Author: Khaled Hosseini
Category: Fiction, Drama
Synopsis (c/o Barnes & Noble): "A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years — from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding — that puts the violence, fear, hope and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives — the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness — are inextricable from the history playing out around them.
Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heartwrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love — a stunning accomplishment."
I am a gigantic fan of other cultures, and love to read novels from their perspectives. Khaled Husseini is one of my favorite foreign authors, originally writing The Kite Runner, and following up with yet another amazing story depicting struggle, triumph, love and tradition. Following the lives of two women married to the same man, the novel is informative of a culture and religion that is not well tolerated in the U.S. However differently their lives are, though, these women feel and struggle with the same issues that plague women all over the world; the pressures of maintaining the proper attitude, the expectations of birthing and raising children, the domestic issues that can arise when one fails to fulfill said expectations.
Like most stories involving women who pay the ultimate sacrifice or show unconditional love, this novel has me shedding tears every time I read it. Not a story for the racist or intolerant, but definitely a must read for those who love to broaden their horizons and better understand the culture we are fighting for and against.
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