A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Tuesday, February 12th, 2008This title is my favorite book for 2007 as it provides a glimpse into life in the Middle East, the rise of the Taliban and traditional Muslim culture. I read A Thousand Splendid Suns on the heels of The Kite Runner and observe two tales that are crafted in a similar manner from different points of view. This book focuses on friendships of women and relationships between mothers and daughters while The Kite Runner details lives of men and relationships between fathers and sons. I notice a slight disconnect in how the author glosses over the emotions of the women in the story. The author narrates for the reader rather than embodies his characters.Â
Given current world events, A Thousand Splendid Suns brings cultural and philosophical differences to the forefront while graphically depicting the violence and upheaval in Afghanistan over the past thirty years. I found the general acceptance of the oppression of women in the culture eye opening as seen through the character of Rasheed, a middle-aged man who follows strict Islamic customs keeping his two wives on very short leashes. Laila and Mariam, the wives, are different in age and temperament; yet develop the strength necessary to defy repression on several fronts.
This story is not written with such deliberate detail as The Kite Runner; however I personally enjoyed the empowering story of the women in A Thousand Splendid Suns over the sad self-discovery story of men in The Kite Runner.
Read them both for a short trip to a fascinating culture and a dangerous foreign land.