Thousand Splendid Suns
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Trade in A Thousand Splendid Suns for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'In case you're wondering whether A Thousand Splendid Suns is as good as The Kite Runner, here's the answer: No. It's better' Washington Post 'Only the hardest of hearts could fail to be as moved' Glamour 'A masterful narrative ... He is a storyteller of dizzying power' Evening Standard 'Hosseini has that rare thing, a Dickensian knack for storytelling' Daily Telegraph
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
138 of 139 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book moved me to tears, it is truly a remarkable and beautifully crafted novel. At times Hosseini paints harrowing and brutal scenes but always retains, through the characters of Mariam and Laila, humanity, spirit and above all love. There were chapters in this novel through which I literally held my breath, wishing with all my heart that what was unfolding would not, could not happen. It is very easy for those of us lucky enough to live in safety to visualise Afghanistan as a brutal, forsaken place, but this novel shows us something more. It forces the reader to acknowledge and recognise not only the suffering of people in our war torn world but something else, the human capacity for survival, forgiveness and love. Truly a wonderful book and one I would urge others to read. The best novel I have read in a long time and one that will stay with me for a long time to come.
80 of 81 people found the following review helpful
Format:Unknown Binding
A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS tells the wonderful, intensely moving story of how two modern Afghan women overcome the great challenges that have faced women in Afghanistan and rise above their victimization. Khaled Hosseini has succeeded in capturing many important historical and contemporary themes in a way that will make your heart ache again and again. Why will your reaction be so strong? It's because you'll identify closely with the suffering of almost all the characters, a reaction that's very rare to a modern novel.
In Part One, you meet Miriam at age five as she learns that she is a harami (an illegitimate child). Miriam's wealthy father, Jalil, had seduced a housekeeper, Miriam's mother, Nana, six years earlier and now provides for both of them in a remote shack where he can keep a low profile. Despite his concern about his reputation, Jalil adores the attention that Miriam devotes to him. All proceeds in an artificial and harsh way until one day Miriam decides to demand her father's attention. The consequences shape her world for the rest of her life.
In Part Two, the story moves to focus on Laila, who was born to Miriam's acquaintance Fariba at the end of Part One. Laila's rearing is almost totally the opposite of Miriam's. Laila is loved by both her parents with whom she lives and has many chances to develop her knowledge and skills. Laila lives in Kabul while Miriam grew up in the countryside outside of Herat. Laila is beautiful while Miriam is plainer. They also grow up in different times: Miriam is old enough to be Laila's mother. Miriam never had a male friend while growing up, while Laila is fascinated by the one-legged Tariq. All is going well for Laila until the war intrudes to send her life off into an unexpected direction.
In Part Three, the two women begin to share a destiny and develop a relationship. Their lives are more fundamentally changed by this relationship than by anything else that has happened to them. The magic of the story is most evident in Part Three.
In Part Four, we come into the present, when Afghanistan is once again opening itself to possibilities.
The time span of the book is from 1964 to the present. In the background, you are kept up-to-date on political events that shake the entire country. In some cases, those political events turn into revolutions and wars. In many cases, the violence intrudes into the lives of the book's characters. It's like reading War and Peace as adapted to modern Afghanistan.
The book also deals with issues of class, religion, sexual roles, child rearing, work, education, and community. These issues are highlighted in terms of the different regimes and attitudes of the controlling male characters. For Afghanistan was a world where the men called the shots, unless they chose not to do so. Although the issues that are raised and the way that they are raised are pretty predictable, it's a tribute to Mr. Hosseini that you won't see them coming. He moves his characters and action around in such a way that you won't see much foreshadowing of what's to come. Part of that skill comes in making each page so interesting and engaging that you are pulled away from thoughts like "I wonder where he's going next with this plot." I found myself deeply inside the story throughout. That's rare for me, especially in a story that focuses on female characters.
It's early in the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS turns out to have been one of the very top novels of 2007.
I highly recommend this book and encourage you to discuss it with your friends. This novel would be a great choice for your book club.
In Part One, you meet Miriam at age five as she learns that she is a harami (an illegitimate child). Miriam's wealthy father, Jalil, had seduced a housekeeper, Miriam's mother, Nana, six years earlier and now provides for both of them in a remote shack where he can keep a low profile. Despite his concern about his reputation, Jalil adores the attention that Miriam devotes to him. All proceeds in an artificial and harsh way until one day Miriam decides to demand her father's attention. The consequences shape her world for the rest of her life.
