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Reader Reviews | |
Review by Hidayah Ismawi (310811) Rating
(8/10) Review
by Hidayah Ismawi
What I liked about this book:
What I disliked about the book:
A quote I liked from this book: Review
by Mihir There are several parts in the book. First part begins with the Mariam's story. She lives in 'Kolba' on the outskirts of Herat city with her mother. She was born out of wedlock. She eagerly waits for every Thursday for Jalil, her father, to visit her in Kolba. Because of the 'Nang and Namoos' (honour and pride) of the afghan culture Jalil neither live with Mariam nor take her to his place. But Mariam craves for fathers love. Author brilliantly describes how innocent Mariam wish to live with her step brothers and sisters. When she is around 15, she is forced to marry a cruel 45 year old men 'Rasheed'. Second part deals with the story of Laila, a 9 year old girl who lives near Mariam in Kabul. It is unimaginable at this part of novel to contemplate how their lives will change. In third part their stories converge. Their life changes from hatred to a lovely mother-daughter relation. How they survive against all the insurmountable grief and tribulations is mind boggling. A Thousand Splendid Suns starts in the 1960s and ends in 2003. Agony, affection, love, hope, strength and self-sacrifice in atrocious times are the backdrops of the book. This book is great way to comprehend how life was during the soviet led war in Afghanistan, then under warlords and lastly during the Taliban regime. It is a very good reading. Story stays in your mind even weeks after you complete the book.
In the book, there is one quote lines from a 17th Century poem
by Saib-e-Tabrizi in praise of Kabul which gives you Goosebumps
: "One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs,
Or the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls."
Truly splendid. Must read for everyone. Review
by Maia Sherwood Rogers The book is all about a friendship between Lailia and Mariam, stronger than mother and daughter and what you will risk for your loved ones. It starts of by following Mariam, 15 being married off when her mother hangs herself. She is taken away to Kabul to live with a man over double her age. She was mistreated and lived a depressing life. The book then switches to Laila who also has huge losses in her life: her parents and brothers killed. These two women form the strongest of friendships that will make you cry on many occasions. It is a book you can read and re read it again and be moved every single time.
A stunningly written book I would give it 9/10 and definitely
recommend it to everyone. |
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