There are a few books that stay with you; they transform you. No matter how much you try to pen down your thoughts on them, you fail because you don't understand what would do justice to the story and the storytelling. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is one such book for me. It is a book that I'd always come back to; each time, gaining a new perspective towards it.
I was recommended this book by my roommate back in 2017. And 2 years later, I decided to pick this up for reading. It took me the longest time to finish this book. I could have read this book in two days but I chose to read it slowly because a beautiful book like this needs to be given some time.
What can I say that has already not been said about this beautiful, beautiful piece of art! Every line, every chapter and every story that I came across in here is something I'll cherish forever. It is so full of pain that it made me cry for hours at a stretch.
It is a coming of age story of two Afghani women, Mariam and Laila, both struggling with their identity as a woman in such a harsh society. Even though Mariam and Laila are the wives of the same man, they don't actually hate each other. It is their friendship that shines and it made me believe that women aren't sworn nemeses of each other. It brilliantly portrays how two women, belonging from vastly different backgrounds, come down to suffer the same fate in a country that doesn't respect their existence. It is their journey through loss, dejection and poverty in a war stricken Afghanistan.
I don't think there are many books out there that portray pain and love in such a vivid way. The plot is so gripping that you can't not be affected by the stories which have been interconnected in such a beautiful way. Hence I choose not to review this book. This goes straight to my 'highly recommended' list because I have no negative remark on this; nobody could possibly criticize negatively on this book.
I personally related more to Laila for some reason. I don't have any hard feelings against Mariam and I can't possibly compare their stories because each one is equally painful but somewhere, deep down, the rebellious spirit of Laila created a very strong impact on me.
What Mariam went through throughout the novel is another aspect I'd like to discuss about. I can't imagine the amount of love she had in her even though she never really did receive love in her life. This book is a beautiful ode to Mariam's journey from being an innocent child to a woman who gave her all when it came down to love and friendship.
At the end of the novel, all I can think of is the fact that the world needs more women like Laila and Mariam.
Also, I'd like to credit this book for making me learn some really beautiful Farsi words, one of which has become my favourite.
Hamshira is the Indo-Arabic term that means Sister and I am in love with the term for no reason. I just love it and I have no explanation for it.
A Thousand Splendid Suns is a timeless piece and every woman should read this. It would tear you apart but in the end you'll find a new hope and a new outlook towards life. This book feeds the soul and makes one a better person. That is what I feel.
Note to readers: That's the end of my appreciative blabber on Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns.I wish everyone reads and appreciates it in the same way I did.
:)
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