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nell_397's review against another edition
5.0
I just need to say that this is the best book to ever have been written. Please if you were to ever read a book read this one. Praise to Khaled Hosseini!❤️
demosthenes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a fantastic book.
Number one, it really offered a perspective I've never explored before, the experiences of Afghan women whose country and its political landscape limits their ability to create and love their own families. These unique characters are so different, but they become united in their love for one another, and their fear for each other's well-being; it's just so beautiful to read.
Mariam, married at such a young age, suffers from abandonment by her father's ignorance and her mother's suicide. She didnt deserve to live such a challenging life, but her story is so powerful because it mimics the experiences of real Afghan women in her situation. Her eventual love for and unity with Laila is so heart-warming, not to mention the complex and intricate series of events that led to their relationship.
Laila's utter defeatat losing Tariq felt so real and her resulting decisions therefore made a lot of sense, considering her place in the world. Rasheed is the perfect antagonist, because he's human; he has his moments of cruelty, and yet there are also moments of gegenerosity. While he is definitely more bad than good, it's fascinating to see how Hosseini collects the dangerous aspects of this culture's belief system and assembles them into an antagonist who represents the danger without denouncing the power and beauty of the culture. Rasheed fuels the progressive fire below his wives by attempting to put it out... Such a fantastic dynamic to explore with this cast of characters.
I also love the way this novel filled in gaps within my own knowledge, especially as it has to do with the political conflict in Afghanistan, by interweaving the developments with the Soviet war, the mujahideen in-fighting, and the taliban takeover. By placing these events in the broader context of the novel, showing their effects on individuals as well as the state, not only do I have a better understanding of the factual turn of events, but I also know more about their effect and impact.
Not to mention the storytelling!! The turn of events is both believable and shocking, which is so beautiful and heartbreaking because this novel echoes the stories of real individuals. The story is told with simple, straightforward language, which I think was the perfect narrative style for it, as much as I really love elaborate prose.
Overall, I give this novel 4.5 stars. It's soooooo good and I loved every bit of it. For me, it didn't have that 5 star feeling, but it is still such an incredible novel.
Number one, it really offered a perspective I've never explored before, the experiences of Afghan women whose country and its political landscape limits their ability to create and love their own families. These unique characters are so different, but they become united in their love for one another, and their fear for each other's well-being; it's just so beautiful to read.
Mariam, married at such a young age, suffers from abandonment by her father's ignorance and her mother's suicide. She didnt deserve to live such a challenging life, but her story is so powerful because it mimics the experiences of real Afghan women in her situation. Her eventual love for and unity with Laila is so heart-warming, not to mention the complex and intricate series of events that led to their relationship.
Laila's utter defeat
I also love the way this novel filled in gaps within my own knowledge, especially as it has to do with the political conflict in Afghanistan, by interweaving the developments with the Soviet war, the mujahideen in-fighting, and the taliban takeover. By placing these events in the broader context of the novel, showing their effects on individuals as well as the state, not only do I have a better understanding of the factual turn of events, but I also know more about their effect and impact.
Not to mention the storytelling!! The turn of events is both believable and shocking, which is so beautiful and heartbreaking because this novel echoes the stories of real individuals. The story is told with simple, straightforward language, which I think was the perfect narrative style for it, as much as I really love elaborate prose.
Overall, I give this novel 4.5 stars. It's soooooo good and I loved every bit of it. For me, it didn't have that 5 star feeling, but it is still such an incredible novel.
tooth4che's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
incredible.
chloe_1709's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
misswendy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Vomit, Bullying, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, War, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Sexual content, Torture, Abortion, Infertility, Sexism, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Medical trauma and Medical content
read_n_wright's review against another edition
4.0
Again astounded by how well hosseini weaves his stories. I feel so strongly reading his books and am glad to have my mind broadened as I learned what it was like to be a woman in Afghanistan during the last few decades.
Gave 4 stars only because I was comparing this book without meaning to with the kite runner which I loved only slightly more than this one.
Gave 4 stars only because I was comparing this book without meaning to with the kite runner which I loved only slightly more than this one.
carolinerd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
An extraordinary novel, beautifully written and deeply moving. It's a gripping story about the powerful bond between two women in Afghanistan as they struggle to survive brutality, war, famine and personal tragedy. It broke my heart and it also made me incredibly angry to read about the injustices suffered. However, it is also about the enduring power of love and the strength that can be drawn from that, even in the most dreadful, testing situations. In that respect, it does send out a message of hope.
I learned so much about the history of Afghanistan. I hadn't fully appreciated the difference between life in Kabul, where women had not long ago been able to be university professors, doctors and teachers etc. and life in rural regions, where the patriarchal tribal leaders were oppressing women long before the Taliban came along.
Was it as good as The Kite Runner? I still think The Kite Runner has the more powerful ending but overall I think because this novel was about female central characters, I engaged with the story more and empathised with the women's hopes, dreams, disappointments and fears. It will stay with me for a long time.
I learned so much about the history of Afghanistan. I hadn't fully appreciated the difference between life in Kabul, where women had not long ago been able to be university professors, doctors and teachers etc. and life in rural regions, where the patriarchal tribal leaders were oppressing women long before the Taliban came along.
Was it as good as The Kite Runner? I still think The Kite Runner has the more powerful ending but overall I think because this novel was about female central characters, I engaged with the story more and empathised with the women's hopes, dreams, disappointments and fears. It will stay with me for a long time.
sheryy_khan's review against another edition
4.0
Just completed this book after being in a slump for about a month. I picked it up in July, but was hit by a very bad slump, so I wasn't able to complete it on time. But now it's done and Dusted.
I'll rate this book a 4star because it didn't made me cry like I was expecting it to. I'm not saying that the story isn't good, it's exceptionally well written but I didn't cried me eyes.
When I read the kite runner, i was shaken to the core, i cried soo much while reading that one. But in this case, i really liked it, the story was so heartbreaking yet Laila rose like a phoenix from the ashes.
Some parts broke my heart, but that all came after the first half, and I was sad while reading it, but I didn't cried.
Others had told me that I'll cry my eyes out and that it's better than the kite runner. I won't say it's better, because both the stories are equally heartbreaking, but the way the kite runner was written, shattered my heart and made me bawl.
Still, the book is an amazing work and one should read it atleast once.
Love A ❤️
I'll rate this book a 4star because it didn't made me cry like I was expecting it to. I'm not saying that the story isn't good, it's exceptionally well written but I didn't cried me eyes.
When I read the kite runner, i was shaken to the core, i cried soo much while reading that one. But in this case, i really liked it, the story was so heartbreaking yet Laila rose like a phoenix from the ashes.
Some parts broke my heart, but that all came after the first half, and I was sad while reading it, but I didn't cried.
Others had told me that I'll cry my eyes out and that it's better than the kite runner. I won't say it's better, because both the stories are equally heartbreaking, but the way the kite runner was written, shattered my heart and made me bawl.
Still, the book is an amazing work and one should read it atleast once.
Love A ❤️
mayarrr's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
kathleenadele812's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
5.0
This hurt so bad.