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thequiltyreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage and Rape
Minor: Vomit
pixiebix's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I have been drawn to both A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner since I first glimpsed the spines in Waterstones around six months ago. I took a glance at their covers, read neither of their blurbs, and immediately added them both to my TBR. My gut feeling (at least for ATSS; I haven't yet read The Kite Runner, but I'm determined to make that change very, very soon) proved correct. This was just so sublime and devastating and destroying and hopeful and honest and hard. So very hard.
Two things about this book show to me how special it is: 1) I'm usually not a very expressive reader (I probably cry/laugh/gasp to a handful of books a year, if that)--and yet I remember three separate occasions of gasping in shock at this book before rereading and rereading the section over and over for what must have been minutes trying to reconcile my thoughts; and 2) my memory has gotten seriously bad when it comes to remembering basic details about the books I read, even a couple of hours after I finish them (it's something that really really bothers me), and yet flicking through ATSS and landing on random pages, I can not only remember exactly what was going on at that moment by reading a line or two, but I can see it. I feel like I watched this book more than I read it; the experience was truly cinematic. I have detailed, textured scenes in my mind that I can actually travel through when I picture the events from this book, major and minor.
And yet I don't think I can explain exactly what made this book so profound for me. All I know is that Nana, Mariam ( Mariam:( ), Laila, Tariq, Rasheed, Mahfuzallah, Jalil, Aziza, everyone, I feel I have travelled through and seen into their souls and lived through a million lifetimes with them.
Looking back on some of the scenes in my head from this book is honestly so painful. I wanted to reach in an help every single one of these people. (Except Rasheed.)
Nothing short of a masterpiece. Truly (I hope!) unforgettable.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
kassiesbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and War
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Rape, and Medical trauma
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
whitebabysbreath's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
beckyjc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Mariam and Laila's story's really affected me. Both women are drawn with such respect and empathy. The love story between Laila and Tariq is one of the sweetest I've read this year and I was rooting for them the whole time.
The relationship between Mariam and Laila is beautiful written, moving from initial suspicion and hostility to a touching depiction of quasi-motherhood. The indignities and suffering they must endure is very troubling to read, but their ultimate resilience of spirit does give the book some respite and a welcome hopeful core. I just desperately wish that this wasn't the reality of thousands of women still today. Still. Again. Can we begrudge or blame immigrants fleeing such terrors? How can this be an acceptable way of life for the people of Afghanistan?
The writing is not overly sophisticated. Hosseini has an eye for a good story and keeps things simple. But against such a complex political backdrop this is no bad thing, I think. I'm glad I saw it through.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
bente123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
hot_water's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
thresholdgirl's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and War
tinatian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Abortion
aimeal815's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis