If you enjoy having your heart broken and shattered, get yourself a copy of A Thousand Splendid Suns and be sure to have some tissues and a teddy at the ready to keep you company. Khaled Hosseini has created yet another heartbreaking tale which will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a wave of emotions.
This historical fiction revolves around two young women Mariam and Laila, who although are born 20 years apart are brought together through the events in this novel. Mariam (born in 1959) is the illegitimate daughter of a man with three wives and due to the scandalous affair, Nana (Mariam's mother) and her live on the outskirts of town as outcasts, which subjects young Mariam to the constant wrath of her mother. A devastating event leaves Mariam as a 'burden' on her father and his three wives and that is when she coerced to make a decision about her future.
Laila (born in 1978) lives in Mariam's neighbourhood. Her father encourages her education and studies, whilst her mother suffers from crippling depression, mourning the absence of her brothers who are away fighting against the Soviets. Laila's childhood sweetheart, Tariq, has plans to leave Afghanistan for a future free of fear of bombings and wants to take Laila with him by way of a marriage. However, Laila stays back to care for her father and mother. Unbeknownst to her, this action changes the course of her childhood and life.
I felt like I was on an emotional roller-coaster throughout this entire read, with much pain, sadness and rare glimpses of joy which were torn right out of me and replaced with anger and fear. But I couldn't put this novel down. I just wanted to keep reading and reading, one more chapter and one more page. Once I did reach the end, I wanted it to go on.
There was good variation between past and present tense where the characters would be doing something in present time whilst reflecting on conversations and activities which led to their current actions. I liked this foreshadowing technique as it created suspense and intrigue throughout the chapters.
The book was broken up into four parts. The first two chapters had an individual focus on our two protagonists and then the remaining two parts had the chapters interchanging between Mariam and Laila. I really liked this format as readers have the opportunity to experience the events from the perspective of both characters. As a reader, I was able to relate and empathise with both characters as I could understand what was happening on the inside as well as the outside.
A highlight of this novel for me was how Hosseini casts a light on the poor treatment of girls and women in countries like Afghanistan. Although the details were harrowing and I had to remind myself that it was fictional, I knew that, unfortunately, what was happening to Mariam and Laila was the reality for many women growing up in war and politically torn countries.
Although the women are constantly subject to loss, pain and darkness, Hosseini ensures that their strength is unwavering and that there is no surrender. They take many blows, physically, mentally and emotionally, however continue to soldier on for themselves and for each other.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is full of loss, pain, fear and darkness. However, it's also full of strength, empowerment, perseverance and love. Khaled Hosseini has created a timeless piece of writing which will forever be ingrained in my mind and heart.
Trigger Warnings: Domestic Violence, War, Terror, Loss of Child, Suicide
Completed on: 29th August 2021
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