A Thousand Splendid Suns Paperback

Daughter’s birthday gift she was excited!

My students (high school) regularly tell me how beautifully written this is! Those sharp teenagers are right. Love this.

one of the best books I ever read

excellent!!!!!!

This novel is beautifully written, of course, but it seems almost impossible to a western woman that this could be about a contemporary living in Afghanistan. The treatment that women in the Middle East have had to endure and continue to endure is almost beyond belief. It seems like you are reading a a book about women in the Dark Ages, and then reference is made to a fairly recent event, such as the frenzy of popularity of the film "The Titanic" in 1997, and the fact that this is a current condition for women is jarringly brought home. That men could be so cruel to women they profess to love is incredible to me. The stories of the two main characters in this book are sad almost beyond belief, but it is touching to know that the characters love their country anyway, often finding it beautiful, thus the title of the book. Despite this dichotomy, or perhaps because of it, this novel is moving. The women are buffeted by fate, but also make strides to effect the paths of their lives bravely and with passion. As an American, I have allowed myself to be ignorant of the history of the Middle East and the plight of it's people. Although I find other cultures fascinating, I find myself yearning to be able to help my sisters in Afghanistan, but finding no way to do so. Hosseini not only writes a beautifully wrought novel, but helps to open our eyes to his country and the way that the rest of the world has used it as a fighting ground, as well as the evils perpetuated by the Taliban and other fundamentalists in the name of religion. I bought this CD set as a gift for my sister, after I had listened to a copy from the library. I hope she will find it as interesting as I did. This is a terrific novel with many twists of fate and history to keep it interesting.