Review by snikhtha - A Thousand Splendid Suns

snikhtha 's review for:

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The starting was slow and took me some time to get into it, but I couldn't put it down by the end. There are moments of lovely writing in this book, when the plot slows down and the writing is more focused on the characters emotions and thoughts. Found some nice quotes to highlight.

The wars in Afghanistan always loom in the background, because while they affect the characters lives and decisions, the story is about individuals first and foremost, which I really liked.

I also loved the characters. There were a mix of straight up repulsive, pure and good-hearted, and in-betweens who are neither. I was impressed by how even repulsive characters had moments where they 'made sense', as in, you see how justify it to themselves. Tariq, Babi, and Mullah Faizullah are the MVP when it comes to the men. And the orphanage manager, but I forget his name. Jalil, because of his many, MANY, flaws, is very interesting.

It really is a sad book, which makes sense since it's set during decades of unending war, but I appreciate how hopeful the ending was.

Content Warnings