Here’s a book review by Reference student assistant Juliana Molina!
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is a historical fiction novel that takes place in many cities across Afghanistan and tells the stories of two girls, Mariam and Laila. Though they are years apart in age, their stories intertwine in a heart-wrenching way. This novel is notable due to Hosseini’s writing style and characterization. It tells a beautiful story during a terrifying time before the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, and segways into post-Soviet society. Hosseini himself is of Afghan descent; an important theme he portrays throughout this novel is the significance of educated women in a society.Though it does have romantic and platonic love subplots, the overarching theme details the strength of the Afghan people. Here are some quotes that reflect the perseverance of the society:
- “I know you’re still young but I want you to understand and learn this now. Marriage can wait, education cannot. You’re a very very bright girl. Truly you are. You can be anything you want Laila. I know this about you. And I also know that when this war is over Afghanistan is going to need you as much as its men maybe even more. Because a society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated Laila. No chance.”
- “I’m sorry,” Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on.”
- “And the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion. And whenever those twin poisonous flowers began to sprout in the parched land of that field, Mariam uprooted them. She uprooted them and ditched them before they took hold.”
I highly recommend this book, it gives readers a different view of the world and leaves a lasting mark. It is well worth picking up!