Susie's Review - A Thousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns takes you as the reader to Afghanistan during 40 years of its bloody, brutal history. Through the eyes of two remarkable women we get to see what life was like during the Soviet takeover, to the years of resistance, and then to the rise and fall of the Taliban.

The story begins with Mariam, a young illegitimate girl who's life revolves around her father's visits. Her father is a rich, respected man in Afghanistan and thus Mariam is kept at a distance because he doesn't want her to bring shame to his family. She lives with her mother in a hut but dreams of the day her father will take her under his wing and let her be part of his family. Her life takes an unexpected, terrible turn when her father forces her to marry an older man, Rasheed, whom she has never met when she is only fifteen-years-old.

Later on, when the Soviets invade Afghanistan, another woman is born, Laila, and the story shifts to her perspective. Laila's mother is in mourning for the death of the two sons who joined the jihad against the Soviets and were killed. The paths of Mariam and Laila cross only once in these early parts before their lives become irrevocably linked in Part Three.

Mariam's husband, Rasheed, is a harsh, twisted individual and the story of how Mariam and Laila become allies in trying to survive while taking care of their children makes a fascinating story. I was up till 3 or 4 in the morning turning page after page, getting angrier and angrier about what these women were forced to live with, and recognizing even more how lucky I am to live in this country. Women in Afghanistan had almost no rights, aside from when the Communists were in power. They had absolutely none when the Taliban ruled; they could be beaten at the whim of almost any man if they committed even the slightest of transgressions.

This story affected me on a number of levels. Most of us have no idea what it's like to live in a war zone, never knowing which hour will be your last. Hosseini's been through that in Afghanistan, and he draws that experience into his story in a way that's brutal but beautiful at the same time. It was also saddening to see just how some governments, when applying their form of Islamic rule, utterly destroy the personhood of women. The will to survive and persevere under crushing oppression from men really made an impact on me. It's hard to imagine that this "story" portrays what daily life is like for millions around the world. Finally, the concept of love and duty portrayed here is beautiful. Love isn't a warm, fuzzy feeling that comes and goes depending on whether you happen to feel good about the person you're with. Often it means sacrificing everything (including life) for them. While there wasn't much that was lovely in their lives, these women learned the true meaning of the world through their devotion to others.

My suggestion? Read this book if you get the chance - although some of it is hard to swallow, what you'll take away from it is definitely worth it.