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A Thousand Splendid Suns [Paperback]

Khaled Hosseini
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (750 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Book Description

12 Jan 2008
Mariam is only fifteen when she is sent to Kabul to marry Rasheed. Nearly two decades later, a friendship grows between Mariam and a local teenager, Laila, as strong as the ties between mother and daughter. When the Taliban take over, life becomes a desperate struggle against starvation, brutality and fear. Yet love can move a person to act in unexpected ways, and lead them to overcome the most daunting obstacles with a startling heroism.

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A Thousand Splendid Suns + The Kite Runner + And the Mountains Echoed
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Product details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Riverhead Books USA; Reprint edition (12 Jan 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 074758589X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747585893
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.6 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (750 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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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

Book Description

The highly anticipated and breathtaking new novel by the author of the internationally best-selling novel The Kite Runner

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
167 of 168 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Crafted Novel 16 July 2007
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.
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95 of 96 people found the following review helpful
By Donald Mitchell HALL OF FAME TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
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.
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42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Rivetting 7 Mar 2009
By Zara
Format:Paperback
This is an absolutely brilliant book depicting the lives of two extraordinary Afghani women who are thrown together under highly unusual circumstances. The book follows their struggle against extreme evil, hardship and victimisation. Mariam and Laila show incredible strength as women in a country torn apart by vicious war, and the untoward cruelty suffered by them at the hands of a shared husband whom both were forced to marry, is heartbreaking. It is almost impossible to imagine that this amazing story was set, for the most part of it, in the 1990s. It is such an insight into the country of Afghanistan and this is a book that will stay with you long after you read the last page. Truly one of kind.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars truely splendid!
this book is fantastic! it is honest, interesting and very moving! all the characters were ingeniously crafted and the story a journey! Read more
Published 8 hours ago by Mikethehike
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
A book that keeps your attention all the way through, very descriptive and really makes you feel the atmosphere and care about the characters in the book.
Published 19 hours ago by harriett
5.0 out of 5 stars A thousand Splendid moments
This guy is one hell of a writer, you just keep turning pages! Tried to put it down and couldn't. He has written other stuff most notably the kite runner which was great also. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Mr. Davendra Singh
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful story
Khaled can tell a great story. I was hooked from the first page. Can't wait for his next book - only a couple of days now till it is published...
Published 2 days ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
I bought this as it was reccommended by friends. Its a great read and im looking forward to reading the kite runner next
Published 3 days ago by hi
5.0 out of 5 stars Thousand splendid suns
Another amazing read. Who would have thought he could have topped the kite runner. Just read it for a second Inc time while I wait a week before Khalid hosseini s third book comes... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Kathryn Rich
5.0 out of 5 stars Spell binding, strong, heartfelt, journey of life
This story tell the story of four people who lived through different times affected by war and circumstance. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Readalot
4.0 out of 5 stars Other Women's Lives
This is a beautifully written book telling of the lives of two women in Afghanistan. The recent history of this country provides the setting for the story, giving details of how... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Nora Walters
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful read
I read this book as part of a book group choice. This is the best book I have read in along time. It gave a deep and personal look into the plight and life of women in Afganistan.
Published 8 days ago by Brenda Robson
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
A little bit of Afghanistan history, all in all amazing book, a nice love story, sadness and happiness, suspense and excitement.
Published 8 days ago by monz
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