Calorie Count 2
March 4th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns
July 31st, 2011 § Leave a Comment
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
My rating: ★★★★★ (I actually want to give more!)
SPOILER ALERT
To be honest, I always had this prejudice that historical fictions are too detail-oriented and difficult to relate to. In fact, I was filled with the same doubt when I first chose to read “A Thousand Splendid Suns.” But once I began reading the first few pages of this novel, I realized that I’ve found an extraordinary book.
Although the story takes place in Afghanistan and revolves around a time period that I’m not familiar with, every little event in the plot seemed like my own personal experience; this is not because I’ve been in the same situations as the main characters are in, but because Hosseini skillfully develops a bond of sympathy. As if I were their friends, I felt the same joy, sorrow, anxiety, and resentment. Because of the wide range of thoughts and emotions–from the naive dreams of childhood to the dry weariness of adulthood–I was able to witness how a girl matures into a mother. I also love the natural shift from Mariam’s life to Laila’s, back and forth. Rather than being confusing, this switch helped me to understand how all the characters are connected in some ways.
The novel addresses many harsh realities of life such as violence, war, poverty, but also some important and beautiful aspects: love, sacrifice, and romance. I was amazed by the unlimited sacrifices made by Mariam and Laila, for both one another and the children. Their perseverance during the worst possible circumstances was very touching. However, something that captivated me the most was the faithful love between Laila and Tariq. The news of Tariq’s death broke my heart at first, but when the two of them miraculously met again, I actually cried. The couple’s love is portrayed as so pure and genuine that as I was reading, it seemed like I had the responsibility of protecting it from Rasheed’s dirty soul.
Reading this novel was as easy as listening to someone talk; I didn’t have to search for explanations or make guesses. If you are wondering if this is yet another typical writing, go ahead and grab the book right now.
