Why A Thousand Splendid Suns Is Worth Reading

A Thousand Splendid Suns Book Cover

A book by Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns is one of the most magnificent books that I have ever read. Just like The Kite Runner, by the same writer, A Thousand Splendid Suns will successfully induce tears. It is just the way in which Khaled Hosseini writes. You have to stop reading, just because it is too much cruelty in there.

The plot revolves around Mariam, and then Laila, two women of Afghanistan, and how they survive in a condition when several atrocities were done on women before and during the Taliban reign. While Mariam is an illegitimate child, who loses her mother at a young age, gets married off to an older and physically abusive man, Rasheed, immediately after, and almost fifteen years later, find Laila- Laila, who loses her parents and brothers, all to the war, and marries Rasheed under dire circumstances. Under an abusive husband and the Taliban, how do these two women survive and try to find their own happiness? Well, that's what the book is about.

“Learn this now and learn it well. Like a compass facing north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

Just like the last post on The Kite Runner (9 Times Our Heart Broke While ReadingThe Kite Runner), today's post is going to be about all those things, that are going to break your heart, but at the same time, those are the exact things that make the book worth reading.

1. War brings in destruction- It is a no-brainer. But A Thousand Splendid Suns makes you a part of those scenes. You feel the sorrow, the pain, and the losses of people. The book shows the extreme conditions that could happen during a war, Laila and Mariam, Laila mostly, being the representatives of those victims.

2. The journey from being an undesired person to someone who was loved- Mariam was loathed all her life. For once, because she was an illegitimate child. And then, she had multiple miscarriages after her marriage. Mariam was severely beaten up by Rasheed several times for minute mistakes. Mariam finally found her share of happiness in her conversations with Laila, and the time spent with Aziza, Laila's daughter. Mariam's journey, for sure, is worth reading.

3. Love finds its way- Trying not to give out information that might be spoilers for those who haven't read the book yet. Tariq's character is so beautifully written. Amidst all the atrocities that you find women like Laila and Mariam facing on account of men like Rasheed, Tariq is like a breath of fresh air. The calm and quiet boy, but also someone who, even with an amputated leg, could fight any number of people if they ever troubled Laila is one of my favourite characters out there.

“Tariq tucked the gun into the waist of his denims. Then he said a thing both lovely and terrible. "For you," he said. "I'd kill with it for you, Laila.”

4. Laila- She is a complete reason why you should read this book. One of those women who cannot be easily suppressed beyond limits. Coming from an educated family, she was brought up well and being a meritorious student, she was expected to complete her education, but for the war. Her strong determination to find her way even in extreme conditions is what makes the book a very inspirational read.

5. The beauty of this book stays in the fact that even though this book is written by a man, it accurately describes the condition of women in Afghanistan back in the Taliban days. With this point in mind, if the entire plot doesn't mesmerise you, I don't know what will.

“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.” 

Let me know what you liked about the book. And just in case you haven't read it yet, you have a treat ahead of you! Just get the book and read it. With this, we have come to an end to the blog post. This post was a result of a collaboration. The rest of the details are there in the Instagram post. Let me know your thoughts in the comment box below.

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