Book of the Week

11 years ago

A thousand splendid suns / Khaled Hosseini

This is a wonderfully written book that follows the lives of
several people in Afghanistan, mainly the characters Miriam and Laila. Although the people and events in the novel
are fictional, they are no doubt based in reality and it’s a compelling
eye-opener to most of us who have almost no personal information about life in
that country. After I read the book, I
realized how very lucky those of us are who live with the privileges of relative
peace, prosperity and freedom. The
characters’ lives in Afghanistan, especially those of the women, change
dramatically according to which group holds political power. I got chills when I realized the trap that
Laila was in at one point, referred to as the “horrific choice” in the below
review. There is beauty in the
relationships among some of the people, but the plight of the population as
reflected in the characters is pitiable.
Sad, yes, but an important book
to read.

Booklist
Review: Hosseini's follow-up to his
best-selling debut, The Kite Runner (2003) views the plight of Afghanistan
during the last half-century through the eyes of two women. Mariam is the
illegitimate daughter of a maid and a businessman, who is given away in
marriage at 15 to Rasheed, a man three times her age; their union is not a
loving one. Laila is born to educated, liberal parents in Kabul the night the
Communists take over Afghanistan. Adored by her father but neglected in favor
of her older brothers by her mother, Laila finds her true love early on in
Tariq, a thoughtful, chivalrous boy who lost a leg in an explosion. But when
tensions between the Communists and the mujahideen make the city unsafe, Tariq
and his family flee to Pakistan. A devastating tragedy brings Laila to the
house of Rasheed and Mariam, where she is forced to make a horrific choice to
secure her future. At the heart of the novel is the bond between Mariam and
Laila, two very different women brought together by dire circumstances.
Unimaginably tragic, Hosseini's magnificent second novel is a sad and beautiful
testament to both Afghani suffering and strength. Readers who lost themselves
in The Kite Runner will not want to miss this unforgettable follow-up.

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Comments (7)

sweet_betsy No AL Z7
11 years ago
Since my book collection has outgrown my space, I can now only keep those which make a lasting impression on me. I found The Kite Runner to be a keeper even though at first glance it is not a book that I would have been drawn to read. I will be looking forward to this new book.
donna_loomis
11 years ago
I read The Kite Runner several years ago and as you said, it made me realize how lucky we are to have the privileges and freedom we do. I have this ebook too, but haven't read it yet. You have just moved it up on my TBR list. Thank you.
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Caflowerluver - the book has romance, but also some bitter anti-romance. One event I'm thinking of is when the group goes to the Plaza Hotel to drink. There is a confrontation where Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy loves him and not Tom, her husband. After Tom mentions Gatsby's illegal business activities in order to discredit him, Gatsby tries to defend himself to Daisy, "But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, undespairingly, toward that lost voice across the room." Ironically, at the same time that the marriage is being damaged, there is a wedding being celebrated in the hotel just below them.
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Thanks. DH Said he really enjoyed the book. I bought it after reading your recomendation. It is next on my list to read.
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Lessons from Tara : life advice from the world’s most brilliant dog / David Rosenfelt Many people know David Rosenfelt from his mysteries, such as Play Dead that I reviewed a few weeks ago. Lessons from Tara is about the dog rescue that he and his wife Debbie run through their Tara Foundation, inspired by their love of Tara, their golden retriever. The couple has a real affection for dogs and have had as many as 42 of the animals in their home as well as re-homing about 4,000 others. This book is a very entertaining, quick read with lots of humor. The author doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at himself and is often very humorous in describing the quirky personalities and habits of the dogs he encounters. The way in which the Rosenfelts deal with many canines, some of whom are troubled, together with the sad moments that are inevitable with pet ownership, testifies to their great dedication. I would recommend this book in audio format as well since I enjoyed it greatly while taking my walks. Although there is some overlap with this book, Rosenfelt’s Dogtripping describes how they moved 25 dogs in 3 RVs from California to Maine. The well-being of dogs is altogether a labor of love for David and Debbie Rosenfelt.
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Lessons from Tara : life advice from the world’s most brilliant dog / David Rosenfelt Many people know David Rosenfelt from his mysteries, such as Play Dead that I reviewed a few weeks ago. Lessons from Tara is about the dog rescue that he and his wife Debbie run through their Tara Foundation, inspired by their love of Tara, their golden retriever. The couple has a real affection for dogs and have had as many as 42 of the animals in their home as well as re-homing about 4,000 others. This book is a very entertaining, quick read with lots of humor. The author doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at himself and is often very humorous in describing the quirky personalities and habits of the dogs he encounters. The way in which the Rosenfelts deal with many canines, some of whom are troubled, together with the sad moments that are inevitable with pet ownership, testifies to their great dedication. I would recommend this book in audio format as well since I enjoyed it greatly while taking my walks. Although there is some overlap with this book, Rosenfelt’s Dogtripping describes how they moved 25 dogs in 3 RVs from California to Maine. The well-being of homeless dogs is altogether a labor of love for David and Debbie Rosenfelt.
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caseynfld
11 years ago
I loved this novel! I think I liked it more than The Kite Runner.

I'm also reading his 3rd novel, "And the Mountains Echoed" - I don't find it as good, just can't get into it.
sableincal
11 years ago
You've done it again, Stacey, recommended a book I love. The line that moved me most is "And once again, Mariam did as she was ordered." That picture has stayed with me.

Here is another novel about Afghanistan that I very much enjoyed. Kabul, by M.E. Hirsh. This is the story of an upper-class and very responsible Afghan family during the seventies, which was the decade in which power slipped from the Afghans themselves and into the hands of the Soviets. There are three children in the family and each chooses a different path. Hirsh does a fine job of painting the landscape of the city and the country. The action takes place in Kabul, Moscow, and New York City. One critic called it a "moral thriller".
stacey_mb
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you to everyone for the comments. I started to read The Kite Runner and didn't finish it because I found it too disturbing. Sableincal - yes, Mariam did as she was ordered except for that one occasion, of which I'm not saying more because of not giving away spoilers. I must look up the book Kabul that you recommend; it sounds good and obviously presents another perspective of the region.
sjerin
11 years ago
I'm a weepy baby and can't read these kinds of books. I do like to read reviews, though, as the reviewers don't usually delve into the tough parts.
stacey_mb
Original Author
11 years ago
Sjerin - I often find I have to stay away from books because they are too distressing. One book that I finally read, although with a lot of trepidation, is The Road by Cormac McCarthy (hope I got his name right). It was a difficult read because of the subject, but it had some beautiful writing.

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sweet_betsy No AL Z7

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