Book Review - A Thousand Splendid Suns

After reading 'The Kite Runner' for my AS Literature exam, I was very keen to read another one of Khaled Hosseini's books. 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' is set in Kabul just like in 'The Kite Runner' but this time, it follows the women of Afghanistan. Mariam is only 15 years of age when she is sent to Kabul and arranged to marry a man a lot older than herself. However, throughout the years to come, she meets a teenager called Laila, in which she develops strong ties with. The Daily Mail referred to it as 'A gripping tale.. It is, too, a powerful portrait of female suffering and endurance under the Taliban', which I feel sums up this novel completely. If you enjoyed reading/studying 'The Kite Runner' in English Literature, I really recommend giving 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' a read; this book is full of love, harrowing deception, fear and heroism. You will honestly find yourself turning each page, gasping and possibly weeping, and what Mariam and Laila endure. In my opinon, this book is not just as good as 'The Kite Runner', it is exceedingly better.

 

Emily Western