A Thousand Splendid Suns

" One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,

Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."

About the book:

In "A Thousand Splendid Suns" written by Khaled Hosseini, the author has chosen to explore the role of women in the novel. He does it so beautifully through the stories of Mariam and Laila who are separated by a generation but amalgamated by a bond of camaraderie. These two together endure the brutality of their husband and the horrendous savageness of the Taliban. This story is about how they stay resilient and true to themselves.

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This book has been on my to be read list for more than a year. I've been procrastinating to read this because I subconsciously know that I wouldn't be able to handle the onslaught of emotions. While reading " The Kite Runner " & " And the mountains echoed ", I felt a roller coaster ride of emotions. Relating to what I felt while reading this book was very near inexplicable.

The writing style of Khaled Hosseini is such that it takes us to the place where the story is being unravelled. Every scenario described by the author feels like a reel playing in front of our eyes. Khaled Hosseini gives us a foreshadow in the first part on what would happen to Mariam at the end of the book. He gives us different perspectives on how a mother endures pain for her child.

Unrelated by blood but related by the bond of love, the story of Mariam and Laila brings tears to the eyes of the reader. Set in war-torn Afghanistan, firstly during the Soviet occupation and then under the Taliban, the portrayal of the story gives us a clear understanding of the country's struggles. The women losing their rights, the people enduring the monstrosities of the Taliban, the author never ceases to give us a break from the heartache.

Even though this is a work of fiction, the way the political environment changed and how people were mistreated was as true as it can get. The possibility of finding love during such daunting times and staying your true self without losing hope for a better future is the essence of this novel. There is something very humane about the characters; Mariam and Laila that pulls the strings of our hearts. The sacrifices they make especially Mariam to save Laila shows the depth of their kinship.

This book has left my heart in shambles. Does it prevent me from reading this book again? No, it won't. I'm going to revisit this masterpiece to get the same feelings all over again and to get my heart broken all over again.