A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
I really love Khaled Hosseini’s work. I really feel that he transports me to Afghanistan, to the everyday life of people of differing circumstances. True in “The Kite Runner,” this is also true in “A Thousand Splendid Suns.”
“A Thousand Splendid Suns,” if you’ve not yet read it, is the story of two women from two different family background who find themselves thrown together against an increasingly oppressive and abusive husband and country.
I did enjoy this book greatly, an enjoyment that was heightened by the narrator of the audiobook. It was so great going to my bookclub and being the only one who had any idea how to pronounce everyone’s name. That being said, I was never as invested with either Laila or Mariam (the main characters) as I was with Amir, the protaganist of “The Kite Runner.” I know a lot of other women feel the opposite way, perhaps because they are simply better able to relate to female characters, but I think my identification with them was hindered by the way they had to share billing for the story. Don’t get me wrong: I liked them, I empathized with them, I sometimes feared for them or grieved with them, but they just didn’t feel quite as real to me as Amir.
That being said, “A Thousand Splendid Suns” was a fantastic book and I love all of the background it gave me for Afghanistan’s recent history.
Buy this book on Amazon.
Buy this audiobook on Amazon.
The Kite Runner is one of my all time favorites. I really must read this one soon.
Stephanie’s last blog post..The Reading Group
My book club just read this for a one book, one city promotion but I didn’t participate. I had too much on my plate and couldn’t read it by the time I got it from the library. I always forget about audio book versions. I really need to take advantage of that format more often.
Ti’s last blog post..Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid – The Last Straw
I loved this book! I definitely liked the women the best, though.
How do you manage to listen to so many audiobooks?
Meghan’s last blog post..Blog Tour Guest Review: Galway Bay, Mary Pat Kelly
I’ve got a good 90 minute total commute each day (sometimes longer), so that’s a lot of audiobook right there. Plus I listen when I’m running errands and on my Ipod when I’m cleaning, cooking, etc. Not to mention I’ve been listening at work while working on this huge mailing.
This is another one of those books I need to read. I bought this right after finishing The Kite Runner and then never picked it up off of my shelf. Sigh… So many wonderful books, so little time.
Literate Housewife’s last blog post..#148 ~ False Colours
I absolutely loved both this book and The Kite Runner. Great review!
S. Krishna’s last blog post..Teaser Tuesdays
I consider reading him now that many of you have endorsed his works. To be honest, I have shied away because of all the hype and buzz.
Matthew’s last blog post..Influential Authors
A truly heart-wrenching story of Pride, Oppression, Struggle, Love, Regret, Sacrifice…A must read book for all..After reading this book it’s like you begin to see the world in a different light. The letter that Jalil leaves behind for Mariam is just so beautifully written just as the letter that Hassan leaves for Amir in The Kite Runner. Amazing works by Khaled Hosseini.