimate child and suffers throughout her childhood because of how society treats her. She longs for her father and simultaneously struggles because of poverty. Mariam’s story is so painful and heart-wrenching that I am sure you will end up crying. And just when you think things can’t get any worse, Mariam is married to a much older man than her. Abuse prevails throughout her marriage, and Mariam succumbs.

The story then moves toward Laila, who is born a generation later. Mariam sees Laila grow up as they live in the same neighborhood. Laila belongs to a privileged family, and she is treated with love. She is educated, and her life is a complete contrast to the life Mariam has lived. However, war changes everything. The book shows how war can ruin lives, dreams, and a person’s future. When war hits Mariam and Laila’s neighborhood, their lives intersect. It’s like two very different paths that seemed completely parallel and had no chance to ever merge and finally come together. Mariam and Laila’s realities collide and become one.

"Motherhood is one of the most profound and sacrificing forms of love." Do you agree?

The theme of the book explores motherhood and how it is one of the most profound and sacrificing forms of love. If you notice the character graph of Mariam and Laila, you will see a steep line growing upwards. The chronology of the book is fantastic. It feels like you actually experienced both the lives of Mariam and Laila. The book explores womanhood and women’s role in Afghan society. When war hits a place, everyone is affected, but for women, everything is ten times more difficult. Women have to succumb to abuse and violence, no matter what.

Khaled Hosseini’s writing is exquisite. His description is so freaking real. You can visualize everything that’s written there. You can easily imagine every minute detail. And as I am writing this, I can imagine the dusty broken lanes, homes turned into debris, women fighting over water, and so much more. It’s like watching a movie but in your head. Such a lovely feeling, isn’t it? Every reader wishes to find a book that will take him/her away from their life and make them experience something unprecedented. And “A Thousand Splendid Suns” is exactly a book like that. Trust me, you will not regret buying this book. It’s so worth it! You can get the book here! 📖

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