In Part Two, the story moves to focus on Laila, who was born to Miriam's acquaintance Fariba at the end of Part One. Laila's rearing is almost totally the opposite of Miriam's. Laila is loved by both her parents with whom she lives and has many chances to develop her knowledge and skills. Laila lives in Kabul while Miriam grew up in the countryside outside of Herat. Laila is beautiful while Miriam is plainer. They also grow up in different times: Miriam is old enough to be Laila's mother. Miriam never had a male friend while growing up, while Laila is fascinated by the one-legged Tariq. All is going well for Laila until the war intrudes to send her life off into an unexpected direction.
In Part Three, the two women begin to share a destiny and develop a relationship. Their lives are more fundamentally changed by this relationship than by anything else that has happened to them. The magic of the story is most evident in Part Three.
In Part Four, we come into the present, when Afghanistan is once again opening itself to possibilities.
The time span of the book is from 1964 to the present. In the background, you are kept up-to-date on political events that shake the entire country. In some cases, those political events turn into revolutions and wars. In many cases, the violence intrudes into the lives of the book's characters. It's like reading War and Peace as adapted to modern Afghanistan.
The book also deals with issues of class, religion, sexual roles, child rearing, work, education, and community. These issues are highlighted in terms of the different regimes and attitudes of the controlling male characters. For Afghanistan was a world where the men called the shots, unless they chose not to do so. Although the issues that are raised and the way that they are raised are pretty predictable, it's a tribute to Mr. Hosseini that you won't see them coming. He moves his characters and action around in such a way that you won't see much foreshadowing of what's to come. Part of that skill comes in making each page so interesting and engaging that you are pulled away from thoughts like "I wonder where he's going next with this plot." I found myself deeply inside the story throughout. That's rare for me, especially in a story that focuses on female characters.
It's early in the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS turns out to have been one of the very top novels of 2007.
I highly recommend this book and encourage you to discuss it with your friends. This novel would be a great choice for your book club.
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I just oouldn't put it down! People say that a lot about books, but with this wonderful novel I really couldn't. I was then sorry I had finished it so quickly.
Khaled Hosseini knows how to play our heartstrings - and with this novel he does so beautifully. The characters are unforgetable, their stories tragic. The central female characters in this novel - Mariam and Laila are strong, and believable, the desicions they make all the more heartbreaking for the inevitability of them. Their world shaped by tradition and religion, is narrow with little if any real freedom.
In this novel Hossseini takes us on a journey through more than forty years of Afghan history - we feel the ravages of time upon a once beautiful city, as again and again fighting and bloodshed come to Afghanistan.
This is an excellent second novel, and I eagerly await more from this writer.
Khaled Hosseini knows how to play our heartstrings - and with this novel he does so beautifully. The characters are unforgetable, their stories tragic. The central female characters in this novel - Mariam and Laila are strong, and believable, the desicions they make all the more heartbreaking for the inevitability of them. Their world shaped by tradition and religion, is narrow with little if any real freedom.
In this novel Hossseini takes us on a journey through more than forty years of Afghan history - we feel the ravages of time upon a once beautiful city, as again and again fighting and bloodshed come to Afghanistan.
This is an excellent second novel, and I eagerly await more from this writer.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What is new?
The Kite runner; Two boys; they go their separate ways as circumstances dictates. One has a son. The other has guilt. Read more
Published 19 days ago by GrandeShaykh
Wonderful book
This is one of the best books I have read for a long time. I felt I was living the part and my heart goes out to the women of Afghanistan as never before. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Jules Wizz
Stunning
Had thoroughly enjoyed The Kite Runner but this was something else! Absolutely brilliant - I miss reading it! Heartbreaking what was happening in Afganistan. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Alimac
Brilliant read
I have been putting this off for a while now as i always find this authors books quite intense and you need TIME to read them. His books cant be rushed. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Marie Judd
The best book I have ever read
When my father-in-law handed me this book to read, telling me I simply had to read it because it was so good, I have to be honest and say I wasn't that interested. Read more
Published 29 days ago by skinnieminnie
SPLENDID
An amazing book. Khaled Hosseine talks about the struggles the women of Afghanistan had to endure day in day out and still do. Read more
Published 1 month ago by LENA
Good, but over-hyped
I finally got around to reading this book, having been recommended it by all and sundry. I finished it last night, and my friends are all clamoring to hear what I thought. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Victoria
Amazing!
My best friend recommended this book so I thought I'd give it a try! I must say I wasn't disappointed! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Laura82
engrossing
what an amazing book, I learnt more about the politics of the country in this book
what extrordinary life the main character led and how strong these women are
what extrordinary life the main character led and how strong these women are
Published 2 months ago by sewing shirley
A thousand splendid suns
A book I couldn't put down which makes for a few late nights. Very informative of other countrys ways and traditions. How glad I am to be living in a country of freedom. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jodee.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
