Challenge Corner discussion

A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years—from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding—that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives—the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness—are inextricable from the history playing out around them.

Propelled by the same storytelling instinct that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns is at once a remarkable chronicle of three decades of Afghan history and a deeply moving account of family and friendship. It is a striking, heart-wrenching novel of an unforgiving time, an unlikely friendship, and an indestructible love—a stunning accomplishment.

Nice!

I just ordered my copy from Amazon. Excited to begin reading it. :-)

This is gonna be a hard one for me to get into, I am usually into mystery and suspense; I just bought my kindle ebook copy and read the first twenty pages... It seems to be a hard to follow the customs there will be quite a few dictionary look ups for me. It will be a challenge but I am up for it!

Part One
(view spoiler)[Wow, the start to this book has been extremely sad. I had hoped that Mariam's life would get better, but bad things just keep happening. I thought that Rasheed at least seemed tolerable at the beginning. He started out kind of nice and he would buy Mariam gifts. However, once it became clear that Mariam couldn't produce an offspring, he became resentful and cruel. (hide spoiler)]

Christine wrote: "This is gonna be a hard one for me to get into, I am usually into mystery and suspense; I just bought my kindle ebook copy and read the first twenty pages... It seems to be a hard to follow the cus..."

I'm big into mystery and thrillers. I'm going to start now. I hope it just takes a bit to get into it.

Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns (p. 7). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Could there be a truer statement in the affairs of women in that part of the world? We are so lucky, here in the United States to be able to even speak what is right, before both men and women...

Jinn- a supernatural set of creatures below angels or demons, of Muslim Culture... this is my first book of learning of a different culture and religion than mine, so this will be a very interesting journey... so far it seems as if Miriam has had quite the terrible life.

Part Two
(view spoiler)[This book is so heartbreaking. First Laila grows up knowing that she will always be in her deceased brothers’ shadows, and her mother will never love her like she loves them. At least she had Tariq, but then as they grow up, Afghanistan is becoming restless, and soon the two of them are torn apart. And then the section ends with Laila getting severely hurt. It is so sad!! (hide spoiler)]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[I can’t believe Rasheed paid someone to lie and tell Laila that Tariq died. Rasheed is such a terrible man. However, I was sad when he was killed because I knew either Miriam or Laila was going to be punished. Maybe Mariam’s sacrifice has provided Laila and her children a brighter future (and maybe with Tariq!!). (hide spoiler)]

Part Four/Finished
(view spoiler)[I don’t normally read too many books in this genre, but I found I couldn’t put this book down! This was a really compelling book. The characters are all so realistic, and the story is both heartbreaking but ends on a somewhat hopeful note. I am so happy that Tariq and Laila were finally able to be together too. Mariam’s death was very sad, but at least her sacrifice provided Laila (and her children) a chance at a new, happier life. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. (hide spoiler)]

Christine wrote: "Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.”

Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns (p. 7). Penguin Publishing Gro..."

Nanna seems a bit pessimistic, right?

"...Where I come from, a woman's face is her husband's business only. I want you to remember that. Do you understand?"
Hosseini, Khaled. A Thousand Splendid Suns (p. 63).

An unsettling quote...

12% (view spoiler)[ I'm really enjoying this book. Mariam wasn't born into a great life that is for sure. A verbally abusive mother, a father that is more like an uncle and now he wants to marry her off. Hang tough Mariam. Maybe it gets better? (hide spoiler)]

19% (view spoiler)[ So now Mariam is married. I can't decide if her husband is a good man or not? Mariam seems a bit anxious. When the women encircled her at the market she freaked! There is going to be some sort of drama with her neighbor too, I think. (hide spoiler)]

41% (view spoiler)[ Dang, it just doesn't get better. Where did all the good parents go? Laila is not going to end up happy. Tariq, something is going to happen to Tariq.... (hide spoiler)]

Part One
(view spoiler)[
It was sad that Mariam didn't make friends with the other women! I think her life would be better if she had, since now she basically only talks to her husband and he is awful to her! The pebbles thing felt like it came out of nowhere though! Like before that, he was a jerk but normal-human levels of jerkiness. But then all of a sudden he's making his wife eat rocks? I don't know what's up with that.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished. (view spoiler)[ Argh. That was painfully sad. Mariam! Poor Mariam. I was so happy when Aziza broke through to her and they became so close.

Man o Man was Rasheed a jackass or what? I was afraid for Zalmai turning out like Rasheed.

I'm glad that it ended somewhat happy and I was happy that Jalil finally repented or being a crappy Dad. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Caroline wrote: "Part One

It was sad that Mariam didn't make friends with the other women! I think her life would be better if she had, since now she basically only talks to her husband and he is awful to her! The..."

Agreed! Why pebbles? I so wanted Mariam to become friends with someone!

Part Two
(view spoiler)[
I was surprised Laila did not agree to marry Tariq. I think I would have gone with him.

I'm a bit disappointed that Part Two was mostly about different characters than Part One, since it makes the book feel less cohesive. I wonder if the next parts will be about new characters again, or if they will tie it together.
(hide spoiler)]

Part Three
(view spoiler)[
Wow, that scene between Laila and Mariam when Laila realized Mariam was going to be punished for murder - so heart-wrenching! I have to give the book credit for facing up to the fact that Mariam will suffer consequences for what she did. It's unfair, but realistic. A lot of books I've read would come up with some way to get a happy ending, like Mariam would be let off for self defense. That would have been really implausible in this setting, though, so I'm glad the book didn't go for it.
(hide spoiler)]

@Cristina (chapter 30)
(view spoiler)[
I felt the same way! I was so disappointed when Mariam started being mean to Laila. Here is someone trapped in the same awful situation as you, finally you will have someone to commiserate with! Don't throw that away! But I can totally understand not feeling to kindly disposed to your husband's other wife, who he married even though you hated the idea. It would be hard to be civil under those circumstances.
(hide spoiler)]

Part Four
(view spoiler)[
That letter from Jalil to Mariam was so sad! Now they are both dead and she never got to read it. :( :(
(hide spoiler)]

When you don't want a book to end and you're reading the last few pages very slowly... That's me today, have about six more pages left to finish the book and I just don't want it to end. It is such a good read!!