A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Trade; Reprint edition (November 25, 2008)
Language: English
Rating: 4 Stars

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A Thousand Splendid Suns is a soul-shaking saga of sobs and sorrows with a happy but tear-soaked climax.

It is the second novel of Khaled Hosseini who has accumulated worldwide acclaim and recognition with his debut novel, The Kite Runner which has been standing in the bestsellers’ chart since the time of its release.

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story of two women, Mariam and Laila from Herat and Kabul respectively, in Afganistan. Set between 1979 and 2003, the phase of political turmoil in Afganistan, ranging from the Soviet rule to Taliban taking reigns in its hand; it is a heart-wrenching tale revolving around the worlds of two Afgani women, whose destinies or rather the misfortune, filled with sufferings, unbearable pain and miseries, brought them under one roof.

Though this rendezvous didn’t end their miseries, they did find solace in each others’ sorrows and sobs. There are some other perfectly-placed characters, which are present or absent, supporting or tormenting depending on their need in the story.

The narration is lyrical which moves like a motion picture in front of eyes and is complemented by tailor-made words that weave a web of emotions, capable of moving even a heart made of stone.

The real beauty of the book lies in its plot which is unpredictable but still persuasive. Just when you start to feel a bit calm and convinced, and wish no more misfortune for either of the protagonists; the twist in the tale leaves you shocked and shaken, and since the story is surrounded by a series of true chronology, you can’t complain of over-the-counter drama.

Reviewer’s Recommendation

This second work of Khaled Hosseini is a not-to-miss novel especially for those who love conventional style of narration. The novel is packed with gripping storyline, unexpected twists, powerful & poetic narration and above all a high dose of emotions that will leave your eyes teary on more than one occasion – all these attractions make this manuscript a masterpiece worth mulling.

About Author (Wikipedia):

‘Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan-born American novelist and physician. His 2003 debut novel, The Kite Runner, was an international bestseller, with the paperback spending 101 weeks on the bestseller list (#1 for 4 of those weeks). In 2007, it was followed by A Thousand Splendid Suns which has spent 21 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list for paperback fiction and 49 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover fiction. The two novels have sold more than 38 million copies internationally.’

About the Author

Pankaj Sharma ( 20 Posts)

Pankaj Sharma is an avid reader, an active blogger and a passionate writer who wishes to read all the classics written by the literary geniuses of 19th and 20th century.
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