Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

130 reviews

2j4d3's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death, War, Physical abuse, Rape, and Torture

Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Abortion, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Miscarriage, Blood, Self harm, Abortion, and Pregnancy

dejnozkova's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I feel that this book was beautifully balanced, just as The Kite Runner was. But unlike The Kite Runner, this novel presents the stories of women; their struggles, their dreams, their disappointments, their bravery and tenderness, and their relationships with each other. His characters’ histories and personalities are intimately fleshed out in a way that makes them believable, intriguing, and emotionally impactful. It was a treat to watch them evolve over the course of Afghan history (from the 70’s through the 00’s), how they react to historical events and politics and how this shapes their inner domestic lives. 

The novel is also as informative as it is heart wrenching, especially if you aren’t already familiar with the politics and recent history of the region. Hosseini artfully navigates issues of politics, authoritarianism, the oppression of women, and suppression of civil liberties without being heavy handed or lazy. These issues are organically taught through the experiences of the characters so that they are memorable and personal. 

The novel is closed by offering a glimmer of sunshine to balance the darkness, which I personally love. I think that when authors write stories drenched in tragedy and outrage it’s important to also remark on the resiliency of the human spirit and our capacity to create and find beauty despite everything. I think Khaled Hosseini is one of those authors that actually acknowledges the flowers that can bloom after all the suffering. So for those of you tired of pessimistic endings I recommend this book as I feel it was down-to-earth and still hopeful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Colonisation, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Medical trauma

Minor: Abortion, Rape, Vomit, Alcohol, Confinement, Excrement, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

gaycornbread420's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Blood, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Body horror, Miscarriage, Vomit, War, Confinement, Death of parent, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

mrdonalddarkie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Xenophobia, Miscarriage, Murder, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Hate crime, Infertility, and Suicide

lorie266's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Ableism, Abortion, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Violence, War, Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Infertility, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Gun violence, and Sexual assault

larissasbookclub's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

BOOK REVIEW

A Thousand Splendid Suns / Khalid Hosseini

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

STUNNING! such an eye opening read for me and I literally felt so many emotions - happy, sad, angry, ashamed 😮‍💨

I enjoyed the dual POV in this one, it was interesting seeing some parts of the book from both Mariam and Layla’s POV, especially when Layla first became part of the family. 

upon finishing this one, I sat on the floor crying because it just made me so sad, but also happy because despite all the grief and loss that is experienced by our two FMC’s, they still hold so much hope and love in their hearts. this review truly cannot do this book the justice it deserves, but I hope you choose to give it a go and if you do, please let me know your thoughts! 

reading books like A Thousand Splendid Suns and Pomegranate & Fig definitely makes me grateful to live in a country where women have rights and can make our own choices for our bodies, careers and futures. it always hurts my heart to read stories like these, but they are so important to read and share, because there are so many people who don’t have the same benefits and advantages as us. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Child death, War, Death of parent, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Gun violence, Grief, and Domestic abuse

whoz_swechchha's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.0

I'd started this book expecting it to be as good as "The kite runner " if not better. But now that I've finished reading,  I'm not entirely sure about how I feel.

This book follows the journey of Mariam (an illegitimate daughter of a rich businessman) who soon after her mother's death is married off to Rasheed (a shoemaker almost 30 yrs older than her). The story follows a series of misfortunes that occur throughout Mariam's life and how almost 2 decades later her life intertwines with a 15 yr old girl Laila. This book takes place in Afghanistan during a period of high political instability and ongoing war and I'd definitely not expected it to be an easy read. But this book was way darker than I'd imagined.  There were a lot of graphic scenes of domestic violence and marital rape. I had to skip a few paragraphs and put the book aside multiple times because I couldn't seem to be able to continue reading. Also since the relationship between Mariam and Laila is such an important aspect of the book,  I'd expected their bond to develop slowly over time. But all of it just happened in an instant and I found it very unconvincing. I wish the writer had put some  more effort in highlighting the beautiful moments between Mariam and Laila and Mariam and Laila's kids instead of focusing on adding disturbing details of abuse. That would've created a perfect balance between hope and tragedy without taking anything away from the story. By the time I'd reached the end of the book, I was so mentally drained to feel anything for the characters and I was just relieved that it was finally over. 

I do however believe that "A thousand splendid suns" is an important book but it's definitely not something I'd prefer to read again. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Sexual assault

taroroot's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i could not cry enough about this book. 

"Learn this now and learn it well. Like a compass facing north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam." im shattered im in fucking tears im unwell

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Violence, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual violence, and Sexism

Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Cursing, and Child abuse

Minor: Suicide

random19379's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Violence, War, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Medical content, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, and Blood

Moderate: Vomit and Abortion

macglass8's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, War, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Emotional abuse