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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“She is the noor of my eyes and the Sultan of my heart.” I can’t even put into words how this book made me feel.
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:
Yes
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:
N/A
“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always.”
Some books have a way of piercing you straight to your soul, and this book is one of them. This was absolutely phenomenal, and I fear I will struggle to put my thoughts into coherence to write this review. I don't feel it is my place to comment on the experiences and/or representation in this book, but I will say that this book was harrowing in its realism, and incredibly nuanced, enlightening and moving, and I think this is a book everyone should read at least once.
I'm instead going to focus on how this book made me feel, one of its greatest strengths. As I said, this book is deeply harrowing, following the lives of Mariam and Laila, two incredibly strong women, and their horrific experiences and suffering at the hands of men. And yet this book isn't solely focused on their suffering. It is also focused on their gentle bond, the moments of joy in their lives that they savour. It focuses on their ever-enduring strength and courage, their bravery and desperation, and, through it all, their hope. I'm always slightly wary going into books on misogyny and female suffering written by men, but with how much I adored The Kite Runner I trusted Hosseini and, coming out of this book, I think he did an excellent job and approached these two women's stories with great respect and care which shone throughout the book. This is certainly a book I'll never forget, for the experiences I read of, the emotions it made me feel, and how much it moved me. That final line in particular will stay with me for a long time.
I can't say much more or risk avoiding spoilers, but know that I adored this book a great deal. The only thing that held this back from being a five star read was a structural choice. I really like how Hosseini structures his novels, starting with the protagonists' childhoods and backstories and allowing readers to follow along as he builds up the people we learn to love, but I don't think this worked quite as well with two POV characters. We spent much of the first part of the book solely with Mariam as her story was built up, and then switched to Laila to do the same thing, but personally I feel that this took us away from Mariam for too long, and made it a little bit harder to connect to her when their stories finally overlapped and we got both POVs at once. I still adored Mariam as a character and did become connected with her again, but I think interweaving these introductory sections a bit might have worked a little bit better structurally, and the section of the book I enjoyed most was definitely the second half after we got both POVs.
Overall though, I thought this book was absolutely phenomenal, crafted with such respect, and woven through with hope. I highly encourage that every one gives this book ago, even if it isn't your usual genre, though I do recommend checking out the content warnings first.
Some books have a way of piercing you straight to your soul, and this book is one of them. This was absolutely phenomenal, and I fear I will struggle to put my thoughts into coherence to write this review. I don't feel it is my place to comment on the experiences and/or representation in this book, but I will say that this book was harrowing in its realism, and incredibly nuanced, enlightening and moving, and I think this is a book everyone should read at least once.
I'm instead going to focus on how this book made me feel, one of its greatest strengths. As I said, this book is deeply harrowing, following the lives of Mariam and Laila, two incredibly strong women, and their horrific experiences and suffering at the hands of men. And yet this book isn't solely focused on their suffering. It is also focused on their gentle bond, the moments of joy in their lives that they savour. It focuses on their ever-enduring strength and courage, their bravery and desperation, and, through it all, their hope. I'm always slightly wary going into books on misogyny and female suffering written by men, but with how much I adored The Kite Runner I trusted Hosseini and, coming out of this book, I think he did an excellent job and approached these two women's stories with great respect and care which shone throughout the book. This is certainly a book I'll never forget, for the experiences I read of, the emotions it made me feel, and how much it moved me. That final line in particular will stay with me for a long time.
I can't say much more or risk avoiding spoilers, but know that I adored this book a great deal. The only thing that held this back from being a five star read was a structural choice. I really like how Hosseini structures his novels, starting with the protagonists' childhoods and backstories and allowing readers to follow along as he builds up the people we learn to love, but I don't think this worked quite as well with two POV characters. We spent much of the first part of the book solely with Mariam as her story was built up, and then switched to Laila to do the same thing, but personally I feel that this took us away from Mariam for too long, and made it a little bit harder to connect to her when their stories finally overlapped and we got both POVs at once. I still adored Mariam as a character and did become connected with her again, but I think interweaving these introductory sections a bit might have worked a little bit better structurally, and the section of the book I enjoyed most was definitely the second half after we got both POVs.
Overall though, I thought this book was absolutely phenomenal, crafted with such respect, and woven through with hope. I highly encourage that every one gives this book ago, even if it isn't your usual genre, though I do recommend checking out the content warnings first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Violence, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Medical content, Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first rating was 4, then I read the kite runner which I rated 2 and changed this to 3 but it should probably be the other way around. What I’m saying is, I feel emotionally manipulated by this author and the more I think about these books, the angrier I get. Is this what life must be like for Afghan women? Is there no hope?
emotional
sad
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
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:
Complicated
What an absolutely amazing book! Heartbreaking, powerful, and beautifully written — A Thousand Splendid Suns completely absorbed me from start to finish. Hosseini captures the resilience and strength of Afghan women through decades of hardship with such grace and empathy. The bond between Mariam and Laila was deeply emotional and incredibly moving.
There were moments that crushed me, and others that gave me a glimmer of hope. It’s not an easy read, but it’s the kind that makes you feel everything — raw, real, and unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Suicide, Violence, Blood
Minor: Confinement, Pregnancy
This was one of the best books I have read in a very very long time. Everyone needs to read this. I hadn’t been able to read it the last 4 nights because I wasn’t ready for it to be over. Heart-breaking, eye-opening and powerfully real like you’re living it.