February 2024

“I first read A Thousand Splendid Suns just after the return of the Taliban in 2021 when Afghanistan dominated headlines around the world. If we need any reminder of why we should stand in solidarity with Afghan women now more than ever, this book is surely it. It’s a really intense story of a world we all hoped was far behind us – and yet it’s more relevant than ever to understand the lives of women under the Taliban.

“If that sounds heavy, don’t be put off. With Khaled Hosseini’s great gift for storytelling, this book soars on many levels. It’s an illuminating story of the cultural and political history of Afghanistan, rich with the textures of daily life. What stood out for me as much as the oppression it details is that this story is infused with love – between fractured families, teenage lovers, and the heroic characters of Mariam and Laila, whose friendship resonated with me so deeply.

“Yes, at times, this story is dark but it is also enlightening, offering a vision for what Afghanistan still may one day become. As Laila’s father tells her, “You can be anything you want Laila…And when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men, maybe even more.”

“This one is for the women of Afghanistan” – Dua Lipa