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A review by demosthenes
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
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.