Customer Reviews: Read 1224 more reviews...
 One of the most gifted storytellers ever July 3, 2008
I had read and loved The Kite Runner, so I was eager to read this second novel by Hosseini. I was expecting a good story. I was not expecting a story so gut-wrenching that I would find myself clutching a box of tissues and so overwhelming that I would frequently hold my breath without even realizing it until I finally let it out. The intertwining stories of the people in A Thousand Splendid Suns are special in that the characters live with so much despair and yet there is just a constant spark of hope - they keep hoping for better, and as a result, so does the reader.
Khaled Hosseini is an insanely gifted storyteller, the likes of which most authors could only hope to be. I can not applaud this book enough, it has become my favorite novel overall, knocking into second place a story that I loved for years (The Poisonwood Bible).
I can only hope that Mr. Hosseini is currently hard at work on his third novel, because I will most certainly be buying it the instant it's available.
If you read this book, it just might change the way you look at life - yours and the life of the people of Afghasnistan.
Haunting, Harrowing, and Heart-Wrenching.... July 2, 2008
Afghanistan comes vividly to life in this forceful enduring tale of the hardships in the lives of many Afghans, but mainly those of two unforgettable and resilient heroic women, Mariam and Laila.
The bonds formed from shared struggles, sacrifices and survivals become deeply moving and indestructible in the face of an ultimate unflinching sacrifice.
I was not going to read this book, as I felt I had been spending too much time in this part of the world in previously read books and didn't want to struggle anymore with `patriarchal despotism' in the treatment of women. When, I found tears welling in my eyes toward the end of this book...a true testament to fortitude, family, love, and loyalties, I was so glad I had decided to spend the time!
This story was jarring while being profoundly emotionally emphatic.... Mariam and Laila are vividly drawn and once I got to know them, I knew that I'd not soon forget them.
I'm grateful for the journey...though not always a `sun-drenched' landscape...it certainly was a splendid odyssey into an important awareness of the plight of our Afghan sisters and the into the mindset of the Taliban and the dangerous political environment that continues to flourish in Afghanistan.
Hats off to Khaled Hosseini for this stunning, searing epic!
Wow July 2, 2008
I am a tough guy. I am a macho, macho, man. My pores leak testosterone when I sweat. I hate chick flicks. When I read this book I bawled like a baby. As an insight into human suffering in places like Afghanistan I highy recommend this novel.
Excellent Book July 1, 2008
This book brought you into the lives of the characters. It made you feel like you were right there living with them. Great insight into the world of woman and their treatment in Afganistan.
More Splendid Than A Thousand July 1, 2008
After the Kite Runner, I was optimistic yet reserved about this novel. I knew to expect a good story, yet I found it hard to believe a novel could shine brighter than the Kite Runner. A Thousand Splendid Suns did this.
The storyline follows two young girls of different generations as their lives mingle around one man during the chaotic Afghanistan of the 20th century. This novel cannot be missed at any cost. It surpasses even the Kite Runner.
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