“Kneel,” the Talib said. O my Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for you are the best of the merciful ones. “Kneel here, hamshira, And look down.” One last time, Maryam did as she was told. — Excerpts from The Thousand Splendid Suns.
Introduction
If you’re looking for a book that’s heart-wrenching yet, glues you to the lines because you can’t just keep off, Khaled seems to have created a perfect novel for you. Get ready to have your heart ripped apart and stitched back together again in this historical fiction. Sorry— not sorry. 🌝
A Thousand Splendid Sun — a haunting tale of love, loss, and resilience. In the ravaged landscape of war-torn Afghanistan, Khaled Hoseeini masterfully weaves a stunning novel of two women, Mariam and Laila, whose lives are intertwined by fate, love, and a shared struggle for survival.
Harami —Mariam is a product of a tumultuous relationship between Jalil and Nana. The first few chapters of the book begin in the kolba (hut) where Mariam spent her early years with Nana’s sharp tongue and biting words. Exposed to Jalil’s empty promises, her father weaves a web of manipulation slowly turning Mariam against her own mother. Until it was too late when the story took a great turn after Nana’s life came to a devastating end. But, unlike the “normal cliche novel” Mariam’s journey just started and if you thought the book is solely about her, I wouldn’t be surprised too. I was so wrong.
The Bitter Truth
“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.“
When she was told by Nana, I concluded she’s been cruel. Why would you want to ruin your daughter’s happiness because life was cruel to you? But after the fifteen-year-old Mariam was married to the khasiegar (suitor) Rasheed— I got to know how much she was so true and that she loved her even though it wasn’t healthy enough. She realized that her mother’s cautionary tale was not mere paranoia, but a reflection of the harsh reality many women faced.
War is hell and the horrors of war are only half seen, half told. Khaled continues to raise the pitch of the story by introducing new characters, Laila and Tariq— the two lovebirds. As the Soviet-Afghan war enraged Kabul, Mariam’s life became increasingly entwined with that of Laila. Initially, I got very annoyed at the turn of events. Why would Khaled Hoseeini keep breaking my heart? 🥲 But gradually, the two women formed an unlikely bond, forged in the fire of hardship, abuse, and war.
Conclusion
“One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls.”
This book covers the harsh reality of war and resilience. It was one of those books that made me emotional but I embraced life more as it explains consequences and sacrifices. You’d fall in love with Mariam, Layla, and Tariq. Although, I bet you’d pause and look around in awe when you’re done reading part three. Still, it was a good read. One of Khaled Hoseeini’s masterpieces.
If you haven’t read the book, you can easily get a copy here.
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